What is the link between leukemia and bleeding gums?
Leukemia is a specific type of cancer that affects the cells that help form blood in the bone marrow, usually the white blood cells [1].
Changes in the blood or blood cells tend to reduce the platelets that help with blood clotting and prevent severe bleeding. As a result, the most common sign of leukemia is bleeding.
Bleeding due to leukemia may also affect the gums. Certain types of leukemia such as acute myeloid leukemia [2], may cause swelling or enlargement of the gum. This makes it easier to injure them especially when brushing, thereby causing them to bleed.
Bleeding in the gums can be traced to leukemia, especially if the gums have swelling or if the bleeding occurs suddenly in a person with otherwise good oral health.
However, even in a person with leukemia, the condition might not be the reason the gums bleed. There are several other common causes of bleeding gums, including gum disease.