Imagine for a moment that your skin started bleeding every time you washed your hands. You’d go straight to the doctor, wouldn’t you? So why do we think it’s normal to spit out blood when we brush our teeth? If you live in Vélez-Málaga or anywhere in the Axarquía and your gums bleed, look red or feel swollen, those bleeding gums are a very clear warning sign from your body.
At Clínica Dental Acosta Cubero, right in the centre of Vélez-Málaga, we specialise in looking after the foundations of your mouth. Today we want to talk to you about gum disease, a silent problem that, if not stopped in time, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Find out how to protect the base of your smile! 🛡️
Where it all starts: what causes bleeding gums? 🤔
Healthy gums are pale pink and firm, and they should never bleed with normal brushing. Bleeding is the first symptom of gingivitis, an inflammation caused by a build-up of bacterial plaque.
If we don’t brush properly or don’t use dental floss, bacteria from leftover food stick to the tooth, right along the gum line. Over the following days this plaque hardens and turns into tartar, a porous, calcified substance you can no longer remove at home with your toothbrush. Tartar irritates the gum, making it swell, turn red and bleed at the slightest touch.
From gingivitis to periodontitis: a silent danger ⚠️
The good news about gingivitis is that it’s completely reversible with a professional clean. However, if we ignore it, the disease progresses to the dreaded periodontitis (commonly known as pyorrhoea).
At this stage, the bacteria no longer just inflame the gum: they start to travel deeper, attacking and destroying the bone that holds your teeth in place. The consequences of not treating it in time are serious:
- Loose teeth: as they lose the bone that supports them, healthy teeth begin to loosen and move.
- Gum recession: the gums “run away” from the tartar, exposing the root of the tooth, which causes severe tooth sensitivity to cold or heat.
- Chronic bad breath: the infection under the gum causes persistent halitosis that mouthwash won’t get rid of.
- Tooth loss: this is the final stage; so much bone is destroyed that the teeth end up falling out on their own or have to be extracted.
How do we save your gums at Clínica Acosta Cubero? ⚙️
Stopping gum disease takes an expert approach. At our clinic in Vélez-Málaga, we follow an advanced, pain-free periodontal protocol:
- Periodontal diagnosis: we measure bone loss around each tooth millimetre by millimetre and use digital X-rays to assess the internal damage.
- Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning): under local anaesthetic, we thoroughly remove the tartar and bacteria hiding beneath the gum and smooth the root of the tooth so the gum can reattach and heal.
- Maintenance: we teach you personalised hygiene techniques and schedule regular check-ups to make sure the infection doesn’t flare up again.
Protect the foundations of your mouth in Vélez-Málaga! 😊
Having white, attractive teeth is no use if the bone holding them up is unhealthy. Prevention is, without doubt, the most affordable and effective of all our dental treatments.
If your gums bleed, you notice a bad taste in your mouth or you feel your teeth have moved, get in touch with Clínica Dental Acosta Cubero in Vélez-Málaga and book a gum assessment. Our team will check the health of your gums and offer you an effective solution to stop the infection. Don’t let tartar decide for you: keep your teeth for life! ✨
