“Why do gums swell after flossing?”

Yes, gums can swell after flossing especially if you haven’t flossed in a while and then you go in and vigorously floss a specific area or over floss that area. This could cause the gums to become more inflamed and possibly even bleed. There could also be some underlying gum disease present. We do recommend having an exam if you are experiencing swollen or bleeding gums in more than one or two areas of your mouth. Especially if you have not been in to see your dentist within six months.

If it has been a long time since your teeth were cleaned, that would be the cause of the swelling.

The gum should not swell when flossing unless you are doing it incorrectly. See your dentist to make sure there is no food stuck in the gums.