Gums are dense tissue that surrounds base of teeth and helps hold them in place. She, too, may suffer from a disease or injury and then get sick.
British National Health Service experts consider a very common problem. Every adult has encountered it at least once in their life.
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Why does my gum hurt?
There are many reasons for this unpleasant symptom. And some of them are interconnected.
1. Accidental injuries
You may have tried to chew food with sharp, hard pieces, such as seeds or nuts, or you might have gotten a piece of bone in your chicken steak. Or they were too aggressive with their toothbrush or floss. You can burn the fabric with hot foods, such as hot dogs, pizza, coffee.
Due to injuries, tiny scratches, abrasions, and irritations may appear on the gums. The acute pain goes away quickly, but later discomfort often occurs in the affected area. And sometimes inflammation.
2. Stomatitis
Stomatitis is the general name for inflammation of the oral mucosa, including the gums, lips and cheeks. The problem can be identify by burning, small ulcers, swelling.
Stomatitis can appear due to dry mouth, viral infection, thrush, injury, smoking, chemotherapy, radiation therapy for oral cancer and other reasons.
3. Gingivitis or periodontitis
If your gums not only hurt, but also look red, swollen, bleeding – most likely you have gingivitis. For those who do not treat the disease, it develops into periodontitis. With it, the teeth become mobile.
Most often, diseases develop due to poor oral hygiene. When a person rarely or incorrectly brushes their teeth, plaque begins to accumulate on them. Over time, it mineralizes and becomes stone. The hard formation sometimes injures the gums. Plaque is also an excellent breeding ground for bacteria that multiply and cause inflammation.
Gingivitis and periodontitis also can be a consequence of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
4. Tooth abscess
If there is something wrong with a tooth, there is a risk that pus will accumulate around its root. This creates an abscess, which leads to inflammation, swelling and pain in the gums. It is dangerous because without treatment it can spread to other parts of the body and lead to serious complications.
Possible causes abscess are:
- tooth or gum infection;
- untreated caries;
- damage to a tooth or gum;
- the tooth could not grow out of the gum;
- radiation or chemotherapy.
5. Dentures and braces
Incorrectly or carelessly installed braces can sometimes irritate your gums. This can cause inflammation and pain.
And if a person installed implant, plaque also accumulates on it. Sometimes this leads to peri-implantitis, a condition in which the gums become sore and inflamed and the artificial tooth begins to loosen.
6. Oral allergy syndrome
The reaction may arise for raw fruits and vegetables, spices and nuts. This mainly happens to those who suffer from pollen allergies.
Symptoms of the syndrome include tingling and itching in the mouth. But swelling, small bumps, vomiting and diarrhea may also appear.
7. Hormonal changes in women
Due to hormonal changes is changing blood supply to the gums and their sensitivity to toxins that are released by bacteria accumulated on dental plaque increases. All this can lead to pain and swelling.
Typically, these problems become aggravated:
- During puberty.
- A day or two before the start of menstruation and until it ends. In this case, dentists use the term “menstrual gingivitis.”
- During pregnancy. Most often at 2–8 months.
- When using hormonal contraceptives.
8. Smoking
Tobacco consumption destroys gum tissue. And if they are already damaged, the substance will make healing more difficult.
It is believed that people with bad habits are twice as likely to experience periodontal disease. The reason is that smoking weakens immune system, and this will make the fight against oral infections less effective.
Finally, when a person smokes long enough, the risk of developing oral cancer increases.
9. Taking certain medications
A person may feel that their gums hurt if accepts:
- phenytoin-based anticonvulsants;
- immunosuppressants with tacrolimus.
- calcium channel blockers, which are used for high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases: nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, amlodipine.
And ulcers characteristic of stomatitis can to appear due to taking methotrexate, which is used to treat psoriasis and other skin diseases.
10. Oral cancer
The disease is usually manifests itself constant pain in the mouth, including in the gums. Bumps or persistent white spots may also appear, which form on the inside of the cheeks and tongue and do not go away for a long time.
What can you do on your own if your gums hurt?
It depends on the cause of the pain. Sometimes you can determine it yourself.
So, if you know that you have burned yourself or damaged the fabric with a brush that is too hard, it is usually enough to wait a few days. The injury, and along with it the discomfort in the gums, will disappear on their own.
With stomatitis, everything is a little more complicated. You can only alleviate the symptoms on your own, not deal with the cause. To relieve discomfort and inflammation, doctors recommend:
- antiseptic mouthwash,
- disinfecting toothpastes,
- sprays or liquids with anesthetics,
- oral painkillers,
- ointments with topical corticosteroids.
When to see a doctor
Be sure to consult your dentist If:
- pain in your gums appeared shortly after you got braces or dentures;
- the gums hurt, swell and bleed;
- the breath smells bad;
- pain or damage persists for more than 14 days;
- ulcers or hard lumps appear in the mouth;
- In addition to the gum, the tooth aches;
- the temperature has increased;
- drooling occurred
- skin rash or redness appears,
- the face became swollen, it became difficult to open the mouth;
- you have a weakened immune system – say, due to HIV, a recent organ transplant, cancer or its treatment (chemotherapy).
The doctor will conduct an examination, ask about your symptoms, look at your medical history and prescribe treatment. What it will be depends on the diagnosis.
You may have to treat the tooth, get rid of tartar, reinstall braces or dentures, rinse your mouth means with antibiotics or use prescription strengthening and pain-relieving ointments.
When it comes to oral cancer, patients delete damaged cells or chemotherapy is prescribed.
How to make your gums stop hurting
To prevent your gums from hurting, you need to take care of their health. Here’s what you can do for this do:
- Brush your teeth regularly. This should be done twice a day – morning and evening. Moreover, you should use not only a brush, but also a thread.
- Buy toothpaste with fluoride. And after cleaning, do not rinse your mouth, including with a special liquid, but simply spit.
- Change your toothbrush every 1-3 months.
- Stop smoking.
- Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly, especially if you are pregnant or have type 2 diabetes.
This material was first published in September 2021. In May 2024, we updated the text.
Take care of your teeth 🦷🪥😬