Is There a Mouthwash That can Help Bleeding Gums?

If you’re already experiencing bleeding gums after eating or brushing your teeth, you might be surprised to learn that traditional mouthwashes might further irritate your gums—which could cause you to stop using them and thereby miss out on the benefits they bring to your teeth and gums.⁵ Learn why your gums bleed and what mouthwashes are available to help.

Why Do Your Gums Bleed?

The primary reason that your gums bleed is due to plaque that forms at your gumline which can cause gingivitis, or inflamed gums.¹ If plaque isn’t removed from your teeth, it can harden and become a substance called dental calculus, or tartar.^1,2 When this happens, your teeth become harder to clean.

Imagine cleaning a mirror with a paper towel. It’s usually not a difficult undertaking, but if that mirror is covered with a sticky substance like honey, a paper towel won’t be particularly effective. This is what it’s like trying to brush your teeth once tartar has built up.

Once tartar has built up above your gum line, the gum tissue can become swollen and may bleed easily when you brush your teeth.² If it’s not dealt with, the bleeding can increase, and the buildup can lead to a more advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis.¹

Of course, there are other reasons that you may be experiencing bleeding gums. Some other causes may include:¹

• Bleeding disorders
• Brushing too hard or using a toothbrush that doesn’t have soft bristles
• Pregnancy and related hormonal changes
• Vitamin C or Vitamin K deficiency
• Flossing incorrectly
• Partial dentures or dental appliances that don’t fit
• Blood-thinning medications

If your bleeding gums are caused by one of these other reasons, there are steps that you can take to mitigate it, via supplementing with vitamins or talking with a dental professional about adopting proper oral care techniques. Always check with your healthcare provider before taking further action.

If gingivitis or periodontitis is responsible for your bleeding gums, speak with your dental professional about options and learn what you can do to treat it at home to prevent it from worsening, or, if possible, how to recover from it. The treatment recommended by your dentist or periodontist will depend on the severity of your gum disease.³ Nonsurgical options may include scaling, which is thoroughly effective at removing tartar buildup off your teeth.³ Surgical options may be necessary if your gum disease has progressed to the point where it's affecting the roots of your teeth or your jawbone.³

Mouthwash to Help Bleeding Gums

The best way to prevent the kind of plaque buildup that can cause gum disease is by regularly visiting an oral care specialist and brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, every day and flossing.² However, if your gingivitis has advanced, your gums may have begun to separate from your teeth, creating a pocket that can become infected.⁴

A mouthwash that’s specially formulated to help bleeding gums can help address the build up of plaque in hard-to-reach places. Thankfully, this sort of mouthwash is available at your local drug store without a prescription: Parodontax Active Gum Health Daily Mouthwash is designed for people with bleeding gums. It’s an antiplaque oral rinse that helps to kill over 99.9% of plaque bacteria and creates an antibacterial shield while freshening breath.* Its alcohol-free formula won’t cause burning or irritation to your already-sensitive gums, so you can address the problem at hand without creating a new one.

Don’t let your bleeding gums keep you from developing solid oral care habits and address the problem with parodontax.

*Plaque bacteria associated with gingivitis in a laboratory test