Can I get teeth whitening with bleeding gums?

[Floris]

Dear dentist,

I have a teeth and gum problem, my gums bleed in the mornings when I brush them. They bleed a lot of the time when i brush my teeth, for a couple of years now.

I would like to have teeth whitening to make my teeth as white as they can become. However I am not sure if my bleeding gums are an obstacle to me getting teeth whitening or not?

I havnt been to see the dentist in a while. Could you tell me what i need to do to get my teeth whiter and stop my gums bleeding?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Floris,

Thank you for your post.

Bleeding gums is very common and should not be ignored. Bleeding gums can be a sign of periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss. I suggest you book a check-up and hygiene appointment. Our dentists will find out the cause of your bleeding gums and discuss what can be done to reduce it. Usually one or more sessions of hygiene is necessary. Your brushing and flossing technique will be looked at and suggestions for improving them given.
Generally effective brushing twice a day for 3mins each time and daily flossing will reduce the bleeding gums. You should also use a daily fluoride mouthwash.

Teeth whitening is not carried out with bleeding gums. We will stabilise your gums first and then discuss the options for whitening your teeth. There are generally 3 ways you can whiten teeth at Pearl. Home whitening, zoom laser whitening and finally a combination of zoom laser whitening and home whitening. Combination teeth whitening is the most effective and fastest way for whitening teeth.