GUM-HEALTH

Gum Pain Causes, Relief, and Treatments

What Causes Painful Gums? Gum Pain Relief and Treatments Taking care of your gums to avoid oral problems

Do your gums feel swollen? Experience any bleeding when flossing? Gum pain can be attributed to several factors, and since gums are the foundation of your smile it’s important to make sure they’re taken care of. Find out what may be causing your gum pain and what you can do to find relief for sore gums.

What Causes Painful Gums?

If you experience painful gums when you eat, drink, brush, or floss, you may be wondering what’s causing it and how you can treat it. Sore or bleeding gums may be caused by:

Improper brushing or flossing techniques
Gum disease
Chemotherapy
Tobacco use
Certain hormonal changes

Gum disease is known to lead to pain and bleeding. Resolving the problem is a crucial part of keeping your gums healthy. Your gums provide the overall support for your teeth and the basis of a healthy mouth, and if not properly cared for, early gum disease can progress to other serious oral health problems.

Below are several different causes of gum pain. Being familiar with these causes of gingival pain can help you talk to your dental or medical professional when they’re diagnosing the cause of your discomfort.

Canker Sores: These are painful ulcers found in your mouth that can cause severe gum pain. Canker sores can be caused by stress or injury to the tissue in your mouth, or an underlying health condition such as an impaired immune system, nutritional deficiencies, or gastrointestinal disease.
Cuts or Abrasions: Pain in the gums can often be caused by a simple cut or abrasion. Braces or other dental appliances such as dentures or retainers can irritate the tissue and cause gum pain.
Gum Disease or Infection: Gum pain associated with sensitive or bleeding gums is often caused by gum disease or gum infection. The mildest form of gum disease, gingivitis, affects approximately one in two American adults and can cause chronic gingival pain and sensitivity. If not treated properly by removing plaque from the teeth and around the gum line, gingivitis can progress to a more serious gum infection.
Sinus Infection: An inflammation of the sinuses, otherwise known as sinusitis, occurs when the tissue lining of your sinuses is swollen or inflamed and can lead to sinus gum pain. Sinuses are normally filled with air, but when they become filled with fluid, germs can grow and lead to infection. Approximately 37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis each year, so sinus gum pain and dental pain are very common.

If you notice any of these symptoms along with gum pain, you may want to consult with a medical professional to confirm the diagnosis and get treatment recommendations. Regardless of where your gum pain is located or its cause, chances are you’ll want to address it quickly.

Gum Pain Relief and Treatments

Gum pain can manifest in different ways. Some people experience gum pain in a single area of the gums, while others suffer from sore gums throughout their mouths. If you don’t take good care of your gums, they can deteriorate, become inflamed, infected, or even suffer from disease.

While there are many causes for tooth and gum pain, the treatment for most of them is standard. Implementing an effective oral hygiene routine will most often help improve the health of your gums.

A few gum pain remedies include:

Brushing at least twice a day with an anti-gingivitis toothpaste, like one from the Crest Gum Collection. Crest Pro-Health Advanced Gum Restore Toothpaste helps restore gums by reversing gingivitis and utilizing amino acid glycine to unleash the power of stannous fluoride. Plus, the ADA-accepted formula helps heal gums in 7 days by treating gingivitis for an all-around healthier smile.
Paying special attention to the area around the gum line, where plaque can be trapped.
Switching to an electric toothbrush for better cleaning, like the Oral-B iO9. The award-winning brush helps protect gums with its Smart Pressure Sensor that helps you removes 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.
Flossing daily. Pair traditional floss with an oral irrigator like the Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced. Its unique Oxyjet Technology delivers water enriched with microbubbles of air to help improve gum health.
Visiting your dental professional twice a year for checkups and professional cleanings.
Using an anti-gingivitis mouthwash like Crest Gum Care every day. Other ways to reduce the pain associated with sore gums may include avoiding tobacco use, improving your nutrition, or reducing stress in your life. These key steps combined with an effective oral hygiene regimen can help reduce your gum pain and reverse gingivitis for a more resilient, healthier smile.

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