Make These Changes If You Notice Oral Bleeding From Blood-Thinning Medication

People are prescribed blood thinners for a variety of medical conditions, and while these medications can definitely have a positive impact on your health, they may also lead to complications in certain areas. If you sometimes bleed from the mouth — for example, after you've flossed your teeth — you may notice a lot more blood flowing because of how thin the blood is. While you'll definitely want to speak to your family dentist about this problem, there are a number of simple changes that you can make to prevent excess oral bleeding while still taking care of your teeth. Here are some ideas.

Switch Toothbrushes

If you have firm or medium bristles on your toothbrush, they may be too rough for your mouth in its current state. These bristles have the potential to make your mouth bleed if you make too much contact with your gums while you brush, and your blood-thinning medication may cause your gums to bleed profusely. Discontinue the use of your toothbrush and switch to one with light bristles. This style of brush is still adequate for cleaning your teeth, but will be noticeably gentler on your gums.

Use More Mouthwash

One of the big benefits of flossing is to control the amount of bacteria in your mouth, but if you're noticing profuse bleeding as a result of your flossing, you may instinctively floss less. Your dentist can advise you, based on the health of your mouth and the degree to which you're bleeding, how much flossing you should continue to do. In the meantime, increasing your use of mouthwash can be an effective strategy. It will help you reduce the bacteria in your mouth without causing your gums to bleed.

Watch What You Eat

You'll also want to be mindful of what you eat if you're noticing heavy bleeding with even light contact with your gums. Certain types of foods can be rough on your gums, perhaps causing them to bleed considerably. For example, be careful about sharp foods. If you place a handful of pieces of pretzels or corn chips in your mouth, their pointy corners could hurt your gums and make them bleed profusely. Smaller bites of softer foods can be a better strategy in your situation. You may want to discuss this unwanted side effect of the medication with your family doctor, but don't shy away from talking about it with your dentist, as well.

Visit a website like https://www.belgradedental.com/ to learn more.

Share