The American Dental Association’s current recommendation is that if your gums bleed, you should brush and floss twice daily because this could be a sign of gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease. That’s possible. To be safe, visit your dentist.

However, a new study from the University of Washington study suggests monitoring your vitamin C intake.

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The findings indicated that bleeding of the gums upon gentle probing, referred to as gingival bleeding tendency, as well as bleeding in the eye, referred to as retinal haemorrhaging, were associated with low vitamin C levels in the bloodstream.

Additionally, the researchers discovered that increasing daily vitamin C intake helped to reverse these bleeding issues in individuals with low vitamin C plasma levels.

Both gum bleeding and retinal bleeding may be indicative of general microvascular system trouble, as well as a microvascular bleeding tendency in the brain, heart, and kidneys.

The study makes no claim that successfully reversing an elevated gingival bleeding tendency with vitamin C will prevent strokes or other serious health consequences.

The findings do suggest, however, that vitamin C recommendations intended to prevent scurvy — a fatal disease caused by extremely low vitamin C levels — are too low, and that such a low vitamin C intake can result in a bleeding tendency that should not be treated with dental floss.

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As a result, the study recommends that people monitor their vitamin C intake by incorporating unprocessed foods such as kale, peppers, or kiwis into their diets, and that if they are unable to find palatable vitamin C-rich foods, they consider taking a supplement of approximately 100 to 200 milligrammes per day.

If someone is following a specialised diet, such as the paleo diet, it is critical to monitor their vitamin C intake. Vitamin C-rich fruits, such as kiwis or oranges, are typically avoided on a low-carb diet due to their high sugar content.

This avoidance may result in an insufficient vitamin C intake, which is associated with an increased bleeding tendency. Individuals who consume only lean meats and avoid offal, the vitamin-dense organ meats, may be at an increased risk of vitamin C deficiency.

Gum bleeding and vitamin C levels have been linked for more than 30 years. Indeed, two studies (published in 1986 and 1991) co-authored by former dean of the UW School of Dentistry Paul Robertson identified gum bleeding as a biological marker for vitamin C levels.

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This connection, however, was lost in dental discussions about bleeding gums.