Okay, so here's the thing ...

Before surgery, the internist said that my bloodwork looked good, but I had a Vitamin D deficiency, and that she would tell my doctor I needed some RX strength supplements. Those never materialized, and while I realize I should have asked the surgeon, to be honest, there was so much going on at the time and it all happened so fast, that I just plain forgot about it.

I was on a liquid diet for ten days before surgery, then again for fourteen days after surgery. Including the day of surgery, that is 25 days of liquid dieting.

I've been on full foods for about a week now, and I'm really trying to get my Vitamins and Protein in. I'm taking two chewable Flintstones vitamins each day, as per the PA, and I'm taking in at least 50 g of protein each day but ...

My gums are bleeding. Everytime I brush my teeth, which is about four to five times a day (I know, I have issues, lol), my gums bleed. I know this is not a gingivitis thing, because I have braces (yes, I am 45 with braces, ha ha) and I'm at the orthodontist once a month. My teeth are in good shape in terms of oral hygiene. This must be a nutrition thing.

My question: Has this happened to anyone else? And does anyone know which nutrient deficiencies cause bleeding gums?

Thanks so much for your input!

okay, so I went to the doc, who said that most morbidly obese people are vitamin D deficient, which is why they prescribed them for me. The bleeding gums are likely a nutrient deficiency, which should resolve itself once my eating is better balanced. Hope that helps!

There is a quite simple answer everybody is overlooking: most of us got heparin during surgery. It's a blood thinner and prevents clotting. I had trouble with bleeding when I brushed my teeth for about a month and a half after my surgery, but it's all better now.

I was told not to have any unnecessary dental work done for three months after my surgery because heparin has a long residence time in the body and bleeding could become problematic. That included going to the dentist for a cleaning. I also noticed that the small bumps I got at work turned into massive bruises almost until Christmas, and I had my surgery in mid-October.

It's late and I only read the first couple of posts on here but this happened to me too and I had horrible bleeding at my dental cleaning the other day. The hygenist and the dentist both said it was just my body reacting to the stress that it had just gone through (i.e. drastic change in diet and the surgery and recovery.) I had my surgery 12/11 so I'm only four weeks out. I am an avid brusher/flosser and have routine dental care so there was no problems there. I take all my vitamins, etc. They do not think it is a health issue at all.

Your probably brushing too often and it has irritated your gums. If you told your ortho about how many times you brush they would tell you twice a day. It's more important to floss especially with braces. Deep pockets don't usually bleed and you probably don't have deep pockets or they would have told you this. Poor nutrition does not lead to bleeding gums but over brushing does.

Good luck. And communicate to your dentist, he/she will confirm what I just told you.

VIT C defficiancy can cause bleeding gums.

Your probably brushing too often and it has irritated your gums. If you told your ortho about how many times you brush they would tell you twice a day. Deep pockets don't usually bleed Poor nutrition does not lead to bleeding gums but over brushing does.

Good luck. And communicate to your dentist, he/she will confirm what I just told you.

I'm not sure where you got that info, but you are misinformed. Deep pockets do bleed .............it is gum disease. Poor nutrition can cause bleeding gums.

If a dentist told me what you just said, I would find a new dentist.