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What To Do About Blood When Flossing Teeth

Blood when flossing teeth is a common complaint. Of course, we all floss regularly and brush correctly, for the required amount of time, right? If you have to answer this question with your fingers crossed, you’re not alone!

The vast majority of us struggle to find the time to fit in a really good oral hygiene regime on top of a busy life and work schedule. Sometimes at the end of the day, all you want to do is fall into bed!

However, it really is vitally important that you keep on top of looking after your teeth and gums, so you can carry on smiling your brilliant smile throughout your whole life.

What Causes Blood When Flossing Teeth?

smell when flossing teeth

  • Gum disease, known as Gingivitis or its more serious cousin, Periodontitis, is the main cause of bleeding gums. Any bleeding while brushing or flossing is an early sign of gum disease, and should be taken seriously.
  • You may be using the wrong flossing technique. The aim of flossing is to remove food particulate and tartar from all over the teeth, so you need to be moving the floss all around the surface of the tooth. If you just jab it in and yank it out again, not only will you not be doing a great job of flossing, but you can cause your gums to bleed.
  • If you are a smoker, it can considerably affect your oral health. Smoking depletes the body of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, as well as filling the mouth with all sorts of unpleasant chemicals. If you smoke, you should seriously consider quitting for the health of your teeth.
  • Diet is another crucial consideration. By supplying your body with all the things it needs to maintain good health then it can function at its best, and you won’t have to worry about gum disease. If you are filling up on junk, like too much sugar and MacDonalds, it is bound to have an effect on your body. Ditch the junk food and opt for healthy, balanced, home cooked meals instead. It’s not just your wallet and your waistline that will benefit!
  • Genetics is, unfortunately, another marker for people suffering gum disease. If your parents had bad teeth and gums, there’s a chance that you may inherit them!

Don’t lay all the blame on your folks though; you have an obligation to make yourself the best that you can, and there are ways that you can avoid blood when flossing teeth:

What To Do About It?

is flossing good or bad

  1. The first, most simple tip is to floss more! Many people are put off flossing for good when they see blood when flossing teeth, but this is completely the wrong thing to do. If you floss regularly, in the correct way, you will definitely see the amount of blood decrease, then stop completely. Flossing and brushing your teeth is the one way to guarantee that you can get rid of the bacteria and build-up that cause gum disease, and to ensure that you can smile with confidence!
  2. Visit your dentist regularly. Making sure you attend your check ups is key, because it not only helps your dentist keep an eye on things but they can also perform regular deep cleans on your teeth, so you can be sure of getting rid of any leftover tartar that you may have missed with your flossing.
  3. Oil pulling sounds like a whacky idea, but it is one that is gaining momentum. Swish a teaspoon of oil, preferably coconut, around your mouth and between your teeth for about 20 minutes, and if nothing else your teeth will feel squeaky clean.
  4. Use a soft-bristled tooth brush. As long as you are using the correct brushing technique, you will be getting rid of the nasties that cause blood when flossing teeth, and this can be achieved with a soft bristled brush just as well as a hard one – and it won’t do any more damage to your gums either.
  5. Learn a proper brushing technique. Your brush should be angled at 45 degrees, in order to brush the gumline a well as the teeth themselves. Brush in small circular motions, and don’t scrub at your teeth.
  6. Consider buying a water flossing device, e.g. Waterpik Ultra or Philips AirFloss. They are equally effective and less intrusive than the tradditional flossing techniques.

Following all these tips, and continuing to floss well, should help you avoid blood when flossing teeth.

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