You must know that gum pain is a very common ailment and just as often ignored by patients! This is a huge mistake, as untreated inflammation leads to many unpleasant consequences, including tooth loss. Find out how to guard against gum pain, how to treat it and, most importantly, how to prevent it.

What are the causes of gum pain?

Gum pain can come from a number of different factors. The first, and most common, is poor oral hygiene. All it takes is a bad tooth brushing technique, and the situation is further aggravated by a poorly chosen toothbrush. If you are unsure whether you are brushing your teeth properly, read our article: ‘How to brush your teeth properly?’.

Many people skip such an important step as flossing in their daily oral care. Patients make the excuse that they do not know how to do it. They are also convinced that brushing alone is enough. Well, no – we cannot use a toothbrush to reach areas below the gum line or effectively remove food debris from between the teeth. There is also no more effective way of removing plaque than flossing.

On the subject of the correct flossing technique, we have prepared an entire article: ‘How to floss your teeth?’. Read on and make sure you incorporate this step into your morning and evening routine. Your teeth will thank you!

Gum pain can of course also be caused by gingivitis. This manifests itself as bleeding and pain when biting. The inflammation is caused by plaque, which is why it is so important to remove it regularly! We wrote more about gingivitis in our article: ‘Gingivitis – symptoms and treatment’.

It is worth noting that gum pain can indicate vitamin C and E deficiencies. Furthermore, it can also be worse during menstruation or in patients who are taking various types of medication: hypertensive, anticonvulsant or even contraceptive. This condition also often accompanies people with diabetes, as well as anorexia and bulimia.

Remember that gum pain can accompany patients after extractions. This is a perfectly normal symptom, but as a precaution it is worth consulting your dentist if it starts to cause you concern.

We also cannot fail to mention patients who are pregnant – they will most often be accompanied by gum pain! It is not uncommon for this ailment to be so severe that they then give up flossing. This is a mistake – of course, no hygienic procedure should be painful for us, but stopping flossing can be much more serious in its consequences. And we invariably encourage you – it’s worth being under the constant care of your dentist!

Painful gums – how to treat them?

Of course, to cure gum pain, you need to know the cause. You can start by taking good care of your oral hygiene, with decent brushing, good flossing technique and rinsing your teeth with products designed for this purpose. If this doesn’t help, consult your dentist – perhaps inflammation or mechanical trauma has set in.

A visit to the dentist is a long way off and the pain in your gums is becoming unbearable? Fortunately, there are home remedies that can temporarily alleviate the ailment.

Home remedies for sore gums

Try a rinse made from an infusion of sage or chamomile. Rinse your teeth with it several times a day, for about 2 minutes – this will help reduce swelling and soothe the pain. You can also go to the pharmacy and buy an antiseptic liquid, which will also help with the inflammation.

Also try massaging the gums gently. Use special massagers for babies. Cold compresses will also help to reduce congestion and therefore swelling. Wrap ice in a cotton cloth and apply to the cheek. However, do not apply the cold compresses for too long – this is not recommended!

How to prevent?

To avoid having to treat gum pain, it is worth knowing how to prevent it. It will come as no surprise to learn that the first and most important step is proper oral hygiene! Brushing, flossing and rinsing your teeth is already half the battle.

You should also remember to visit your dentist regularly. Be sure to book a time once every 6 months and make it your priority. Decayed teeth are a danger to the whole body, so you can’t underestimate it!

Consequences of untreated gum pain

Many patients do not take gum pain too seriously. This is a mistake – untreated inflammation, decay can even lead to… Tooth loss! So do not delay. Remember that putting off a visit to the dentist results in what needs treatment now getting worse with time. Thus, a small cavity that would take 20 minutes to repair will often require painful root canal treatment.

If you underestimate sore gums, you have to reckon with the consequences. It will be the painful treatment, which is the last resort before losing a tooth, but also a headache, fever, abscess or tonsillitis.

We realise that many patients are afraid of the dentist for various reasons. That’s why it makes sense to find a specialist who has the right attitude! If you are looking for a dentist in the UK, we welcome you to our practice. We know how to approach patients so that they are no longer afraid. Make an appointment today!