There you are, sitting in front of your bathroom mirror giving your teeth gums their monthly flossing. Why just monthly? Well – you’re trying to get better about that right? Our dentists in Garden Grove see this a lot. Don’t worry – in most cases, it’s not a dental emergency.
So what do you do if your gums start bleeding? First. Don’t panic. Periodontal problems are some of the most prevalent disorders around the world. There’s a very real chance that you could be experiencing the very earliest stage of periodontitis (especially if you have swollen, red, and tender gums). You could also be experiencing a bit of random inflammation – perhaps from some stuck food. Or, in many cases – it’s simply a matter of your gums not being used to the attention.
Ever get a compliment when you weren’t ready for one and have all the blood rush to your face? Think about sporadic flossing and your gums in the same way! Your gums are a sensitive and very important piece of “equipment” in your mouth. So the bleeding that almost always seems to happen after you haven’t flossed in a long time doesn’t always have to mean that your gums are infected. More simply, they’re just not used to the stress. When your gums are never touched by floss and seldom touched by your toothbrush – they, tend to get a little soft and sensitive.
So if your gums protest with blood when you finally get around to giving them a thorough cleaning with floss – don’t take it as a reason to stop. Instead, use it as an excuse to floss more regularly, to give your gums the support they need and to toughen them up against bacteria, plaque, decay, and gum disease.