Do you ever wake up with sore gums? Do your gums often bleed when you brush your teeth? You are not alone. Lots of things can cause sore and/or bleeding gums. Some of these conditions can be serious, and some are minor irritations; some are entirely avoidable, and some are not. Dr. Loper is a family dentist in Reynoldsburg OH and here, he offers information about common causes of sore, bleeding gums.
1. Hormones Puberty in boys and girls can cause changes in the gums. During puberty, more blood may be present in the growing gums, which can cause sensitivity, bleeding, and pain. The same may also be true for women experiencing menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and taking birth control pills for women. There is little that can be done to avoid painful gums at these times; it is important to continue to brush carefully with a soft bristle toothbrush.
2. Canker sores Canker sores are red, painful bumps inside the mouth that may have a white center. Your canker sore may hurt constantly, or you might not even know it’s there until you run your toothbrush over it. Unfortunately, doctors do not know what causes canker sores, but we do know that they eventually go away on their own. All you can do for canker sores is be careful when brushing around the canker sore site, and wait it out.
3. Tobacco use These days, it goes without saying that you should not smoke, for a plethora of reasons. One reason is that smoking or chewing tobacco can irritate your gums, causing sores, sensitivity, bleeding, and could possibly lead to gum disease. Smokers are far more likely to develop gum disease. Quit smoking and keep brushing!
4. Chemotherapy If you are undergoing chemotherapy, you are trying to tackle a much bigger issue than sore gums – but chemotherapy’s many possible side effects includes painful, bleeding gums with oral ulcers. Once you are done with chemotherapy these conditions should resolve themselves if you maintain good oral hygiene habits.
5. Gum disease Gum disease develops when you don’t properly remove the plaque from your teeth using good brushing and flossing habits. Gum disease leads to bad breath, sore gums, oral ulcers, and can lead to tooth loss. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits, including regular visits to your dentist, can help you avoid gum disease.
Sore, bleeding gums is sometimes avoidable, but always painful. Home remedies may offer you some temporary relief. If you have any further concerns about your gum pain, contact Dr. Loper in Reynoldsburg OH for an appointment by calling 614-864-7731.