Mouth-Gut Connection: What Bleeding Gums Got To Do With Your Gut

Khristina Maureen
Jul 13
3 min read

Updated: Nov 8

Pink plastic intestines next to pink dentures with a toothbrush on a pink background. The scene is playful and educational.

Why Your Gums Might Be Tattling on Your Gut

I had a longtime patient, a nurse, no less, who took impeccable care of her teeth.

We’re talking frequent cleanings, flossing, brushing, mouthwash, Water flossing twice daily, 'rubber-tipping,' the whole oral hygiene gold-star lineup.

But her gums were still inflamed and still bleeding.

One day, during her cleaning, she half-joked, "Why do you always ask about my gut health? This is a dental visit, not a nutrition appointment."

A few months later, she canceled an appointment.

"Something came up," she said.

That "something" turned out to be a raging flare-up of diverticulitis.

It was a literal gut storm.

I didn't say, 'Told you so,' but I did think: This is exactly why we can’t separate the mouth from the body.

So… What Does Gut Trouble Have to Do With Bleeding Gums?

Welcome to the gut-mouth connection, the often-overlooked yet wildly important pathway that links your digestive health to your oral health.

Here’s how it works:

1. Inflammation Travels: Meet the Cytokine Squad

When your gut is inflamed (think: IBS, diverticulitis, food sensitivities), your immune system sends out chemical messengers called cytokines.

Ever heard of TNF-α and IL-6?

Yes, they sound like secret agent codes. But they’re not.

They’re pro-inflammatory signals (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Interleukin-6), and these cytokines don’t stay put in your gut.

They travel through your bloodstream, creating systemic inflammation, which can also affect your gums.

Even with perfect brushing and flossing, if your gut is producing excessive cytokines and your immune system is overactive, your gums can still become red, swollen, and bleed.

Now add leaky gut (also known as intestinal permeability), and things get messier.

With a compromised gut lining, more toxins, bacteria, and food particles enter your bloodstream and fire up an even bigger immune response. (Source)

So even if you’re an oral hygiene overachiever, your gums might be bleeding because your gut is inflamed, and leaking all that inflammation into your system like it’s got secrets to spill.

2. Your Microbiome Is Sending Mixed Signals

Think of it like roommates who share the same house. If the gut is throwing parties all night, the mouth eventually starts showing signs of the chaos.

And no, your colon bacteria don’t crawl up into your gums (gross and false). But…

A compromised gut = weakened immune system = oral bacteria becoming bolder.

Basically, when your gut isn’t keeping things in balance, your mouth picks up on the dysfunction.

3. Leaky Gut Can Lead to Nutrient Deficiencies, And Your Gums Feel It

Your gut is where nutrients get absorbed.

So if your lining is inflamed or damaged, you might not be breaking down and using key nutrients needed for gum health, like:

Vitamin C – essential for gum tissue repair
Zinc – supports immune defense
Vitamin K2 – helps maintain gum and jawbone strength
Folate – helps regenerate healthy cells

Result? Your gums are being affected from both ends: they are inflamed and undernourished.

So What Can You Do? Start With the Mouth-Gut Connection.

If you’re tired of brushing like a boss and still seeing blood on the floss, maybe it’s time to stop blaming your toothbrush and start asking bigger questions:

Is my gut inflamed?
Am I absorbing key nutrients?
Could my immune system be stuck in overdrive?

Real Talk & Final Bite

Bleeding gums aren’t just about brushing better (though please do). If we focus solely on oral care but overlook gut health, inflammation, and immune function, we’re missing the bigger picture.

This is why I practice Functional Nutrition with a side of dental smarts.

The mouth isn’t a solo act; it’s part of a whole-body performance. We zoom out to connect it with your gut, your immune system, and the bigger health picture.

— Khristina Maureen

Your Functional Nutrition Ally

If this hit home, check out my latest blog on the Mouth-Gut Connection and grab my free Mouth-Body Connection Quiz + free DIG Deep Starter Guide to start decoding your body’s signals today.