Blood in your mucus from mouth

Blood mixed with saliva or mucus can come from inflamed gums, a mouth injury, a nosebleed draining backward or another source that needs examination.

Oral bleeding may begin at the gingival margin, a tongue or cheek wound, a socket, an ulcer or an infected tooth. Blood from the nose or throat can also mix with saliva, so the location, colour, amount and trigger matter.

Rinse gently, look for an obvious injury without picking it, and apply clean gauze with steady pressure to a bleeding mouth wound. Do not place aspirin directly on gum or continue brushing aggressively over the site.

Obtain urgent assessment for bleeding that does not settle with pressure, follows facial trauma, or occurs with dizziness, breathing difficulty, facial swelling or difficulty swallowing. Recurrent unexplained blood also needs examination.

Ask whether the blood is from the gums, nose, throat, tooth socket or soft tissue. Tell the dentist about trauma, ulcers, gum disease, recent extraction and medicines that affect clotting.