The Vitamin You Need If Your Gums Bleed

Seeing a little blood when you brush or floss can be concerning, as it sometimes indicates poor gum health. However, it could just be a sign that you are brushing too hard or flossing incorrectly. In addition, sensitive gums might tend to bleed a little bit, according to Medical News Today.

However, there are several other reasons why your gums might bleed when you brush or floss. WebMD points out that other common causes of bleeding gums include ill-fitting dentures or inflamed gums due to pregnancy. If you take blood thinners, your gums might bleed more easily. Bleeding gums are also a symptom of leukemia and swollen gums that bleed are a sign of diabetes. The most common cause of bleeding gums is gingivitis or some other periodontal disease as a result of plaque buildup on the teeth along the gum line, per Medline Plus. But lack of a certain vitamin could be a culprit.

Bleeding gums could mean that you are deficient in vitamin C, which plays an important factor in helping your body heal, according to Mayo Clinic. In fact, you don't even have to be technically deficient. Simply having low levels of the vitamin can result in bleeding gums. Smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke might lower your vitamin C levels. If you don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, you could also have low levels.

A review of several studies published in the National Library of Medicine showed that people with lower levels of vitamin C were more prone to develop gum disease than those with higher levels (via Healthline). Moreover, another study revealed that increasing vitamin C reduced gum bleeding. So, if your gums bleed, you might try increasing your intake of this healing vitamin to see if it helps. The recommended dose of vitamin C is 90 milligrams for adult men and 75 milligrams for women, according to Livestrong.