Why Do My Gums Bleed When I Floss?

Liberty Family Dental is your local dentist that accepts Medicaid. Not all dentists do, but we believe that good dental health depends on good habits and it is best to form good habits when you are young – the younger the better, really.

In our last blog, we began discussing the proper technique for flossing, and we will continue that topic today. We discussed how the floss should be gently placed at the base of the tooth and the floss should be partially wrapped around the tooth in a “C” shape. The floss is acting as a gently scraping device to clean below the gum line. If you have just recommitted to flossing after a hiatus you may notice that your gums bleed. There are several reasons this may be happening. One of the main ones is that you are experiencing the symptoms of gingivitis

Gingivitis

• If bacteria have taken advantage of your flossing hiatus it may have developed into gingivitis.
• Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum tissue.
• Gingivitis causes gums to become red, swollen and even causes blood blisters on the inside pockets of the gum.
• If gingivitis is not taken care of early, it can progress to periodontal disease and you could easily lose teeth to it.

Actions to Take

• If you suspect you have early (or later) stages of gingivitis, make an appointment for a thorough cleaning, rinse with salt water daily and improve your daily dental habits to include brushing at least twice and flossing at bedtime.

The bottom line is that if your gums bleed when you floss them, it means you need to floss more, not less, so keep flossing!  Call today to schedule your bi-annual cleaning.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.