Dental Advices Provided to you by: Brite Medical Center
The gums are soft, fleshy tissue that support and protect the teeth. Pain in gums can be a sign of irritation, infection, or injury to the gums and teeth.
Gum pain can often be a temporary symptom, but other times a person may require dental treatment to prevent further health complications.
In this article, we discuss some of the possible causes of gum pain. We also cover treatment, home remedies, prevention of gum pain, and when to see a dentist.
Gum pain can range from a minor irritation to severe and debilitating. Some potential causes of gum pain include:
Treatment for gum pain depends upon the underlying cause.
For people with gum disease, for example, a dentist may recommend professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from the gums. They may also prescribe an antibacterial mouthwash, such as one containing alcohol or chlorhexidine, to kill excess bacteria and prevent the future build up of plaque.
If a person has severe gum disease, a dentist may recommend surgery to repair bone or gum loss that the condition has caused. Sometimes, this can include bone and tissue grafting to encourage the growth of new, healthy tissue.
People with tooth abscesses may require root canal treatment. During this procedure, a dentist will remove the infected pulp, or soft tissue inside the tooth, and the abscess from the root and then repair and seal the damaged tooth.
Gum pain due to sinusitis usually lessens once the infection clears up. For bacterial infections, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
People with gum pain that they cannot explain should see their dentist for a checkup. However, some simple home remedies may help relieve the discomfort. These include:
Avoiding foods that can irritate or scratch the gums may also help while they are healing. Examples include:
For people with canker sores, taking vitamin and mineral supplements, such as iron and vitamin B-12, may help reduce gum pain.
Good oral hygiene can help prevent gum pain and other dental issues. This includes:
If a person stops smoking, this can also improve gum health. Smoking can reduce blood flow to the gums, which may impair healing and lead to discomfort.
It is advisable for people with severe, persistent, or recurring gum pain to see a dentist for a checkup.
A dentist can examine the gums, teeth, and mouth for signs of infection, tooth decay, and other dental issues.
A person may also want to consider seeing a dentist if the pain occurs alongside any of the following symptoms:
There are many possible causes of gum pain, including gum disease, infections, abscesses, and ulcers.
People with gum pain they cannot explain may wish to consider seeing a dentist for a checkup. Without treatment, some causes of gum pain can lead to tooth decay or tooth loss.
Home remedies for gum pain include applying clove oil to gums, rinsing the mouth with salt water, and avoiding irritating foods.
Last medically reviewed on February 4, 2019
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