Have you noticed chronic or acute soreness in your gums? Oral pain of any kind is abnormal and warrants an urgent evaluation from your dentist. The gums, the connective tissue that works to keep your teeth in place in the mouth, can suffer serious structural problems if you ignore pain or other symptoms.
You can feel more encouraged to seek dental attention for gum discomfort when you understand the risks that come from this problem. And outlining the potential causes of this symptom can highlight this danger to your smile. Read on to discover five common reasons you might feel pain in your gums.
Harsh Oral Habits
Gums might feel sore due to acute irritation. For instance, if you brush or floss your teeth with too harsh of a technique, you could notice pain afterward. However, you should take note of chronic cases of gum pain, which could indicate an underlying condition.
Habits like smoking or chewing tobacco can lead to pain in the gums as well. This is because tobacco contains toxins that can inflame and irritate the gums. Avoid this habit if you can to protect your smile.
Canker Sores
A canker sore is a type of small ulcer that develops on the gums. They can appear as tender white spots inside the mouth. They are not contagious and almost always go away on their own. But you can seek treatment to relieve discomfort if you prefer.
Ill-Fitting Oral Appliances
Dentists build dentures and other removable oral appliances on a custom basis for their patients. This ensures a fit that feels secure and avoids slippage as well as feels comfortable within the mouth.
However, teeth may shift over time due to age or poor oral habits. When this happens, your oral appliances may not fit as well as they once did. As a result, the devices can press against the teeth and gums and generate pain.
See your dentist to receive new, better-fitting appliances if this occurs. Ill-fitting dentures or other devices will not function as well as they should.
Gum Disease
About half of adult dental patients in the United States will contract gum disease, an infection affecting the gum tissue. Even in its early stages, you can notice irritation and inflammation that will feel sore and tender. You might also see bleeding and swelling with gum disease.
Gum disease requires treatment from a dentist to eliminate. The dentist will need to clear away excess bacteria with periodontal therapy. Do not ignore gum pain, or this infection will worsen and leave you with extensive dental damage.
Abscessed Tooth
Sometimes, a tooth can develop an infection in the pulp, the innermost layer of the tooth. When this occurs, you can see more intense pain both in the tooth and deep in the gums.
A dentist must remove the abscessed tooth pulp through root canal therapy to stop the spread of infection and alleviate the discomfort. If you do not seek urgent treatment, you might require extraction of the damaged tooth. So do not delay dental attention for this symptom.