You are now leaving ThereForYou.com

Baxter Healthcare Corporation does not review or control the content of any non-Baxter site. Baxter Healthcare Corporation does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy, content, practices or standards of any non-Baxter sources.

Managing Hemophilia Hemophilia Guidance: Brushing & Flossing1

Concerned About Insurance? The CARE Program

Proactively manage your health insurance situation.

Get Started

Want More? Stay Connected

Receive hemophilia publications by email.

Learn More.

Got Questions?Get Personal Answers

Simply enter your ZIP code to connect with your Baxter representative.

Caring for teeth and gums at home with regular brushing and flossing is just as important as visiting the dentist on a regular basis.

Good dental care at home is especially important for people with hemophilia. Regular brushing and flossing helps prevent gum disease, which can result in spontaneous bleeding. Because people with hemophilia bleed longer than most, gum disease can be more difficult to manage and is important to prevent.

Hemophilia Dental Care: Attack The Plaque

Plaque, the most common cause of dental disease, is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on the tooth surface. The best way to attack plaque is to floss regularly. Flossing removes plaque that the toothbrush can’t reach, enabling cleaning between the teeth and under the gum line, where bits of food and bacteria get trapped.

For healthy teeth and gums, remember to brush and floss regularly.

Hemophilia Dental Care: Proven Tips and Techniques

If you or a loved one has hemophilia, keep the following points in mind:

  • Your dentist can show you effective brushing and flossing techniques.
  • If you have joint damage in your elbows, you might have difficulty flossing. Ask your dentist about special flossing devices or inter-dental cleaners that can make flossing easier for people with hemophilia.
  • When you begin flossing regularly, your gums might bleed slightly. Bleeding should stop within a week if flossing is kept up every day. Contact your hemophilia treatment center if you have any concerns about continued bleeding.

Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.

References

  1. Oral care for people with hemophilia or a hereditary bleeding tendency: Treatment of Hemophilia monograph № 27. World Federation of Hemophilia website. http://www.wfh.org/2/docs/Publications/Dental_Care/TOH-27_Oral-Care-Revised2008.pdf. Accessed June 8, 2011.