Everybody knows brushing and flossing are key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. But for some people, these simple habits have unintended effects, too — specifically, gum trauma and bleeding immediately after their home-care routine.
At Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC, our team can determine the underlying cause of gum bleeding and gum swelling, a common companion to bleeding. Here, learn why gums bleed after brushing and flossing and what to do about it.
Seeing blood after brushing and flossing can be alarming, but the cause is often simpler than you may think. In many cases, the culprit is a cleaning routine that’s too aggressive, and changing your approach to brushing and flossing could be all you need to keep bleeding at bay.
Your toothbrush choice is one potential factor. Using a toothbrush with hard bristles might seem like an obvious choice for eliminating the sticky plaque that causes decay and infections, but a brush with firm bristles can be too harsh for your gums. Choose a brush with soft or medium bristles to reduce the risk of bleeding related to aggressive brushing.
Brushing too long or brushing too frequently can also irritate your gums, causing bleeding and gum recession. The goal is to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. If you want to freshen your mouth and breath during the day, try rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash.
Your brushing technique can play a role, too. Ideally, you want to angle your brush at the gumline so it cleans the area where your teeth meet your gums without irritating the gum tissue itself. Don’t scrub assertively, but use short, purposeful strokes to get each tooth clean.
While brushing removes plaque and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth, it’s not so good for cleaning between teeth. For that, you need to floss.
Flossing uses special tools — typically string-type floss or special flossers that combine string floss with a plastic handle — to slide between teeth, removing plaque and food particles that can lead to bacteria buildup, gum disease, and other problems.
Like brushing, flossing can cause bleeding in a couple of ways. First, you need to pay attention to your technique. The goal is to gently slide the floss between each pair of teeth using a simple back-and-forth movement without “snapping” the floss into the gum tissue.
At the same time, you don’t want to rub the floss against the gum itself. Instead, you should position the floss at the base of the tooth, curve it into the shape of a C, and then gently pull upward to clean each tooth’s surface.
Flossing can be a little tricky, so the American Dental Association offers this handy guide with illustrations. If handling string floss is problematic, try a flosser with a handle or an interdental brush. Water flossers work, too.
If your gums are bleeding despite using the proper brushing and flossing techniques, it could be for other reasons. Gum disease is a common cause of gum bleeding, occurring when bacteria invade the area below your gums, irritating gum tissue and making it more prone to tiny cuts.
Other potential causes include:
Many problems can cause your gums to bleed after brushing and flossing, but one thing is certain: it’s not normal. While you can remedy aggressive brushing and flossing on your own, most gum symptoms need prompt evaluation to avoid complications.
If you have bleeding gums, don’t put off your dental evaluation. Call 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC in New York City and meet with our team today.
