Why do my gums bleed when I floss?

While bleeding gums are common, they’re not normal. Healthy gums will not bleed when brushing, flossing, or getting poked by your dentist. Gums which are inflamed though, most definitely will bleed when lightly irritated. If you see blood in your sink, that means that you have inflammation in your gums and that they are not as healthy as they could be. This is your sign to start flossing more! Many people think that blood on their floss means that they should stop flossing, but it’s actually the opposite! Flossing as part of a proper oral care routine will help get your gum inflammation under control and stop bleeding!

The causes of bleeding gums when flossing

The number one most common reason for bleeding gums is due to inflammation as a result of the bacterial build up in your mouth. All the plaque and calculus that settles along and underneath your gums is FULL of bacteria. Your immune system recognizes all that bacteria and thinks that you have an infection. Your bodies response to infection is inflammation – sending blood and all the accompanying cells, signaling molecules, etc to fight the bacterial invaders! This means that your gums swell up (get inflamed), bleed easily, and are sensitive/tender to the touch (aka gingivitis). Imagine an open wound in your skin gets infected – the area will be inflamed and painful – same idea! Our bodies immune response is a great thing and saves us from countless infections throughout our lifetimes. However, when it comes to the bacteria biofilm under our gums, the problem is that it doesn’t go away unless we physically remove it. And new biofilm is forming continually forming! So, our immune system never gets a break if we don’t help it by physically removing all those bacteria with floss.

Flossing too aggressively can be a reason for bleeding gums, but it is the exception, not the rule. Remember to use the proper, gentle technique (see the other blog post about this!) so that you know you’re doing a good job, without hurting yourself!

Other possible reasons for bleeding when flossing

The same process which causes gingivitis (early, reversible gum inflammation) can lead to periodontitis down the road. This is the fancy word for full blown gum disease and means that the inflammation in your gums has become so chronic that it has started to damage the bone holding your teeth in place. If this isn’t controlled, bone loss will continue until teeth eventually become loose and either fall out or need to be extracted. This is why it is so important to visit your dentist if your bleeding gums don’t resolve after a few weeks of good flossing habits.

Other medical conditions can also contribute to bleeding gums. Bleeding/clotting disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and even leukemia can present with bleeding gums. Diabetes can make it more difficult to get unhealthy gums under control, and diabetics often benefit from a more proactive oral health routine. The use of blood thinning medication can also cause gums to bleed excessively.

How to stop your gums from bleeding when you floss

Luckily, if your gums are bleeding, it is possible to get it under control! In addition to a solid at home routine, it is important to go for routine dental visits. You need to have a professional regularly evaluate at your gums and give you a good cleaning to get rid of any build up that you’ve been leaving behind. After that, it’s your at home oral care routine that plays a huge part! Let’s talk flossing

Use gentle fluffly floss every day

The floss that you choose matters. The larger the thread, the more effective it will be with each sqipe at removing the plaque and bacteria build up. Ideally, go for a soft expanding floss. This will not only be the most efficient material, but will feel the best on sore, sensitive gums. And I promise – with a consistent flossing routine (every night is your goal!), your gums will be less sensitive, stop bleeding, and flossing will become a more comfortable experience.

Find a floss that you ACTUALLY want to use

There are so many flosses to choose from and at the end of the day, the best floss is the floss you are going to use consistently. Different thread materials and coatings can change the user experience, so find what you think is the most enjoyable to use. Some prefer having different flavored flosses to choose from so that they can change things up every night. Be sure to test out different products until you find the one, or ones, that you will use routinely.

Use the right toothbrush

While we’re talking about products – let’s talk toothbrushes. This is your reminder to use a soft or extra soft brush. Bonus points if it’s electric! We can do a lot of damage to our gums if we are over brushing, which is so easy to do if using medium/hard bristles. You absolutely do want to be brushing at the gum line because it is important to get that area clean. And if you are doing so with a gentle hand and a soft toothbrush, this won’t cause any damage.

Adjust your dental routine

Ok so here’s the deal – brush morning and night for 2 minutes, and floss at night. Your morning brush should either be before breakfast or 20 minutes after. This is to protect your teeth from the acid produced in your mouth in response to food.  You can add other products such as mouthwash or interdental brushes as needed – your dentist will be a great person to talk to for personalized recommendations. Remember to have regular dental visits (every 6 or 12 months for most people) to catch problems early and to get a professional cleaning.

Thinking about your flossing routine?

TrollTunga Tråd floss has helped so many people stick to a daily floss habit! The luscious expanding material feels so gentle on the gums while effectively removing all the bacteria and plaque under your gums. Everyone can find a flavor they love out of the four available flavors, and some even think it’s fun to use a different flavor every night. Plus, it has a fluoride varnish to help remineralize your enamel and reverse small cavities!