Bleeding gums during tooth brushing could indicate your blood is lacking crucial… See more

That faint pink tinge in the sink after you brush your teeth is easy to explain away. “I was just brushing too hard,” you tell yourself. Or, “My gums have always been a little sensitive.” It’s a common, often ignored occurrence that many of us have accepted as normal. But your body has a limited vocabulary for sending distress signals, and bleeding is one of its most fundamental. When your gums bleed from the gentle friction of a toothbrush, it’s not a sign of aggression; it’s a sign of weakness. It’s your body’s way of saying the frontline defense in your mouth is compromised.

While poor oral hygiene is a leading cause of gingivitis (gum inflammation), the story doesn’t always end with flossing more. Sometimes, the problem isn’t what’s on your teeth, but what’s missing from your blood. Bleeding gums during tooth brushing can be a clear indicator that your blood is lacking crucial vitamins and clotting factors, most notably Vitamin C and Vitamin K.