Blood during flossing

Blood while flossing commonly reflects inflamed gums, especially when plaque has collected between teeth, but repeated bleeding deserves an examination.

Plaque contains bacteria that irritate the gingival margin and make it swollen and more likely to bleed when floss passes through. Trauma from snapping floss into the gum, a tight contact, or a rough filling can also cause bleeding in one place.

Clean gently once daily with floss or an interdental brush sized to the gap. Angle floss around each tooth in a C shape and arrange a professional cleaning if hardened calculus remains.

See a dentist if bleeding continues despite gentle cleaning, occurs spontaneously, or comes with swelling, bad taste, loose teeth, or pain. A localized bleed can also come from decay, a filling edge, or an abscess.

Ask whether the bleeding is generalized or localized, whether periodontal pockets or calculus are present, and which interdental tool fits each space.