Bleeding gums and dental bleeding

Dental bleeding is when blood comes from your:

• mouth
• gums
• lips
• tooth sockets

If you have dental bleeding, you may also have:

• pain in your gums or teeth
• swelling of your mouth, gums or face
• bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth
• loose teeth
• receding gums (gums that move away from your teeth)

Causes of dental bleeding include:

• gum disease
• dental treatment
• dental surgery
• an injury to your teeth or mouth

Bleeding gums

If your gums bleed after you have brushed your teeth, this could be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease occurs when plaque builds up on your teeth and gums.

Early gum disease is called gingivitis. As well as bleeding, gingivitis can cause redness and swelling of your gums.

Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis. This can happen when gingivitis is not treated. Periodontitis can cause:

• loose teeth
• bad breath
• pain or discomfort when biting
• loss of teeth

Mouth conditions

Other mouth conditions can cause dental bleeding, including:

• mouth ulcers
• mouth infections
• oral cancer

Dental treatment or dental surgery

Your gums or mouth may start to bleed after having a dental procedure, such as a:

• tooth extraction (tooth pulled out)
• dental crown procedure

Injuries to teeth and mouth

Injury to your teeth or mouth can cause dental bleeding, due to a:

• fall
• sporting injury
• impact to your face or mouth

If you have frequent or heavy bleeding in your mouth, it's important to see a dentist or doctor. Getting treatment early can improve your symptoms and help prevent any complications.

Visit your dentist or doctor if you have:

• a sore or ulcer that does not heal within 2 weeks
• difficulty swallowing or speaking
• red or white patches in your mouth
• swelling or numbness in or around your mouth
• any symptoms of infection, such as a fever (temperature of 38℃ or higher)
• any changes in your mouth that you are worried about

To diagnose the cause of dental bleeding, your doctor or dentist will examine your mouth and ask about your symptoms. Your doctor or dentist may also ask about:

• your oral health habits
• your diet
• any previous dental trauma

Treatment for gum disease

The treatment for gum disease involves removing plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) from your teeth. This can be done by a:

• dentist
• oral health therapist
• dental hygienist
• specialist periodontist

You will also need to brush and floss your teeth regularly to keep your gums healthy. It's recommended that you use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste when brushing your teeth.

​​​​​​​Treatment of other mouth conditions

Abscesses are small pockets of pus that can occur inside your tooth or gum, often caused by tooth decay. Treating an abscess may require antibiotics and pain-relief medicines.

Mouth ulcers are sores that appear on the inside of your mouth. They will usually get better without treatment. Your doctor may recommend pain-relief medicines or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water for short-term relief.

Tooth decay is caused by a build-up of plaque and can lead to a cavity (hole) in your tooth. See your dentist if you have any symptoms of tooth decay — you may need a filling or varnish on your tooth.

Ask your dentist how to best treat your mouth condition.

​​​​​​​Self-care at home

If your dental bleeding was caused by an injury or a dental procedure, here is some tips that can help:

• Apply pressure over the area with gauze or a clean cloth. Dampen the cloth slightly with clean water.
• Keep this cloth in place for 30 minutes without removing it. Check to see if the bleeding has stopped. If not, re-apply a clean cloth and see a dentist.
• Do not rinse your mouth or put your fingers in your mouth.
• If you are in pain, ask your pharmacist which pain-relief medicines you can take.
• Avoid strenuous activity, hot drinks and hard foods.
• Avoid or limit smoking and vaping as this can stop your mouth from healing properly.
• Always visit a dentist after an injury to your mouth or teeth.

Follow any advice your dentist gives about eating and drinking after dental work.

Read more about first aid for dental injuries.

If your bleeding gums are caused by gum disease and are not treated, the condition can get worse and lead to:

• periodontitis (severe gum disease) — this may be irreversible and can cause loss of teeth
• an abscess — this may result in your tooth needing to be removed

Gum disease is also linked to a higher chance of long term health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

It's important to have good oral health to help prevent bleeding gums and dental bleeding. Here are some tips that might help:

• Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste after every meal. If this is not possible, try to rinse your mouth after each meal.
• Use dental floss every day — ask your dentist about how to floss if you are unsure.
• Visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Avoid foods and drinks high in sugar.
• Avoid or limit smoking and vaping.
• Limit your alcohol intake.

Find out more about different types of gum disease (Opens in new tab) on the Teeth.org.au (Opens in new tab)website

Languages other than English

Visit the Health Translations (Opens in new tab) page for a fact sheet on gum disease (Opens in new tab) in multiple languages.

The Teeth.org.au (Opens in new tab) website offers a variety of resources in languages other than English (Opens in new tab).

​​​​​​​Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Teeth.org.au (Opens in new tab) website offers resources, including information on:

• visiting the dentist (Opens in new tab)
• healthy drink choices for your teeth (Opens in new tab)

You can also call the healthdirect helpline for advice on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.