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Do your gums hurt? We’ll take you through possible reasons why. A dentist deals with toothache, but who deals with aching gums? There are many questions surrounding hurting gums, but there are also many reasons your gums experience pain. The reasons may be minor but can be a side effect of a more severe condition.

Unattended, your gums’ pain, swelling, and sometimes bleeding will likely progress. It is best to take action as soon as you notice any gum complications. 

Gum problems can also present as tenderness that accompanies bad breath, tooth position change, a longer or loosened tooth or a tense sensation in the specific gum problem. If you do not address your gum matter in time, you may eventually lose a tooth or many teeth. 

Here are some signs to help identify why your gums may hurt.

 

Gum Disease

Gum disease is recognisable by its first signs – bleeding, swelling and redness. Sensitive gums may be a result of not brushing or flossing your teeth. 

The pain may not be as evident in the beginning stage, but it is a progressive disease if you don’t better care for your oral hygiene. The later stages of the disease include your gums pulling away from your teeth and displaying little gaps. 

WebMD says eventually, tiny pieces gather in the tiny gaps, and infection is caused. The result is either loose teeth or your tooth bone breaks.

 

Vigorous Brushing And Flossing

Brushing and flossing your teeth are the most significant contributors to good dental hygiene. The two actions become a problem; you are overly aggressive because you may irritate or damage your gums, especially if your toothbrush has stiff, hard bristles.

If you change your brushing and flossing technique, try using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Soft bristles clean your teeth and a toothbrush with stiff bristles, but you must be less aggressive when brushing. 

 

Canker Sores Can Hurt Your Gums

Another name for canker sore is mouth ulcer. They are painful and non-contagious sores found on your gum and other places in your mouth. They have a white coating but can look red too. 

Canker sores are thought to progress from a viral or bacterial infection, but the cause is uncertain. Unfortunately, if you have an autoimmune disease, you have a greater chance of developing mouth ulcers.

Although canker sores tend to disappear in the space of two weeks, there is no medical suggestion to treat them. If your mouth ulcer lasts longer than three weeks, make an appointment with your dentist immediately.

 

Can Smoking Make Your Gums Hurt?

Tobacco does not only refer to smoking cigarettes but smokeless products too, such as chewing tobacco, dip or snuff. Each one is equally prone to you receiving gum disease. 

Smokeless tobacco is placed between your gum and cheek. It can cause more problems to your gums than smoking cigarettes. Too much tobacco chewing may result in your gums retreating from your teeth, with sores forming on your gums and potentially leading to oral cancer. 

Allergies

You may think that ingredients in toothpaste, mouthwash or oral hygiene products aren’t harmful, but some people have suffered from allergic reactions. If you think that you are allergic to a dental hygiene project, try to figure out which product it is. 

Eliminate one product at a time until you find the one that causes your gum disease problems. Also, stop using that product immediately. 

Your sore gums may have nothing to with dental hygiene products. Perhaps you have a food allergy that hurts your gums. Figure out what food is causing your sore gums by removing a particular food from your diet for 30 days. After that time, reintroduce the food to your diet and see how your gums react.  

See an allergist if you are looking for a quicker option to find why your gums are hurting. They may identify the cause of your allergic reaction and recommend a treatment, which will hopefully work. 

 

Can Gums Hurt Due To Hormonal Changes?

The hormonal changes in women can affect your gums at different times in your life. More blood flows to your gums as your reach puberty, leaving your gums feeling swollen, tender or painful. The same applies to when you get your period. 

A pregnant woman with hormone-level surges will notice that her gums are affected. Tell your doctor if your gums are bleed or hurt. By the time you reach menopause, your hormone levels shift again. Bleeding gums that colour change, burn or hurt is possible at this time of your life. 

 

All Gums Are Different

Sore gums come with many questions, but if you maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper oral hygiene, you can stop looking for answers.

Don’t suffer from hurt gums for too long before you see your dentist. They can take away the persistent pain and swelling of troubling gums by fully diagnosing and recommending treatment. 

 

Dental Cover for Emergencies

Accidents happen. A chipped tooth from a nasty fall or even the need for an emergency procedure like a root canal surgery can put an unexpected financial strain on you. 

Affinity Dental is one of the best dental insurance providers in the country. It offers customers three different cover options tailored to match consumers’ unique needs and budgets. 

There are three tiers to choose from. Check out the official Affinity Dental website for more information.