Question for dentists, what % of people have bleeding gums?

[burritos]

Was getting my bi annual cleaning and the dental hygienist commented on how my gums don't bleed. I asked her how often this happens with other people and she said most people have bleeding gums during cleaning. That surprised me. What do dentists think?

[G]

Perhaps your thrombophilia is the difference?

[pierre]

My gums used to bleed, now they don’t. My dentist and hygienist would be shocked if I told them I don’t use toothpaste.

(I know I’m a weirdo, but it’s hard to argue with results).

[burritos]

My gums used to bleed, now they don’t. My dentist and hygienist would be shocked if I told them I don’t use toothpaste.

(I know I’m a weirdo, but it’s hard to argue with results).

Yeah, but you're nice about it. I otoh am pretentious(knowingly). I have a theory about being pretentious if people want to go down that rabbit hole.

[legobikes]

I want to hear a theory about being pretentious, though I doubt it will impress someone of my intellect.



I sometimes don't use toothpaste. I also don't scrub hard at my teeth but after losing a baby tooth to cavities last year I finally caved and started flossing.

[FibroBlast]

It's fairly common. I'd say about >50% of people. Bleeding is a sign of inflammation in your gums.

If its in isolated areas, likely you could clean better there. If its all over your mouth, you likely have periodontal disease.

[RDB]

Depends on which hygienist you see

[Anne]

What percent of people who would have bleeding gums at their cleaning actually go to the dentist?

[VagabondMD]

I cannot help but think of Bleeding Gums Murphy.

[VagabondMD]

[Lordosis]

RIP

[MPMD]

not a dentist but when i got a phillips sonicare basically every dentist/hygienist start complementing me on my oral care regimen. and i'm not going to lie and tell you i floss very often.

i think high quality e-brushes are the holy grail or oral health, much more so than flossing.



*braces for impact*

[MaxPower]

I am not a dentist (although my wife was a dental hygienist), but I would say of the people with bleeding gums, about 100% of them don’t floss. There are certainly exceptions, and I’m not saying that everyone who doesn’t floss has bleeding gums, but I would bet I’m right.

[Brains428]

This was a fruitful discussion.

I like legobikes comment. Top 10 of the year.

[Craigslist]

Flossing causes my gums to bleed