How to Repair Injured Gums From Flossing

Flossing is a regular part of proper dental hygiene. Occasionally, injury to the delicate gum tissue occurs due to excess pressure from the floss or improper techniques. Signs and symptoms of gum injury are bleeding, pain and tenderness. Care of injured gums is crucial because the dark, moist environment of the mouth is a prime breeding ground for bacterial growth, which may result in further complications to the healing process.

Things You'll Need

• Sterile gauze
• Sterile saline solution

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply pressure to the injured area using a sterile gauze pad or cotton ball. Apply firm pressure until the bleeding stops. Injuries to lips and gums may cause profuse bleeding due to the vascular nature of the mouth.

• 2

  Rinse the mouth with a sterile saline solution. One of the most common complications of gum injuries is secondary infection cause by trapped bacterial and food. Frequent rinsing using a saline solution forces out bacteria and food from delicate gum folds.

• 3

  Avoid flossing the area for three to five days while the gum is healing. Continue with other dental hygiene routines during the healing process.

• 4

  Examine the area frequently by looking for any signs of infection, including redness, swelling or discharge.

• 5

  Contact your dental care professional if you see any signs of infection or you feel as though the area is not healing properly.