Dental pain help!!?!

Dental pain help!!?

Over the past few weeks I have had some unusual discomfort in my gums. Everytime I brush my teeth my gums bleed so bad to where when it's time to spit out the toothpaste foam, it's blood red, not blue like it usually is. I haven't notice any color changes, but everytime I do anything, they bleed. If I touch them, eat anything particularly hard, or sometimes if i'm just chewing gum. I brush my teeth everyday and this is starting to concern me. I've even switched to an extra soft toothbrush, hoping it was my toothbrush. The toothpaste I use is Colgate Total. Should I see a dentist about this? I do not have the money and no source of income (full time college student), so if I can avoid going to one, that would be great. Thanks a bunch.

Try a non-alcohol mouthwash like Crest Pro Health. It doesn't burn, but it works just as well as Listerine. Swish your mouth out 4-6 times a day for a few days and see if the situation improves. In the mean time, be careful when brushing and eating so as not to irritate your gums any more than necessary. The bleeding gums could be from a vitamin deficiency, and if that's the case, the mouthwash won't do much to help.