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This annoyance is challenging to deal with, and many things can cause it, from illness to minor trauma.
It is essential to take gum pain seriously as it can, in some instances, be a symptom of gum disease.
Gum pain is a common symptom of canker sores on the gums resulting from a mouth injury, viral infections, emotional stress, hormonal changes, a weakened immune system, or a low-nutrient diet.
Gum pain is also a common symptom of gum disease.
Gum pain is also due to swelling and tenderness due to excess fluid (edema) in the gum tissues.
Causes of gum pain
The most common causes of dental pain are tooth decay and gum disease.
Gum pain results from several factors, including dental disease and vitamin deficiencies.
Dental disease is the most common cause of gum pain.
Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and infection of the gum line involving the teeth and bones (periodontitis) are common causes of gum pain.
The pain is associated with an increase in fluid. Mouth ulcers, which are not severe but painful, open sores that often develop on the gums, are another common cause of gum pain.
Mouth ulcers larger than half an inch can be excruciating and should be treated by a dentist.
Gum pain can occur as a result of vitamin C deficiency.
As vitamin C deficiency is called, scurvy causes the gums to become soft, tender, spongy, and painful.
People with scurvy may lose some or all of their teeth.
A rare disorder known as Behcet’s syndrome, which causes chronic inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body, causes numerous symptoms, such as mouth sores that can cause sore gums.
In some cases, gum pain can be a symptom of a severe or life-threatening condition that needs to be evaluated immediately.
Pain can also be caused by a cracked or broken tooth, infection, and damage to a tooth from nervous grinding of the teeth.
A wisdom tooth can be painful when erupting but cannot penetrate the gum.
It can also be painful when the tooth is only partially inside and the extra gum tissue has formed around it.
Gum pain can also be caused by:
- Bacterial infection or abscess.
- Toothbrush trauma.
- Food trauma (spicy food, hot food, or a sharp fragment).
- Herpes simplex (cold sores).
- It was erupting tooth.
- Oral cancer
- Substance abuse, especially methamphetamine use.
Symptoms
In some cases, gum pain can occur with other symptoms that may indicate a severe condition that should be evaluated immediately in an emergency setting.
Gum pain can be accompanied by symptoms that include:
- Bleeding gums
- Pain when chewing.
- Teeth are sensitive to heat or cold.
- Loosening or loss of teeth.
- Bad breath.
- Nausea.
- Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw or along the neck.
- Tongue pain
- Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- Bright red or purple-red and swollen gums.
- High fever.
Diagnosing the cause of gum pain
To diagnose the condition, the doctor will ask several questions related to gum pain, including:
- The time that you have pain in the gums.
- Place where the gum pain is felt.
- The presence of any other symptoms.
- Medications are being taken.
- Possible complications of gum pain
- Because gum pain can be caused by severe conditions, lack of treatment can lead to severe complications and permanent damage.
Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, you must follow treatment plans that are specifically designed to reduce the risk of possible complications, including:
- Abscess or spread of infection.
- Chronic pain and discomfort.
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty to swallow.
- Endocarditis (infection of the heart originating in the mouth).
- Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).
- Heart disease.
- Periodontitis (condition of the gum line that affects the teeth and bones).
- Sepsis (life-threatening bacterial infection of the blood).
Treatment
Treatment is conditional on the cause of the pain and inflammation.
To reduce facial pain and swelling, you can:
- Put ice or a cold pack on the outside of the cheek for 10 to 20 minutes and place a thin cloth between the ice and the skin. Do not use heat.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen for pain.
- Your doctor may recommend antibiotics if the cause is an infection.
- Avoid very hot or icy foods and drinks. Also, avoid spicy, salty, and acidic foods.
- Rinse your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt every 2 hours to help relieve pain and swelling. Mix 1 teaspoon (5 g) of salt in 8 ounces (250 ml) of water.
- Use special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. To reduce pain when in contact with heat or cold or brushing, brush with this toothpaste regularly or rub a small amount of paste on the sensitive area with a clean finger 2 or 3 times a day.
- Gently floss between teeth.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
- Use only toothbrushes with soft or extra-soft bristles.
- Using mouthwashes that contain hydrogen peroxide, gels that are applied directly to sore gums (such as Anbesol)
- If your gums are sore and have a white coating on your tongue or cheeks, you could have a yeast infection. It is a type of yeast infection. Eating yogurt with live cultures can help, but you should see a doctor or dentist if it doesn’t clear up.
- To keep your gums healthy and prevent gum disease, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day is recommended.
