You’re likely not in a great mood if you’re enduring irritated gums. Depending on their pain, they can keep you from enjoying meals or focusing on work. That said, you can address them and ease your aches. After you learn the cause of the irritation, you just need to receive the proper treatment. Your Allen dentist will even help you along with that process. To that end, here are the causes of sore and inflamed gums and the best ways to treat them.
Common Causes of Sore & Inflamed Gums
In reality, several factors can make gums sore and inflamed. Some of the more typical ones include the following:
Overbrushing
As surprising as it may seem, you could be brushing your teeth and gums too hard. This practice of “overbrushing” can easily irritate your gum tissues and make them feel sore. That much is natural – rubbing any spot on your body a lot tends to cause pain.
Of course, sore gums aren’t the only reason to avoid overbrushing. Too much pressure on tissues can make them recede and expose your tooth roots.
Gingivitis
Inflamed gums are one of the most common signs of gingivitis. As the first form of gum disease, this condition is caused by bad oral hygiene. Its bacterial buildup can make your gums quite sore once it starts to “set in.”
That said, this problem can do more than cause soreness. It could advance to periodontitis – the second, more advanced form of gum disease. In that case, the infection of your gums could cause tooth loss.
Hormone Changes
Certain hormonal changes can upset your gum tissues, as these shifts increase blood flow to the gums. This rising flow can make the areas around your teeth more sensitive and swollen. Worse, it can weaken your gum tissue’s ability to fight harmful bacteria.
Various conditions can cause hormone shifts. In fact, notable examples include a period, pregnancy, and menopause.
How to Treat Sore & Inflamed Gums
Honestly, treating sore and inflamed gums is pretty simple. Just consider the tips and tricks listed below:
- Use Home Remedies – Try soothing your gums with a warm compress if you’re at home. You could also swish with salt water to remove irritating bacteria from your mouth.
- Change Your Oral Care – Avoid strong mouthwashes that might upset sensitive gums. Another option is to use toothpaste for sensitive or inflamed gums.
- See a Local Dentist – By seeing your dentist, they can examine your mouth and learn the source of your inflamed gums. They’ll then provide the ideal treatment.
As best you can, remember the causes and solutions above – they can help your gums find much-needed relief.
About the Practice
Allen Smile Design is based in Allen, TX. Led by Dr. Lewis, our practice always strives to go above and beyond when it comes to dental care. We thus offer custom services that span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency oral treatments. Our team also looks after gum tissue with high quality gum disease treatments! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (972)-954-9728.