swollen gum and bleeding around one tooth

Hi, I've noticed recently that I have a bit of a gap in between two of my teeth on the top left hand side of my mouth. I can feel it with my tongue, but can't see it. Also, the gums around the one tooth with the gap beside it have been swollen and red looking BUT not all the time. Sometimes I forget it's even there. When I brush my teeth sometimes it bleeds around that one tooth. But tonight I was just sitting in bed, and I sort of put my tongue up to the gap between the two teeth and sucked a bit and tasted blood. I don't think I did anything to irritate the area by eating anything hard or anything like that. I'm not really sure what's going on. I know I should see a dentist, and I will even though I have a dentist phobia, but does anyone know what this could be? Or has anyone ever experienced anything like this before? Thanks.

[mamaboulet]

Bleeding gums are often the first sign of early gum disease. When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned? You need to see a dentist.