Why gums hurt and what to do about it

Why gums hurt

The gums are dense tissue that supports the teeth and protects their roots from damage. Sometimes the gums hurt.

British National Health Service experts believeGum Disease / NHS such a problem is very common. Every adult has come across her at least once in his life.

Experts callToothache and Gum Problems / University of Michigan Health at least eight possible reasons why this is happening.

1. Accidental injuries

You may have tried to chew food with sharp, hard pieces, such as seeds or nuts, or you may have come across a splinter of bone in a chicken steak. Or maybe you used a toothbrush too aggressively, or you used a toothpick inaccurately, touching your gums.

Due to such manipulations, tiny scratches, abrasions, irritations may appear on the fabric. Sometimes they hurt quite noticeably.

A burn can also be an injury. For example, hot food such as hot dog, pizza, coffee. Acute pain disappears instantly, but later painful sensations often develop in the affected area.

2. Stomatitis

Stomatitis Is the general name for inflammation that occurs in the oral cavity. Most often they are small sores.Canker sore: Symptoms and causes / Mayo Clinic on the mucous membranes: on the inside of the lips and cheeks, tongue, in the lower part of the gums.

The causes of stomatitis are varied: it can be accidental injuries, and stress, and allergic reactions to food (especially chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, cheese, spicy or acidic foods) or toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain lauryl sulfate sodium.

3. Gum disease

If your gums not only hurt, but also look red, swollen, or bleed easily, you most likely have gingivitis. Or its complications - periodontitis and periodontitis.

Most often, these infections affecting the gums are associated with poor oral hygiene. You may not have brushed your teeth very well, and tartar has formed on them. This hard mass sometimes penetrates the gums, injuring them. In addition, the stone is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria that multiply and cause inflammation.

4. Infection around the tooth root

If a tooth is infected with a bacterial infection, there is a risk that pus will accumulate around the root. This is how a purulent pocket appears - abscesswhich leads to inflammation, swelling and pain in the gums.

5. Dentures and braces

Incorrectly or inaccurately installed dental appliances sometimes irritate the gums. And constant irritation can cause inflammation and pain.

6. Hormonal changes in women

Due to the restructuring of the hormonal background, it changesHormones and Oral Health / Cleveland Clinic blood supply to the gums and increases their sensitivity to toxins, which are secreted by bacteria accumulated on plaque. All this can lead to soreness and swelling.

Typically, these problems are exacerbated:

• during puberty;
• a day or two before the onset 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.

7. Smoking and especially the habit of chewing tobacco

Tobacco irritates the gums. And the more you smoke, the more this irritation can become.

If the gums are affected long enough, it increases the risk of oral cancer.

8. Oral cavity cancer

Oral cavity cancerOral cancer symptoms / Cancer Treatment Centers of America, as a rule, manifests itself as ulcers, bumps or persistent white spots that form on the inside of the cheeks, tongue, gums and do not go away for a long time. Sometimes the affected area of ​​the mouth, the same gum, becomes painful.

What to do if your gums hurt

It depends on the cause of the pain. Sometimes you can define it yourself.

So, if you know that you have burned or damaged the fabric with a too hard brush, it is usually enough to wait a few days. The trauma, and with it the unpleasant sensations in the gums, will disappear by themselves.

Stomatitis also goes away on its own, usually in no more than 10-14Mouth sores / U.S. National Library of Medicine days. To relieve gum discomfort, doctors recommend:

• avoid salty, spicy, sour and hot foods;
• rinse your mouth with cool or salt water;
• eat popsicles. This method is especially good if the stomatitis is caused by a burn;
• using a cotton swab, apply a baking soda paste to the ulcers, mixing it in equal parts with water;
• take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol, if needed.

When to see a doctor

Be sure to consult your dentist ifMouth sores / U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• gum pain started soon after you got braces or dentures;
• gums hurt for more than 14 days;
• ulcers and other damage do not disappear within two weeks;
• you have other symptoms as well. For example, in addition to the gum, a tooth aches, you have a fever, drooling, or a skin rash;
• you have a weakened immune system - for example, due to HIV, a recent organ transplant, cancer or its treatment (the same chemotherapy).

The health care provider will examine you, ask about your symptoms, look at your medical history, and prescribe treatment. What it will be depends on the diagnosis. You may need to treat a tooth, get rid of dental calculus, reinstall braces or dentures, rinse your mouth withMouth sores / U.S. National Library of Medicine with antibiotics or use prescription firming and pain relieving ointments. For oral cancer, you mayOral Cancer / University of Michigan Health remove damaged cells surgically or prescribe chemotherapy.