The condition of sore gums is ways away from fun and frolic. While suffering from this condition, your gums could be mildly tender or swollen, reddish and even bleeding. There are a number of factors that result in pain in the gum. The important thing for a dentist is to diagnose the underlying cause behind the symptom. Once the actual cause is unearthed, providing much needed comfort from pain is easier.
What are the other symptoms that accompany pain in the gums?
Few typical symptoms that usually accompany pain in the gums are as following –
- Swelling in the gum area
- Gum may turn little reddish
- A sore on the gum
- Persistent bad breath
- Sudden sensitivity in the teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Gums pulling away from the teeth (receding gums)
- Loose teeth
What causes pain in the gums?
There can be a number of factors behind your paining gums. The exact cause behind the problem needs to be identified. Based on the underlying cause your dentist can provide the appropriate treatment. According to a dentist in London with years of experience in providing gum pain treatment typical factors that are known to cause pain in the gums include –
- Gum disease
- Canker sores
- Rigorous and rough brushing
- Development of a dental abscess
- Allergies from food
- A boil on the gum
- Fluctuation of hormone levels in the body
Canker sore is a common dental problem which affects no less than half the population. This category of sores is no doubt painful and affects soft part of the mouth, mostly the gums. Under normal circumstances, these sores last for about seven days before clearing away on their own. Although it is not absolutely clear why these sores develop, a theory says the range if sores is actually a kind of immune reaction of the body. The white blood cells or WBC attack foreign cells in the mouth and thus canker sores appear. In many cases it is found that canker sores remain linked to certain health conditions like nutritional deficits, Crohn’s disease. Canker sores could be triggered by certain foods or even ingredients present in toothpastes.
Sore gums on the other hand are also a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is directly associated with improper, inappropriate and poor brushing and flossing of the teeth, says a dentist with years of experience in providing treatment to sore gums cases. However some other causes may also factor in for example, blood sugar or diabetes, genetics and certain medical conditions like decreased saliva production in the mouth.
A periodontist is a dentist with specialisation in taking care of your gums and treating diseases of the gums. A periodontist may have to deep clean your gums as well as the overall mouth. Usually dental professionals resort to surgery in cases of severe gum disease.
You should never brush or floss the teeth vigorously. Brushing or flossing with excessive force is known to irritate the gums and in course of time this may lead to further complications like pain and sensitivity. Always brush the teeth using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Take your time while both brushing and flossing the teeth. Apply a gentle pressure of the hand in both brushing and flossing while being thorough in your effort. If you think you need little guidance on proper brushing or flossing techniques, request your dentist to give you a demonstration.
In many cases it is found that allergies from food also cause the gums to sore. Here are a few examples to make this point clearer. Many people suffer from PFS or pollen fruit syndrome. This condition is also called OAS or oral allergy syndrome, says a dentist with years of experience in providing treatment to painful bleeding gums. These people often suffer from itchiness and swelling in their mouth, gums, tongue and the throat after consuming certain fruits and vegetables. In course of time swollen gums become sore and tender. Antihistamine available over the counter is the best treatment for PFS cases.
People who do not experience a menstrual period for a period of twelve months straight are the menopausal people. This category of people often experience pain in their gums which causes because of fluctuations in hormone levels. If you are facing this problem then you should discuss the matter with your physician without delay and secure proper treatment to avoid unwanted complexities later on.
An abscess in the tooth may also lead to pain in the gum, swelling, fever and lots of other symptoms. Usual treatments to cure this condition include antibiotic medications, drainage of pus and cleaning or sanitising of the affected area and in advanced stages, a root canal treatment or RCT, expain dentists who cure bleeding gums in London over the years.
Medications that may cause pain in the gum and other complications
There are certain medications that may lead to overgrowth in the gums, which in turn leads to gum disease and pain. These medications include the following –
- Oral contraceptives
- Anticonvulsants like Dilantin (phenytoin)
- Calcium channel blockers (the range of medicines is prescribed to patients suffering from high bloos pressure and cardiovascular conditions) – the list of medications include Norvasc (amlodipine), Cardizem (diltiazem), Prozac (fluoxetine). Pricardia XL (nifedipine), Verelan (verapamil) and others
- Antidepressants like Prozac (fluoxetine), Effexor XR (venlafaxine)
- Immunosupressants like Cyclosporine and Prograf (tacrolimus)
People who are habitual smokers or even those who use smokeless tobacco products are more likely to suffer from gum disease compared to those who do not consume tobacco in any form. Tobacco is a prominent item which weakens the overall immune system. With a weak and compromised immune system it is more uphill task fighting germs and infections explain dentists at Emergency Dentist Pro who deal with prevention of bleeding gums in London over the years. Thus the treatments of gum disease may not work well on these patients and their gums may also take much longer time to heal.
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