Sore Gums
Many times when a person has gum sores it can be an indication of poor oral health but can also mean many other things. It is something that typically happens in adults and teenagers but it can happen in babies and children, especially if they are teething or losing their baby teeth and getting their permanent teeth in. According to research that has been done approximately seventy-five percent of people over the age of thirty-five in the United States suffer from some type of gum disease.
Causes of Sore Gums
Impacted teeth
This happens when a tooth is trying to come through your gums and it becomes blocked by your jaw bone or another tooth and cannot get through your gums. Because it is stuck, or impacted, between your gums it this can make you have sore gums. The tooth will need to be extracted by your dentist. The teeth that this usually happens with are your wisdom teeth.
Injury
If you are hit in the gums or teeth with a hard object like if you are in an accident or have a fall and hit your jaw or teeth on the furniture, floor, etc. It is quite common to have this as the cause if you play a lot of contact sports.
Gum diseases
Two of these are periodontitis and gingivitis which are both leading causes of having gum soreness. When a person has gingivitis it because of an infection in your gums because of present of tartar on your teeth. Periodontitis is often caused by an unresolved case of gingivitis and weakens the attachment of your teeth to the bones.
Oral cancer
This cause of sore gums is commonly found in people who chew tobacco or smoke cigarettes. Having sore gums can be the first sign of having oral cancer and should be checked out.
Mouth ulcers and canker sores
Both of these are open abscesses in your mouth that is due to poor oral hygiene. Your gums become sore because the abscesses allow the bacteria to grow and flourish and cause soreness and pain in your gums.
Treatment for Sore Gums
Two simple treatments for sore gums are to increase your daily intake of vegetables and fruit along with improving your oral hygiene on a daily basis. What actual treatment will be used will depend on what is the cause of you having sore gums. If you use home remedies to treat your sore gums and there is no relief you should see your dentists.
Home remedies to treat sore gums
- Aloe Vera - apply the gel for an aloe Vera plant on the sore gums to sooth the pain quickly.
- Rinse your mouth after meals with warm salt water to help kill any type of infections that is present and help to get rid of the pain.
- Apply a paste of ginger and salt to the infected area
- Make sure that you are getting enough vitamin C in your diet because that can also cause pain in your gums. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C or take a vitamin C supplement
- If you are one who has to wear dentures they can sometimes lead to sore gums so every six hours you should take them out and let your gums breathe and make sure that you remove them before you go to be bed
- Gargle with lemon water to get rid of the pain and bad odor that comes out of your mouth
- Follow a healthy diet that is rich in calcium.
Other treatments
Always make sure that you are maintaining the proper dental care such as brushing at least three times a day, especially before you go to bed and floss at least two times a day. You should also make sure that you are visiting your dentist every six months. Make sure that you are not using a hard bristled toothbrush but are using a soft bristle one instead. Avoid any mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Other treatments can include:Eat foods that are not hard on your gums. Eat food that is well cooked and soft. Avoid anything that is too salty and spicy.Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash to kill all the bacteria present in your mouth.When brushing your teeth use children’s toothpaste or one that is not too strong in tasted.
