Gum Pain

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One of the most feared visits is a dentist’s appointment. Even for minor reasons, it takes courage and resolution to honor such appointments. And this is not unique to children, even grownups may at times need encouragement to face the dentist. One effective way to avoid the dentist is through proper oral hygiene. It is easy to focus on cavities and teeth and forget about the gums, which are an important part of oral health and well being.

Gum pain is a common problem that affects the jaws and mouth. The pain is usually accompanied by inflammation around the teeth and jaws. Additionally, tenderness in the gums can result from edema or excess fluid within the tissues of the gum . This pain usually worsens when you brush your teeth or chew your food.

Although  gum pain  is not necessarily a disease, it usually signals some underlying condition. This should be read as the body’s warning sign which requires diagnosis to get to the root of. Finding an appropriate treatment ensures your source of pain is addressed rather than just alleviation of pain. A combination of homeopathic treatments and herbal remedies can be used to completely relieve tooth pain and resolve other gum problems.

Causes of Gum Pain

Gum disease: Gum pain  can occur as a symptom of conditions such as periodontitis or gingivitis. Gingivitis is characterized by the inflammation of the gums. The supportive bone structure and attachment fibers of teeth experience inflammation in periodontitis. This is a condition that can also be accompanied by bleeding in the gums, infection and pain. Pain is usually directly linked to the increase of fluids.

Both these conditions arise out of numerous causes. Gingivitis can escalate and morph into periodontitis. The bacteria on your teeth, just like any other organisms, produce waste or excretions. These toxic wastes then infect and harm your gums.

Consequently, your body then attacks the bacteria. The infection then results in inflammation that degrades both the bones in your jaws and your gums. This leads to severely swollen and painful gums with a high possibility to bleed. If periodontitis is not treated right away, it can easily result in tooth loss.

Gum sores from aphthous ulcers or abscesses can also lead to painful gums. Canker sores are usually tiny, shallow lesions forming on the soft tissue within the gums and mouth. They may not be serious, but still they are very painful. Open ulcers that form on the gums also commonly cause gum pain.

Gum pain can be a symptom of viral infections, hormonal shifts, emotional stress and a diet that is inadequate in nutrients. Vitamin deficiencies are a less common cause of  pain in gums. Pain in the gums may as well result from gum disease.

Behcet’s syndrome is another less common source of painful gums. Chronic blood vessel inflammation is a major symptom of this disorder. This produces mouth sores that lead to pain in the gums.

Dental cavities are the most common cause of gum pain. These are tiny holes on the outer layers of teeth. Enamel refers to the out-most hard and whitish surface while dentine is the next inner soft and yellowish layer. These layers offer protection to the nerves, blood vessels and other inner tissues of the tooth.

Oral bacteria are capable of changing sugars into acid. These acids dissolve the dentine and enamel layers leading to cavities. Small cavities easily go unnoticed because they are painless. Larger cavities may trap food particles causing pain.

Sensitive tooth roots are another cause of  gum pain.  Sensitive tooth roots can be as a result of chronic gum diseases. Only a third of the tooth is visible. This means the tooth root comprises the other 2 thirds of tooth, which lies underneath the bone.

Toxins excreted by the bacteria can dissolve the bone at the root. This then causes the bone to recede, resulting in exposure of roots. Once the tooth is unprotected by the gums and bone, then sensitivity to sour, hot and cold foods begins. Severe sensitivity may totally keep you off food that is cold or sour.

Temporomandibular disorder is also a possible cause of gum pain. The temporomandibular joints are susceptible to infection, especially at the front part of the ears. Traumatic events such as a strong blow to the face, can also result in temporomandibular joint pain. Other possible causes include pushing back the mandible in the direction of the ears. This can happen while chewing or swallowing food or in the case of chronic inflammatory arthritis.

An examination is required to diagnose and treat this condition. Treatment may involve the use of oral anti-inflammatory drugs. Warm presses and aerobic exercises could also be employed to relax the joints and muscles involved. Another solution would be eating soft food.

Gum Pain Relief

Pain relief as a result of small cavities involves filling those cavities. Larger cavities may require a crown to be fitted onto the tooth. Cavities can penetrate into the level of the blood vessels and nerves. In these cases, a root canal procedure can be undertaken or tooth extraction is required. Root canal involves replacing the dying tissue with an inert material.

In the case of gum disease, oral hygiene is the  gum pain treatment necessary to remove bacterial plague. Thorough tooth and root cleaning is necessary if the gum disease has progressed to an advanced stage. In such cases the cleaning process is referred to as sub-gingival curettage and root planing. Root planing involves removal of accumulated saliva, food and bacteria or plague. Removal of the inflamed tissue layers is known as subgingival curettage.

Sensitive tooth roots as a result of root exposure can be treated using topical fluoride gels. Special tooth paste containing fluoride like Colgate total helps treat protect gums. These can be identified by your dentist. The fluoride gets absorbed into the surface layer of the tooth root making it stronger.

Natural or Home Remedies for Gum Pain

Clove oil has been employed for ages to sooth pain after tooth extraction. Cloves contain antiseptic and analgesic properties. These help to curb the spread of bacteria and numbs the gums thereby offering pain relief.

L-Lysine is an amino acid that aids the body in metabolizing Vitamin C. A deficiency of this amino acid may result in anemia, bleeding gums and scurvy. Scurvy is manifested by the breakdown of collagen in the gums. The body does not produce L-Lysine which has to be obtained from food or supplements.

Broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, strawberries and water melons are all good sources of this nutrient. Citrus fruits contain the highest concentration of this amino acid. Due to its anti-viral properties, supplements may ward off breakouts and alleviate the symptoms of herpes.

Vitamin C powder can relieve similar painful gums symptoms through direct application. Apart from stopping bleeding, it may also be beneficial in tightening the gums. This offers sore gums treatment, tooth protection and hinders the progression of periodontal disease.

The habitual application of Vitamin C has been observed to provide a lifeline for loose teeth. Because lime is very rich in vitamin C, it is also very beneficial in maintaining oral health. This is important for curtailing instances of  gum pain.

Garlic is another effective treatment for  gum pain. Garlic herbal mixtures are easy to prepare. Simply peel the garlic and mince using a knife or pound in a mortar and pestle. Apply directly to the painful gum area. This remedy alleviates pain on the spot and is the simplest remedy for gum pain from toothache or infection.

Onion is another option that is readily available in most of our kitchens. Onions have scientifically proven properties that fight bacteria that causes tooth and gum infections. Chewing on an onion a day, is an effective formula for combating  gum pain. Three minutes of chewing is effective enough to rid the gums and whole mouth of bacteria.

Vanilla extract is also an effective  gum pain remedy. The pure extract should be gargled throughout the mouth to alleviate pain. The vanilla extract numbs the gums thereby, providing vital relief from pain.

Tree tea oil has also be in use for elimination of pain especially from the mouth or the gums. Tea tree oil can be applied around the painful area using cotton pads or by rubbing. Even though it lacks a great taste in the mouth, it is still very effective for  gum pain alleviation.

Liquid calendula is an herbal extract derived from marigold. This extract has been put under medicinal use for centuries to provide relief from a number of conditions. Mouthwashes made from this herb provide relief from a number of mouth and gum disorders. Apart from healing soft tissues and soothing bleeding gums, it relieves herpes lesions, mouth ulcers and dry sockets that result in  gum pain  after tooth  extractions.