Why does blood appear in your saliva frequently?
Dr. B. Kanagasabapathy MDS(Ortho), Fellow ICOI Orthodontist and Implantologist
Occasionally, we see small amounts of blood in saliva. It happens when there is a rupture in the small arteries or mucosa dries up. Likely, injuring the oral tissues due to harsh brushing or flossing also leads to spitting up blood with saliva. In such cases, you don’t worry about blood-tinged saliva and it heals automatically within a few days.
However, noticing a large amount of blood in saliva while spitting and it continues for more than a week, is quite detrimental. You should pay close attention then. In this blog article, the potential causes of blood in saliva are discussed. Keep reading.
What causes bloody saliva?
A compromised dental cavity is the main reason behind getting blood in your saliva in most cases. The common dental dilemmas responsible are spitting saliva are:
1) Gingivitis – Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease and it can be identified with symptoms like gum bleeding and swollen gums. As the gums bleed frequently, you encounter a small amount of blood in your saliva as well. Deep teeth cleaning procedures like teeth scaling, root planing followed by an efficient oral hygiene routine help you to overcome this issue.
2) Mouth ulcer – Mouth ulcer, also known as canker is a common dental problem that causes lesions on the tongue, cheeks, and lips. It primarily happens when there is a cut in the oral tissues due to a bite or trauma. Such oral lesions go on their own without any treatment. It triggers difficulties like pain, burning sensation, and bleeding until it heals.
3) Oral Cancer – The growth of cancer cells on the throat, tongue, cheeks, palate, or other parts inside the mouth shows various atypical signs. Spitting up blood-tinged saliva is one of its warning signs.
Besides such problematic conditions of the mouth, various bodily disorders also cause spitting blood.
What are the systemic diseases responsible for getting blood in saliva?
Different conditions trigger bleeding in saliva. The amount and frequency of spitting blood vary with the condition’s severity.
Similarly, saliva with dark streaks of blood is accompanied by vomiting, dizziness, or other discomforts with respect to the diseased part of the body.
For instance, if a person has a respiratory disease, the sufferer notices blood-tinged saliva and coughing.
Following are some of the medical conditions that are associated with blood in saliva:
- Digestive tract disorders
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Lung cancer
- Perforated or Collapsed lungs
- Heart diseases
- Pulmonary edema
In simply, severe spitting blood indicates that a person is suffering from a severe life-threatening condition and needs immediate medical intervention.
Bottom line
Bloody saliva typically occurs due to injuries in our mouths. It is quite common and heals soon. Meanwhile, various systemic diseases and dental disorders also contribute to getting a large amount of blood in the saliva. In most cases, such saliva blood originated from infections in the respiratory system or digestive system.
Remember that the blood in saliva without any discomforts like vomiting, coughing, or others is triggered by problematic dental conditions.
However, a large amount of blood in your saliva that appears with extra distresses is a warning sign of some fatal diseases. Visit your dentist immediately if you notice blood in your saliva frequently or for more than weeks.
