Causes of Bleeding Gums in Children

Bleeding gums in children are never normal

When flossing your toddler’s teeth they may experience some bleeding and even think it’s ok, BUT IT IS NOT!  It is important to understand that bleeding is not normal, for toddlers or adults, and can be a clue that something is wrong. At Anchorage Pediatric Dentistry, we examine your child’s gums at every visit and look for bleeding and can usually find the root cause. Below our some of the causes of bleeding gums in children!

5 common reasons for bleeding gums in children:

1. Flossing

Once your child has two teeth, that is side by side (next to each other), flossing should begin (usually between the ages of 2-6 years old). The rule of thumb is, that kids can floss their own teeth properly once they are able to tie their own shoes.

Your child may experience some bleeding during the first few times and do not worry because it is totally common! The more they floss, the more the bleeding will decrease.

2. Brushing Too Hard

Careful not to brush your teeth too hard, it will not make them cleaner and can cause damage. When brushing your teeth use gentle back and forth motions with a soft toothbrush.  Brushing too hard causes damage to the gums and can cause them to recede, as well as wear down tooth enamel which will put teeth at jeopardy for disease!

3. Dry Mouth

The mouth keeps itself healthy by producing lots of saliva. It helps protect teeth and gums from the damaging effects of bacteria and acid. When a mouth becomes dry it allows bacteria to get up under the gums. When this happens gums will become more sensitive and start to bleed.

4. Baby tooth knocked loose

Did your child take a fall and hit their head or face on a hard object? We often see these cases in our office and we tell parents not to panic. All baby teeth at some point become loose naturally however if your child’s loose tooth is due to a trauma call your pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

5. Gum Disease

Not brushing twice a day to remove the bacteria beneath the gum line can cause an infection known as Gum Disease. Signs and symptoms of gum disease are bad breath and swollen and bleeding gums. Please brush your toddlers’ teeth two times a day and floss at least 1 time a day.

It is important to bring your toddler to regular dental appointments, that is every six months. Preventative measures can keep Gum Disease at bay.

To schedule an appointment please call Anchorage Pediatric Dentistry today at (907) 562-1003 to schedule a cleaning with our Board Certified Pediatric Dentists!