Sore gums can be caused by poor oral health, teething, impacted teeth, injuries, gum disease, oral cancer, and mouth ulcers. Good oral hygiene, avoiding tobacco, and eating less sugar can help prevent gum pain. If gums are already sore, avoiding extreme temperatures and using a prescribed mouthwash can help.
Sore gums are often a symptom of poor oral health and typically occur in teenagers and adults. There are several main causes for sore gums, some of which include teething, impacted teeth, injuries, gum disease, oral cancer, and mouth ulcers, just to name a few; many women also experience painful and bleeding gums due to a change in hormone levels during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Various methods of preventing gum pain, such as good oral hygiene, avoiding tobacco, and eating less sugar, can help reduce any gum pain or prevent it. however, when you don’t take the proper precautions to care for your teeth and gums, you run the risk of developing gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.
Teething
The process in which teeth work their way through the surface of the gums is known as teething and typically begins around six months of age; this process is necessary and natural, but it can create very sore gums. Teething is usually completed in infancy, with the exception of wisdom teeth, which can appear in the teens or early twenties. Some symptoms of teething in babies include biting, drooling, having a slight fever, and red or swollen gums. Offering something cold or hard to chew on or applying a medicated rub may help relieve symptoms. Many doctors recommend giving your child a pain reliever, but it is best to consult your child’s doctor before offering the drug.
Impacted teeth
When a tooth is coming out of the gums, it can be blocked by another tooth or by the jaw bone; as a result, the tooth cannot erupt onto the surface of the gums. Instead, it gets stuck or impacted under the gums and needs to be pulled out by a dentist to relieve pain and avoid problems with proper tooth alignment. A common example of impacted teeth are wisdom teeth, which usually don’t develop until the late teens or early twenties. Many people do not need wisdom teeth and are advised to have them removed as they can cause tooth problems after eruption.
Injuries
Gum pain can occur after any type of impact on the teeth or gums with a hard object, such as furniture or the floor, during a fall or an accident. These types of injuries are quite common in contact sports like hockey or soccer. Mouthguards are designed to absorb impact and reduce the chance of injury to your teeth and gums; some helmets are designed with a cage or mask on the face to prevent the eyes, nose and mouth from coming into contact with harmful objects.
Gum disease
Gingivitis and periodontitis are two types of gum disease, which is the main cause of sore gums and is more common in adults. Gingivitis is caused by an infection of the gums due to the presence of tartar on the teeth, at the gumline; The most obvious symptom of gingivitis is sore gums that bleed when brushing your teeth. Periodontitis, which weakens the attachment of teeth to bone, is often caused by an unresolved case of gingivitis. In this case, the gums can swell, bleed and change color and, if left untreated, the sufferer runs the risk of losing teeth.
Oral cancer
Most commonly found among people who smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, mouth cancer can also develop in non-smokers. Some early symptoms include sore gums, bad breath, and loose teeth; other symptoms include red or white spots in the mouth, small or large tumors, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing. In many cases, the cancerous tumor is surgically removed; radiation and chemotherapy may be needed to kill cancer cells in larger tumors.
Mouth ulcers
Commonly known as canker sores, mouth ulcers can cause sore gums if the cancer is on the surface of the gums or if the gums rub against the cancer due to its location. The cause of ulcers is not well understood but many theories exist such as nutritional deficiencies, allergic reactions or a change in diet; it is known that for some people, emotional stress or an injury to the mouth can cause an ulcer.
How to prevent and reduce painful gums
Good oral hygiene is the first step in preventing sore gums, this includes brushing your teeth and gums at least twice a day and flossing daily. Avoiding all tobacco products can reduce your risk of oral cancer. If your gums are already sore, avoiding extremely hot or cold foods and drinks can help reduce the pain; some dentists will prescribe a mouthwash to reduce swelling and pain in the gums. Eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water also helps strengthen and protect your teeth and gums.
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