If My Gums Bleed, Should I Stop Flossing? - General and Cosmetic Dentistry

This is an important question the our patients at Dennis J Coleman DDS in Davison ask from time to time. The answer is definitely no!

Bleeding is probably a sign that you need to clean your teeth and gums more thoroughly—not leave them alone. It is extremely challenging to clean effectively between teeth without using floss or an interdental brush.

If you have never flossed before, your gums might bleed the first few times you do. The bleeding may be due to detrimental gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding frequently stops within a week or two.

Gum disease is quite common, and is a leading cause of tooth loss. If you don’t make flossing a habit, and your gums become sore, swollen, and tender, it could lead to gum disease. The good news is that, unlike cavities, gum disease can be reversed with improved oral hygiene.

It is critical to correctly use dental floss to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth:

Cut a length of floss about 18 inches long.
Securely wind each end around your middle fingers.
Take hold of the floss with your forefinger and thumb leaving about two inches to work with.
Thread the floss between two teeth.
Hold the floss tightly against the side of the tooth and move it up and away from the gumline. You want to clean the space between the tooth and gum without pulling more gum tissue away, so it’s critical to scrape up and out of the pocket.
Move the floss around the tooth to clean every surface—especially those that your brush can’t reach.

At Dennis J Coleman DDS in Davison NC, our goal is to help patients preserve healthy teeth and gums. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next checkup with us today!