PATIENT PRESENTATION MARKER

Bleeding gums

What this marker measures

Whether the patient reported bleeding gums in the last 3 months.

Health categories/Interpretations informed by this marker

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Gut environment
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‍● Pro-inflammatory microbiome: bleeding gums when brushing may be associated with gingivitis, periodontitis, or plaque.¹
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Interpreting the result

PRESENT

Questionnaire responses indicate bleeding gums when brushing teeth in the past 3 months.

NOT PRESENT

Questionnaire responses do not indicate bleeding gums when brushing teeth in the past 3 months.

Patient management insights

clinical management

Refer to dental professional: periodontal treatment may help reduce oral species in the stool in patients with gum disease.^2,3
GRADE C

Tips for patients discussion

"Your questionnaire responses show that your gums sometimes bleed when you brush. It's a good idea to see your dentist, as gum health can affect the mix of microbes that make their way into your gut."

Source references for all clinical associations, interpretation definitions, and patient management insights on this card.

1. Iwasaki, M. et al. Validation of a self-report questionnaire for periodontitis in a Japanese population. Sci Rep 11 (2021). doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93965-4
2. Bajaj, J. S. et al. Periodontal therapy favorably modulates the oral-gut-hepatic axis in cirrhosis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 315, G824–G837 (2018).
3. Baima, G. et al. Effect of periodontitis and periodontal therapy on oral and gut microbiota. J Dent Res (2024). doi:10.1177/00220345231222800