Bleeding gums might seem like a minor inconvenience when brushing your teeth. But Beverly Hills cosmetic and restorative dentist Arthur Glosman, DDS , says that familiar streak of blood could be an early warning sign of inflammation that deserves attention.

The concern goes beyond dental hygiene. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , approximately 42 percent of American adults 30 and older have periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease that damages the tissues supporting teeth.

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Why Bleeding Gums May Be More Than a Dental Problem

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Glosman believes Americans have become too comfortable dismissing bleeding gums as normal.

“Chronic inflammation anywhere in the body deserves attention, and the mouth is one of the places we can actually see, measure and treat inflammation during its early onset—often years before the patient has any additional symptoms,” he explains.

Bleeding can…