You’ve decided to make flossing more of a priority in your life but you know you have some obstacles to overcome. You realize old habits die hard and it will be a battle getting yourself to take this aspect of your oral health seriously.
Encouraged by your last visit to the DC Dental offices, you decide to take the first step and actually floss your own teeth, without the friendly assistance of your dental hygienist. There’s just this one problem: your gums are bleeding and it’s not a pretty sight.
The bleeding throughout your gums is actually proof positive that your immune system is functioning as it should – your gums are trying to rid themselves of the irritating bacteria built up around the area. Whereas instinct tells us blood is something that we should take very seriously, most situational flossing is really nothing to worry about – especially if you just came from a dental appointment.
Give it a few days of flossing before you worry about any other issues with your gums. Typically bleeding will stop altogether if you regularly floss for a few consecutive days. Some patients notice they no longer have an issue after about 5 – 10 days. You’re almost guaranteed to notice bleeding if you skip a few days or are starting a new flossing regimen.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop in this time frame, waste no time in seeing your DC Dental dentist. We’ll ensure that the bleeding in your gums is not the byproduct of a larger problem like gum disease. Gum disease can move quickly and compromise the integrity of your teeth. Infection can spread into more advanced forms of periodontitis, even getting down into the bone. These conditions require more advanced forms of treatment in order to reverse their effects.
In short, don’t worry about a little spotting along the gums until you’re a regular flosser. Contact us if you have any questions!
