Why Do My Teeth Bleed When I Floss?

Do you regularly floss your teeth? Though everyone should floss once a day, the unfortunate truth is that most people don’t floss nearly as often as they should. A whopping 32% of Americans don’t floss their teeth at all!

If you decide to floss after a long period of not flossing, you might notice the metallic taste of blood in your mouth before you finish. Bleeding gums are a common after-effect of infrequent flossing. But why exactly does flossing make your gums bleed?

When you floss, you remove bacteria and plaque that get caught in the crevices between your teeth. Though brushing does a good job of removing bacteria from the surface of your teeth, it can’t clear bacteria from between your teeth. If you go along period without flossing, bacteria and plaque can “hide” from your toothbrush by colonizing in between your teeth. Bacteria flourishment and reproduction make your gums sensitive to any kind of pressure. When you finally do floss, you’ll likely see blood because the bacteria in your mouth have damaged your gum tissue.

You might also deal with bleeding gums if you haven’t been to your dentist in Wynnewood, PA in a while. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you should visit your dentist’s office twice a year for cleaning. The cleaning you receive at the dentist is more intensive and can help remove plaque from the gum line more effectively than just brushing alone. If you’ve been skipping your trips for cleanings due to fear, consider seeing a dentist for people with anxiety in Philadelphia, PA — like Wynnewood Dental Arts.

If you have dental anxiety in Philadelphia, Wynnewood Dental Arts is here to help! We offer compassionate and safe sedation dentistry for anyone who has been putting off a visit to their dentist. Give us a call today at 610-642-0139 to learn more or book your appointment