Bleeding gums can be a sign of periodontal diseases, especially gingivitis. Gums bleed mainly because of inadequate removal of plaque from teeth and gums, especially gum lines. If plaque is not removed from teeth and gums through regular brushing and flossing and professional dental cleanings by a general dentist, it will harden on the gum lines and lead to inflammation of the gums, called gingivitis and causes them to bleed. If not treated, it leads to increased bleeding and advanced gum and jawbone diseases called periodontitis. Eventually, it will destroy the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth and your teeth may become loose and fall out.
Bleeding of gums can also be sign of bleeding disorders, hormonal changes during pregnancy in women, ill-fitting dentures, infections related to teeth or gum, Leukemia, Scurvy, use of blood thinners or simply brushing too hard, improper flossing of deficiency in Vitamin K. Before you jump to any conclusions, consult with your general dentist about it.

Regular professional cleanings by a specialist can help prevent gingivitis and other gum diseases. Also regular checkups by your general dentist can determine any early signs of periodontal diseases (gum diseases) and your dentist can refer you to a periodontist to cure the problem before it irritates you or causes permanent damage to your teeth and gum.
Brush at least twice a day, but do it gently and with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Also, floss your teeth at least once a day to prevent plaque from building up between your teeth. If your gums bleed, make an appointment with one of our dentists or periodontists at United Dental Care (also known as Culver City Dentist, Beverly Hills Dentist, Los Angeles Dentist and West Los Angeles Dentist). Meanwhile apply pressure to the bleeding point with a gauze pad. You may rinse with salt water but avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes. If you wear dentures consult with your orthodontist first. 

Your teeth and gums are not safe from high blood sugar. As your blood sugar level goes higher and higher the risk of tooth decays (cavities) and gum diseases become more and more.
Mouth naturally contains many kinds of bacteria. Sugar and starches in the foods we take interact with these bacteria and form a sticky film on the teeth which we call plaque. The acid in the plaque eats away the enamel of the teeth and can lead to cavities. With the higher blood sugar that comes with diabetes, the wear on the teeth becomes more and the risk of cavities becomes higher.
If you don't brush and floss regularly, not only the plaque is not removed from your teeth, it will harden under your gum line and turn into a substance called tartar or calculus. The more the tartar stays on your gums, the more the part of your gum around the base of the teeth, which is called gingivia, gets irritated, swollen and finally start to bleed. That's what we call gingivitis.
If gingivitis is not treated in time, the serious infection caused by it will destroy soft tissue and bone that support your teeth (periodontitis). In the long run, periodontitis causes your gums to pull away from your teeth. Your teeth may become loose and fall out as a result of untreated periodontitis, which is more sever among people with diabetes. In people with diabetes the resistance to infections is lower and healing takes more time. Infections as a result of periodontitis tend to cause the blood sugar level to rise and the diabetes would be harder to control.
Controlling your blood sugar level is the first step in preventing these diseases. As a general dentist, I believe brushing and flossing are the most important things you have to do to prevent gum and teeth diseases, not only in people with diabetes but for everyone. Brush at least twice a day, all the better if you do it after meals and snacks, and make sure to floss at least one each day. Have one of our dentists at Culver City Dentist, Beverly Hills Dentist or Los Angeles Dentist professionally clean your teeth twice a year and check for early signs of gum diseases.

Dental care for kids should start even before their teeth come out. Just because you can't see the teeth doesn't mean that they're not there. Many babies are born with several teeth completely developed in their jaw. Wipe your baby's gums with a soft damp cloth after each feeding. It helps preventing the buildup of bacteria. After the teeth appear, start brushing them with a soft kid's toothbrush twice a day. As a kids dentist I recommend using fluoride toothpastes only when your child is pre-school age. Always use only a small amount of them. Kids usually swallow most of these toothpastes and swallowing too much of them can leave permanent stains on the teeth.
Another one of my concerns as a kids dentist is cavities. Cavities are holes made by bacteria in the teeth and unfortunately are very common in kids. Consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks increases the risk of cavities. Having your kids teeth regularly checked by one of our dentists at Culver City Dentist, Mar Vista Dentist, West Los Angeles Dentist, Beverly Hills Dentist or any other one of our dental offices helps preventing cavities. Avoid sweets, sticky foods and between-meals snacks and don't forget brushing your kid's teeth.
Baby-bottle tooth decay is another issue for kids. When you put your baby to sleep with a bottle, or your kid just goes around the house with a bottle in his or her mouth, milk or juice in the bottle remain on the teeth and their sugar eats away the enamel, making an ideal environment for the bacteria to gather and grow.
Thumb-sucking is not a danger for your kid's teeth before age 4-6. If your kid still sucks his or her thumb, fingers or pacifier after age 4, ask your kids dentist to watch for signs of any problem. Thumb-sucking could be a problem if it persists by the time permanent front teeth start to appear.
Finally start taking your kids to kids dentist around their first birthday. Regular checkups can help preventing many dental and oral diseases and damage to their teeth.