Bleeding gums Assessment Questionnaire

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Bleeding gums. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.

Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:

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How long has the problem of bleeding gums been apparent to you?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
Do you remember any injury to the gums that may have cause the bleeding?
Have you noticed any bleeding from other areas?
Why: e.g. nose, easy bruising of skin, painful swelling of joints - may help determine if due to bleeding disorder.
Did you notice a viral illness or sore throat beforehand?
Why: may suggest acute Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) especially in children.
Dental health?
Why: when last saw a dentist?, dental care routine? Known dental caries? - may suggest gingivitis, periodontitis, Vincent's infection.
Medical history?
Why: of leukemia , immunocompromised, malnutrition.
Medication history?
- Medications that may reduce platelets include e.g. chloramphenicol, cytotoxic drugs, gold, heparin, phenylbutazone, sulphonamides, quinine, quinidine, thiazide diuretics
- Medications that cause platelet function abnormalities include aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
- Medications that cause coagulation factor deficiency include warfarin
- Family history?
  Why: of easy bruising or bleeding.
- Dietary history?
  Why: may indicate Scurvy if Vitamin C deficient; malnutrition can increase the risk of Acute ulcerative gingivitis (Vincent's infection).
- Cigarette smoking?
  Why: increases risk of gingivitis.
- Alcohol history?
  Why: can reduce platelets.
1. Easy bruising, bleeding nose, heavy periods
  Why: may suggest bleeding disorder as cause.
2. Tiredness, weight loss, fever, night sweats
  Why: may suggest malignancy such as leukemia.
3. Gum ulceration?
  Why: may suggest acute ulcerative gingivitis (Vincent's disease).
4. Skin rash?
  Why: may suggest lupus erythematosus which can cause an autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
5. Dry mouth (xerostomia)?
  Why: e.g. diabetes, certain drugs , Sjogren's syndrome, dehydration, anemia, HIV infection, irradiation - can increase the risk of dental caries and thus gingivitis and bleeding gums.

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Bleeding gums:

The following list of conditions have 'Bleeding gums' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Bleeding gums or choose View All.

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