Your gums might bleed for many reasons, but gingivitis is a common cause, which is gum disease. A sticky film made of bacteria builds up on your teeth because of the starches and sugars in your food, known as plaque. If plaque stays on your teeth longer than a few days, it can harden under your gums and form a substance called tartar This can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, so you may need your dentist to clean your teeth to prevent serious problems. Brushing forcefully, injury, pregnancy, and inflammation can cause bleeding gums. Gum infection can cause redness, swelling, and tenderness, and it can be a sign of periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. These diseases can occur because improper plaque removal means not cleaning tour teeth. Knowing the cause of bleeding gums is important to understand the most appropriate treatment. Once you know the cause, you can choose among these 10 possible ways to stop the bleeding. Practice good oral hygiene: Bleeding gums may be a sign of poor dental hygiene. To improve oral hygiene, brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss once a day. Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide As per a study, the fluoridated hydrogen peroxide-based mouth rinse effectively whitened teeth and greatly reduced gingivitis. You use Hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant, but it also removes plaque, promotes gum health, and stop gum bleeding. Stop smoking Smoking is the primary cause of severe gum diseases. Smoking can lower your body’s immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off plaque bacteria. This can lead to gum disease. Quitting smoking can help your gums heal and stop bleeding. Increase your intake of vitamin C: Eating foods rich in vitamin C can strengthen your immune system and help fight off the gum infections that cause bleeding gums. A vitamin C deficiency can also lead to gum bleeding even if you practice good oral habits. Foods rich in vitamin C include: • Oranges • Sweet potatoes • Red peppers • Carrots • Grapefruit juice • Kiwifruit • Green pepper • Broccoli • Strawberries •Brussels sprouts •Tomato juice •Cantaloupe• Cabbage •Cauliflower •Potato •Spinach •Green peas Increase your intake of vitamin K Vitamin K is an important nutrient because it helps your blood clot. A deficiency can cause easy bleeding, and a study found that it may lead to gum bleeding. • Collards • Spinach • Broccoli • Cabbage • Iceberg lettuce • Fats and oils • Soybean oil • Canola oil • Cottonseed oil • Olive oil Mixed dishes • Fast food french fries • Fast food nachos • Frozen, breaded fish sticks • Margarine with hydrogenated oil Other foods • Natto • Hard cheeses • Soft cheeses Apply a cold compress: Bleeding gums aren’t always caused by gum disease. Your gums may also bleed from trauma or an injury to the gum tissue. Apply an ice pack or a cold cloth to your gums several times a day, 20 minutes on, and 20 minutes off. A cold compress applied to the gum line can reduce swelling and restrict blood flow to stop bleeding. Eat fewer carbs Research shows that reducing your carbohydrate intake may also improve gum health and prevent gum disease. Carbohydrates and sugary foods encourage plaque and the growth of bacteria. The more plaque accumulated on your gums, the more likely you are to have bleeding gums. Drink green tea: Drinking green tea daily may also reverse periodontal disease and stop bleeding gums. Green tea contains catechin, a natural antioxidant that can lower the body’s inflammatory response to bacteria in the mouth. As per the study, researchers concluded that the more green tea a person drinks, the better their periodontal health. Rinse your mouth with salt water: Because bacteria and inflammation in the mouth cause gum disease, regularly rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm salt water may also reduce bacteria and stop gum bleeding. Add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth for a few seconds three to four times a day. If bleeding is from an injury or trauma, rinsing with a saltwater mixture also keeps your mouth clean and removes bacteria that could cause wound infection. When to see a doctor Visit a dentist if gum bleeding does not stop within 7 to 10 days. You might need a deep dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar and promote gum healing. https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1902/jop.2004.75.1.57 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3321250/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037517/