9 Causes of gum pain

Gum pain can be caused by very aggressive tooth brushing or flossing, or in more severe cases it can happen due to diseases such as gingivitis, thrush or cancer.

The treatment consists of solving the problem that is at the origin of the pain in the gums, however, measures can be adopted to prevent and relieve it, such as good oral hygiene, correct nutrition or the use of an antiseptic and healing elixir.

1. Poor oral hygiene

Bad oral hygiene habits can cause dental problems that cause gum pain, such as gingivitis, abscesses or cavities, for example. So it is essential to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day, especially after meals, using dental floss and a mouthwash, such as Listerine or Periogard, for example, in order to completely clean your mouth, removing as much bacteria as possible.

In addition, it is also important to brush your teeth without applying too much force, preferably using a soft brush, so as not to damage the gums. Here's how to brush your teeth properly.

2. Use of appliances and prostheses

Devices and prostheses can give rise to problems in the gums because there is a greater accumulation of food debris and microorganisms, which can cause infections. In addition, if these devices are poorly adapted they can cause swelling, inflammation and toothache and jaw pain and gum pain.

3. Hormonal changes

In women, hormonal fluctuations often occur, such as at puberty, during the menstrual cycle, in pregnancy and at menopause, which can affect the gums.

During puberty and pregnancy, the amount of blood flowing to the gums is greater, which can leave them swollen, sensitive or painful, and during menopause the hormone levels decrease, which can cause bleeding and pain in the gums and changes in their color.

4. Thrush

If gum pain is accompanied by a whitish tinge on the tongue and inside the cheeks, it may be thrush disease, which is caused by a fungal infection by a fungus called Candida albicans, being more frequent in babies because they have the lowest immunity.

The treatment for thrush disease consists of applying an antifungal in the affected region in the form of liquid, cream or gel such as nystatin or miconazole, for example. Learn more about this treatment.

5. Thrush

Canker sores are small painful lesions that usually appear on the tongue and lips, and can also affect the gums. They can be caused by mouth sores, acidic or spicy foods, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes, stress or autoimmune disorders.

Canker sores can be treated with a healing, antiseptic gel or mouthwash, and tend to disappear in about 1 to 2 weeks, but if not, you should go to the dentist. See 5 surefire tips to cure thrush.

6. Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums due to the accumulation of plaque on the teeth, causing pain between the teeth and redness. It usually happens because oral hygiene is not adequate, or due to other factors such as cigarette use, cracked or broken teeth, changes in hormones, cancer, alcohol, stress, breathing through the mouth, poor diet, excessive sugar intake, diabetes mellitus, some medications or insufficient production of saliva.

If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, so it is important to go to the doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear, such as pain, redness and swelling in the gums, unpleasant taste in the mouth, white spots on the gums, gingival retraction or the presence of pus between the gums and the teeth.

Learn how to treat gingivitis in the following video:

7. Abscess

In the presence of infections at the root of the tooth, an abscess may form in the mouth, which consists of a bag of inflamed tissue with pus, which can cause severe pain and swelling in the gums. In these cases, you should go to the dentist immediately.

8. Cancer

Cancer of the mouth can start on the tongue, inside the cheek, tonsils or gums, and may look like a cold sore at an early stage, which never ends up healing. Thus, it is important to go to the doctor if the cold sore does not disappear after about 1 to 2 weeks. See how the treatment of cancer in the mouth is done.

9. Wisdom tooth

The birth of the wisdom tooth can also cause pain in the gums, which happens around 17 to 21 years old. If you do not have other associated symptoms, and if the pain is not very severe, it is perfectly normal for it to happen.

To relieve pain, you can apply a gel with benzocaine, for example, or rinse with an anti-inflammatory elixir.

When to go to the doctor

If gum pain persists for a long time and is accompanied by bleeding, redness and swelling of the gums, gingival retraction, pain when chewing, loss of teeth or tooth sensitivity to cold or heat one should go to the doctor to make the appropriate treatment.

How to treat

The ideal is to go to the doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear, however, gum pain can be relieved by adopting the following measures:

• Opt for softer brushes; Use an antiseptic, healing or anti-inflammatory oral elixir; Avoid spicy, acidic or very salty foods; Use a gel directly on the gums, with benzocaine, for example.

In case the pain is very severe, you can take analgesics like paracetamol, for example.

Home Remedies

A good way to relieve gum pain is to rinse with a solution of warm salted water several times a day. In addition, there are other home remedies that can help with pain, such as:

1. Salve oral elixir

Salva has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, so it is ideal for alleviating gum pain.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of sage, 250 ml of boiling water, half a teaspoon of sea salt.

Method of preparation

Put 2 teaspoons of sage in a glass of boiling water and let it stand for 15 minutes, then strain, add the sea salt and let it cool. You should rinse 60 ml after brushing your teeth and use it within 2 days.

2. Hydrate and myrrh paste

This paste has an intense healing action on inflamed and painful gums, and can be prepared as follows:

Ingredients

• Myrrh extract; Hydra powder; Sterile gauze.

Method of preparation

Mix a few drops of myrrh extract with hydraste powder to make a thick paste, and then wrap in sterile gauze. Place on the affected area for one hour, twice a day.