By Alison Logee, RDH, Ayurveda and Reiki Practitioner

Bleeding, puffy gums also known as gum disease, is caused by bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria can be transferred from one mouth to another. Yes….you guessed it, from kissing. Not everyone will contract an oral bacterium in this manner because your mouth must be a “host”, enticing various microbes to settle in and make themselves at home. But do you really want to find out if you’re a suitable host or not?

The sure way to keep gum disease at bay is to brush and floss your teeth every day. Your gums may hurt and bleed when you floss and that’s due to not flossing regularly. It’s like exercise….at first it hurts but once you’ve established a routine, you toughen up. Your gums will respond in the same way and the discomfort will go away.

Commit to 7 days of proper daily flossing and if you’re still experiencing some bleeding, then chances are, something is there that cannot be removed by this method and it will continue to irritate the gum until it is properly removed by your Dental Hygienist. There are various health conditions and medications that also contribute to gum disease. Take the time to see your Dental Hygienist to evaluate and discuss what may be contributing to your gum problems.