Help! My Gums Bleed When I Brush or Floss

Keep brushing and flossing! Don’t let the blood scare you into stopping. There is bacteria stuck between your gums and your teeth that needs to get out. Make an appointment with your dentist to get examined to make sure you don’t have a greater issue. In the meantime, keep brushing and flossing!

When you see blood after brushing, take note. Your gums might be irritated and need special attention from a dentist. Try gently massaging your gums with your toothbrush to help generate blood flow and eventually reduce inflammation. If the bleeding continues after you took the steps your dentist recommended, be sure to let them know. 

Bleeding can also come from a lack of flossing. Flossing is the best way to protect those hard-to-reach places between your teeth. Be sure to pay extra attention to the back molars. Food and bacteria tend to settle there and turn into plaque. That plaque eats away at the enamel on your teeth and causes cavities. Once cavities have begun to form, a dentist has to drill them away. Even if you see blood, flossing is a good way to remove bacteria between teeth. Let your dentist know if you see blood when flossing. Your teeth and gums might feel a little funny after flossing, but don’t let that deter you. Flossing is essential for good oral health. 

If you are unsure of how to best brush or floss your teeth, consult your dentist and they can give you advice for your specific situation. Everyone is unique and different, but we all need to floss and brush our teeth regularly. 

Brushing in the morning will help break up bacteria that might have settled in your mouth overnight. Since you are not talking, eating, or drinking for all that time while you are asleep, bacteria is not being constantly washed away. That is what adds to the bad smell of “morning breadth.” So brushing first thing in the morning will help clear away harmful – and smelly – bacteria. 

Flossing can be done anytime, but it is most recommended at night once you have finished eating for the day. This way it clears your teeth of some bacteria and lets your mouth rest with less bacteria to grow overnight. 

Don’t let the hassle or timing of flossing stop you from doing it all together. It’s okay if you floss first thing in the morning or after your brush at night. It is more important to do some flossing than none at all. 

The more you brush and floss regularly the less your gums should bleed over time. If bleeding persists after you have followed directions given by your dentist be sure to reach out to them. It is possible that something more serious is going on.