Comming from a diffrent place, I actually was taught to keep my strings adjusted high above the fretboard so i could bend under them.  I makes the bent sting less likely to buzz up against the adjoining strings next to it.   I now also mute the adjointing strings with another fretting hand finger or the heel of my strumming hand palm.  But I still use that approach to bending. 

I must admit that I don't play much accoustic guitar any more.  My old fingers complain too much when I do so.