ASK THE DENTIST-Dr. Urban on Today’s Dentistry- Oral Bleeding

As a dentist I have always been curious why more people are not alarmed when they see blood in their mouth. I suppose it is because most oral bleeding is painless and momentary. Oral bleeding is out of sight and out of mind.
Oral bleeding can be caused by trauma or disease. Traumatic sores are noticeable and usually heal within a few days. These include cheek biting, lip biting, and scuffing of the oral lining from hard foods. Cheek biting that occurs over and over can be corrected by your dentist with minor alterations to offending teeth that catch the cheek and lip. Habitual gnawing on the cheek can create a fibrous bump that frequently gets caught up between the teeth. This bump should be removed by your dentist.
Oral bleeding from gum disease usually does not hurt and sometimes gets minimized. It is a serious sign of trouble. It seems odd that bleeding from the skin, ears, nose, stomach, and intestines raises alarm signals whereas oral bleeding goes unnoticed and sometimes undetected.
As I have mentioned in previous articles your dentist will exam your mouth for dental decay, gum disease and other abnormalities in the soft tissue, tooth alignment, jaw function, erosion, abrasion and attrition. Even with all our technological improvements with identifying gum disease it still remains that bleeding is the number one indicator for activity level for this problem.
Bleeding is caused by harmful bacteria invading the space between the gums and teeth. The body’s immune response will try to stop the invasion and swelling of the gums that is occurring. This “battlefield” will leak blood upon gentle probing, flossing, and brushing. As blood leaks out bacteria leak into the blood system and circulate around the body. The body’s immune system will generally take care of the invaders. However, if a person has a compromised immune system and is not healthy these bacteria can invade other vital organs. The inflammatory load on the body is increased and other inflammatory related diseases can be affected.
I would advise that we look at any bleeding as a portal of entry into our body by invading organisms. That especially includes oral bleeding. The mouth is very exposed to bacteria, viruses, fungus, and molds. Fortunately, the mouth is protected by our immune system and has proven to be very forgiving. Yet the oral immune system can be overcome by bad habits. Ignoring warning signs, like bleeding, is not advised. Consult with your dentist if you are aware of bleeding when brushing and flossing. Ask your dental hygienist if they can detect any bleeding sites that could be serious.
For answers to your dental questions, contact Douglas Urban, D.D.S.Cerritos, CA 90703 562 924-1523 www.DrDouglasUrban.com