The Importance of Flossing Correctly When I ask my patients how many times do you floss, many say to me “Doc I stopped flossing because my gums bleed.”One of the signs of diseased gums is bleeding when touched. This condition is called Gingivitis. Gingivitis is a term used to describe bleeding gums that are caused by the accumulation of microorganisms (plaque), or systemic diseases such as leukaemia.