You brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, and there it is – some pink in the sink. Or a little blood on your towel after you wipe your mouth. Maybe you hesitate to floss because your gums bleed and you’re afraid you might be damaging your gums even more.
Chances are your gum-bleeding is a sign that you have gum disease. Gingivitis and periodontitis are infections of the gums. They need to be treated or the infections will progress, resulting in the possible loss of teeth.
You’ll need to visit a dentist so that the cause of your bleeding gums can be determined. You may be treated by a dental hygienist if the gum disease isn’t too severe. You could also be referred to a gum specialist (periodontist) if you’ve allowed the gum disease to progress to a more severe state.

There are a couple things you can do before your dental appointment that may help. First purchase a soft (or extra soft) toothbrush and some floss (it doesn’t matter what kind). Then use them! Your gums will bleed, the junk you remove from flossing will smell bad, and your gums will be sore after flossing. But don’t get discouraged! Do this twice-a-day every day. Your gums will bleed less and be less sore with each passing day. This will also make the hygienist’s cleaning more comfortable for you.
You’ll probably find the areas cleaned by the hygienist are easier to floss and will seem to heal more quickly than those areas not yet cleaned. That’s because the hygienist removes tartar that’s stuck to the tooth under the gum line, making your flossing easier and more effective.
Daily flossing and regular cleanings will soon make your bleeding gums a part of your past!