Proven Ways to Heal Bleeding Gums When Flossing
Around 50% of adults experience bleeding gums when flossing in their lifetime. Bleeding from gums when flossing is a sign that you have active bacteria that needs more attention. Daily flossing is key to healing the gums and improving oral health.
This article will outline what it means if you are experiencing bleeding gums after flossing, what you can do about it, and how to find some immediate pain relief.
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Bleeding Gums When Flossing: Understanding The Stages of Gum Disease
If you’re experiencing bleeding gums after flossing, chances are you are starting to develop an early stage of gum disease. Bleeding from gums when flossing is a very common symptom of gingivitis and needs to be dealt with.
Understanding the stages of gum disease will help you figure out why you’re experiencing bleeding from gums when flossing, what stage of gum disease you might be in, and what you need to do in order to fix it.
Here are the 4 stages of gum disease:
- Gingivitis: This is the initial stage of gum disease. Bleeding gums when flossing is very common at this stage. At this point, reversing gum disease is still 100% possible. The gums will start to appear darker and bleed when touched.
- Slight Gum Disease: If gingivitis is left untreated, the bacteria will start affecting the bone that supports the teeth. The bacteria become more aggressive and can increase bleeding and gum sensitivity. This stage is still manageable.
- Moderate Gum Disease: The destructive bacteria in your mouth will progress and continue to promote bone loss. The harm to the bone is irreversible and the gum disease becomes chronic. Because the gums and supporting bone are compromised, tooth sensitivity is common.
- Advanced Gum Disease: This is the most severe of the gum disease stages. The percentage of bone loss is over 50% and teeth become mobile and sensitive. Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, will be present and difficult to manage.
For additional information, check out The 4 Gum Disease Stages.
Bleeding Gums After Flossing: Don't Blame the Floss
Bleeding gums when flossing is actually a sign to increase flossing. It may be tempting to stop flossing all together, but that will only make the problem worse and could even put your teeth and overall health at risk.
Flossing is the key to neutralizing bacteria and removing the food that causes bleeding. With cavities and gum disease on the rise, it’s a small action to incorporate that dramatically improves your smile.
Sometimes even flossing just a few days in a row will stop bleeding gums after flossing and provide you the relief you’re looking for. Here are some facts to consider that will help convince you to floss more:
- Brushing with a toothbrush only cleans two-thirds of the tooth surface. No matter how often you brush, how hard you brush, or how long, there will still be one-third of the tooth that has a fuzzy buildup of food, plaque, and bacteria.
- Stains from foods and beverages often start to build up in between the teeth. It’s hard for your toothbrush to contour to the tooth’s surface reaching these tight spots. Flossing helps keep your teeth white.
- You cannot see cavities that start in between the teeth without dental x-rays. To prevent permanent enamel damage, flossing is needed daily.
- 76.5 million Americans do not have dental insurance. Dental treatment is expensive and can add up quickly. Preventative oral hygiene is the best way to curb high dental bills.
Choosing the Right Type of Floss Can Help
There are several tools to help reduce bleeding gums when flossing. Choosing the right type of floss for your smile will improve oral health and make it easier to keep up the flossing habit.
Popular types of floss are:
- Traditional String Floss
- Expanding String Floss
- Flossers
- Floss Picks
- Water Flossers
- Interdental or Proxy Brushes
For more help in choosing the best floss for you, check out our Floss Alternatives Guide.
Healing Bleeding Gums When Flossing
The best way to heal bleeding gums when flossing is actually quite simple and straight forward. The better your overall oral health, the less likely you are to experience bleeding gums after flossing or gums discomfort of any kind.
Here are 3 simple steps you can take to help improve your oral health and lessen the chances of developing bleeding gums when flossing:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Brushing and flossing your teeth daily is important to remove food, plaque, and bacteria from the mouth daily. Brush 2 times a day for 2 minutes and floss at least every night.
- Anti-gingivitis dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash contain active ingredients to help target the bacteria that aid bleeding gums.
- Get Frequent Dental Cleanings: Your dental hygienist will remove the food, plaque, and bacteria on your teeth and in the surrounding gum pockets. This will help heal the gum tissue and decrease bleeding gums during pregnancy.
- Visiting the dentist for cleanings every 4 months instead of every 6 may be needed to effectively heal the gums. Our Breaking Down Dental Cleanings article can help you learn more.
- Increase Your Water Intake: Frequent sips of water helps neutralize bacteria, wash away acid, prevent dry mouth, and keep you hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day will help reduce bleeding gums during pregnancy and after.
Recommendations for Bleeding from Gums When Flossing
Our best recommendation for bleeding from gums when flossing, in addition to practicing the 3 simple steps listed above, is to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Bleeding from gums when flossing is a very common sign of gingivitis and needs to be taken seriously. As the first stage of gum disease, gingivitis is completely reversible and easily dealt with.
However, if you choose not to see the dentist and the bleeding from gums when flossing gets worse, you could risk developing more severe symptoms of gum disease and even risk developing a chronic condition.
Seeing your dentist is the best way to understand why bleeding from gums when flossing occurs and how to go about fixing it as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my teeth always bleed when I floss?
Bacteria in the mouth produce acid and cause cavities and bleeding gums. Bleeding gums when flossing is caused by a lack of bacteria removal. Brushing and flossing daily combined with routine dental cleanings is the only way to reduce bleeding gums.
Will my gums bleed less the more I floss?
In most cases, yes. Flossing every day will help remove food, plaque, and bacteria that cause bleeding gums. If there is hardened plaque called calculus under the gums, a dental cleaning is needed to remove it to heal the gums.
Take Home Smile Store
Visit our Take Home Smile store for educational brochures and other fun printables to help with oral hygiene. All products can be customized to fit your dental needs.
