Gum Problem Basics: Sore, Swollen,
and Bleeding Gums
When you think about
dental health, the focus is likely to be preventing cavities in your teeth. But it's
important to pay attention to your gums, too. Gums play a major role not only
in your dental health but in your overall well-being.
In many instances,
swollen and bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease.
However, several other things could be causing your gum
problems. Whatever the cause of sore, painful gums, you can take steps to minimize gum damage and discomfort.
Recommended Related to Oral Health
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retainers WebMD takes a look at common forms of orthodontics and gives you the
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Gums and Brushing
Technique
In the quest to keep
teeth clean, you might be tempted to brush your teeth as vigorously as you can. Gums
are made of delicate tissue, though, so brushing the wrong way could damage
them.
Whether you opt for a
manual or electric toothbrush, choose
one with soft nylon bristles that have blunted ends. Even though you can find
brushes with medium or hard bristles, they may damage the enamel on your teeth
or cause red and swollen gums.
When you brush, make
sure you use gentle, circular motions to massage and clean the teeth and gums.
While many people use a back-and-forth motion, this motion can irritate and
damage your gums, making them sore and more likely to bleed or recede.
Gums and Flossing
Technique
We all know the
importance of flossing every day to help remove plaque from places where your
toothbrush can't reach. To make sure that your healthy habit isn't causing
swollen or bleeding gums, be gentle when you floss. Rather than forcing the
floss between your teeth, carefully slide it up and down, following the curve
of each tooth.
Gum Disease
More than
three-quarters of American adults over age 35 get periodontal (gum) disease.
While most people with gum disease have the less severe form, called gingivitis, between
5% and 15% have a much more serious type of gum disease known as periodontitis.
When people don't
practice proper dental hygiene, bacteria in the mouth form plaque on the
teeth. These bacteria may cause your gums to become inflamed, which results in
red, swollen, or bleeding gums. For many people with gingivitis, this inflammation
is not painful. If you catch gingivitis early, it can be reversed and healed
with proper oral hygiene. But left untreated, gingivitis can worsen and
ultimately lead to tooth loss. Be sure to seek medical attention if you have
the following symptoms, even if you don't have any discomfort:
·
Changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of
partial dentures
·
Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
·
Gums that bleed during and after toothbrushing
·
loose or shifting teeth
·
persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
·
receding gums
·
red, swollen, or tender gums
When gingivitis
progresses, it develops into periodontitis, a condition in which the gums and
bone that hold the teeth in place can be severely weakened. The bacteria on the
teeth release toxic substances that harm your gums and cause them to become
infected. The infection and the inflammation that results when your body attacks
the bacteria can degrade your gums and the bone in your jaw even further. You
may have exceptionally swollen, painful gums that are likely to bleed. If left
untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
Common culprits behind
painful gums are canker sores or
mouth ulcers. These
painful sores can develop anywhere inside the mouth, including on the gums, and
often have a whitish center with red edges. You may have one canker sore at a
time, making only one area on your gums sore, or you may have multiple sores at
the same time throughout your mouth.
While researchers don't know what
causes canker sores, there may be bacterial or viral involvement. People with
certain autoimmune diseases may also be more likely to have gum problems caused
by canker sores. Canker sores often come back over time and are not contagious.
Gums and Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can have several unpleasant side effects, including painful, swollen, and bleeding gums. Many
people undergoing treatment for cancer contend
with stomatitis, which causes the development of painful sores and ulcers on
the gums and throughout the mouth.
Gums and Tobacco Products
Using cigarettes and other
tobacco products can be extremely damaging to your gums. People who smoke are
far more likely to develop gum disease. You may find that your smoking habit gives you several gum
problems, from sensitive gums that bleed to painful sores.
Gums and Hormones
Some women find they have gum
problems during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. The rise in hormones
during puberty can heighten blood flow to the gums, making them red, swollen,
and sensitive. For women with menstrual gingivitis, the gums become red,
swollen, and more likely to bleed shortly before each menstrual period. These
problems typically subside after the period begins. Pregnancy gingivitis
typically starts in the second or third month of pregnancy and continues
through the eighth month, causing sore, swollen, and bleeding gums. The use of
oral birth control products may cause similar gum
problems. Though uncommon, some women going through menopause may find that
their gums become extremely dry and therefore sore and likely to bleed.
7 Tips to Prevent Sore, Swollen, and Bleeding Gums
1. Brush your teeth at
least twice each day. Make sure
you follow proper brushing technique. If you're not sure what to do, ask your
dentist or dental hygienist for a quick lesson at your next appointment.
2. Floss daily. It
doesn't take more than a few minutes, but flossing may be the most important
thing you can do to prevent gum problems now and in the future.
3. Eat a well-balanced
diet. A
balanced diet, including plenty of vitamin C and calcium, may minimize the
likelihood you'll have gum problems.
4. Drink plenty of water. Drinking water, especially after eating, can
help wash food off your teeth and make it less likely that bacteria will form
gum-damaging plaque.
5. Say no to tobacco. If you smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco
products, try to quit.
6 . Be cautious about
extremely hot or cold foods and drinks. When you have gum problems, you may find
you're more comfortable having lukewarm or cool foods and beverages.
7. Relax. Being stressed out raises levels of the
stress hormone cortisol, increasing the likelihood of inflammation throughout
your body, including in your gums
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