“My gums bleed when I floss.”
It’s a statement that countless dentists have heard around the country. And as a result of the bleeding gums, most people give up flossing for good. There’s a common misconception that since the gums bleed whenever you’re flossing, the floss is actually making things worse.
In reality, it’s the other way around.
Bleeding while flossing is usually because of an inflammatory response. When dental plaque (a collection of microscopic bacteria) goes untouched, it tends to accumulate along the gums and just under the edges of the gum tissues. This triggers an immune response, telling the body that there is an infection. Disrupting the plaque is essential in stopping the cycle of gingivitis and gum disease.
Sometimes your flossing technique can lead to undue irritation of the gum tissues. If you're concerned that the floss is physically irritating your gums, here’s how to use it properly:
• Wrap the floss in a “C” shape against the side of the tooth
• Keeping the floss against the tooth, rub up and down the side of the tooth, allowing the floss to slip gently below the edges of your gums
• Repeat this 3-5 times
• Lift the floss up over the gums, then wrap it around the adjacent tooth
• Repeat this process until both sides of all teeth have been flossed
If you have brushed and flossed properly every day for two weeks without any improvement in your gum health, you may have active periodontal disease. At that point, it’s important to reach out to a gum specialist for an evaluation. The earlier you seek out care, the more progressive the gum infection is likely to become.