Dental issues include a wide range of symptoms. Sore gums are a common complaint among many dental patients, but many aren’t sure why they continue to experience pain despite regular dental maintenance.
Common causes of sore gums include factors related to your dental routine, diet, and even lifestyle. Understanding the factors that contribute to sore gums will help you alleviate your discomfort and prevent problems down the line.
Gums and Your Health
Proper dental care requires regular attention to your teeth and gums. Gums provide the base of stability for your teeth, and keeping them healthy ensures that the teeth stay strong and free from damage.
Periodontal care is the most valuable dental service you can receive. It sets a foundation for long-term general health. Addressing issues related to the gums early on helps you avoid more costly and painful procedures.
If you’re experiencing soreness in your gums, it’s a sign that there are already some deeper-rooted issues taking place. As plaque builds up in the gum line, it stimulates an immune response, and trigger inflammation. If left unaddressed, chronic inflammation can have wider reaching effects on your health.
Common Causes of Soreness
If gum issues aren’t treated appropriately, they can develop high levels of plaque between the teeth and other supporting tissues. This can lead to more inflammation and increase the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Inflammation is indicated by swelling, redness, and pain. In many cases, patients experience bleeding with brushing or flossing. Over time, excess bacteria can begin to damage the tissues and increase the risk of tooth loss.
As the gums begin to move away from the lining of the teeth, pockets develop and make it easy for food debris to collect. This further increases the rate of bacteria and inflammation, resulting in more soreness.
Improper brushing and flossing techniques are a common cause of sore gums. Aggressively cleaning your teeth only exacerbates already injured tissues.
In addition, other factors such as tobacco use, chemotherapy, and hormonal changes have also been linked to sore gums. But in most cases, poor dental care is to blame.
Keeping Your Gums Healthy
Good brushing and flossing habits will help reduce soreness in the gums. Take your time and use gentle motions to massage the gum line when brushing.
The common back-and-forth brushing method can be damaging over time. Circular motions are best for reaching all areas between the teeth and gums.
Flossing should also be done carefully, with slow movements as you move the floss between the teeth. When your gums are sore, you need to be extra careful with flossing in order to prevent additional trauma to the tissues.
Sore gums can be easily addressed with some quick changes to your dental care routine. By understanding the common causes of sore gums, you can improve your dental health, be pain-free, and avoid long-term dental issues in the future.
For more information on gum health, visit our MyGums section!
