Should I continue brushing if my gums bleed?

Brush confidently, wherever there's bleeding, keep brushing!

Gum bleeding can be attributed to three main factors: localized gum inflammation, systemic clotting abnormalities, or presence of growths within the gum tissue.

Localized gum inflammation is the most common cause. 

The reason gums appear red is due to their rich blood supply.

Normally, they resemble a wrung-out sponge, moist to the touch but not dripping water.

However, in the presence of inflammation, increased blood flow and swelling occur, making the gums resemble a soaked sponge, easily prone to bleeding upon contact.

The underlying cause of bleeding is typically irritants, usually plaque or calculus. 

These substances induce local inflammation, leading to bleeding.

Therefore, the areas with bleeding require enhanced cleaning.

Once these irritants are removed, the gums naturally return to normal.

Contrary to intuition, avoiding brushing due to bleeding exacerbates the issue. 

The irritants persist, resulting in recurring bleeding during brushing.