Do you ever brush your teeth and feel that your gums are a bit sore afterwards? Or do you frequently notice that your gums are sensitive?

There is a wealth of articles relating to sensitive teeth and how to alleviate them, but as many as 50% of dental patients experience intermittent episodes of sensitive gums. In this article, we are going to look at why.

At Dublin 18 Dental Rooms, our dentist Dublin believes that a person’s entire mouth should be healthy and so, if you are experiencing gingival discomfort, you should see our team to explore the reasons why. After all, your gums need care too!

So what are the most common reasons why people experience gum pain? Our dentist Dublin explores them below!

Rough brushing

OK, so we touched on this earlier, but the leading cause of patients experiencing recurrent sore gums, according to our dentist Dublin, is hard brushing.

If you are a bit more vigorous with your cleaning when you brush, this can easily cause the soft tissue of the gums to become inflamed and sore. And, unfortunately, as brushing is done every day, it can quickly lead to an ongoing problem.

If your teeth hurt after you brush, you should book an appointment to see our team; this will allow us to offer you tips on how to brush sensitive gums, as well as enable us to discuss the correct brushing technique and toothbrushes.

Gum disease

Sore gums that bleed can also be a sign of gum disease, even in the early stages.

And as you may know, gum disease is often the result of incorrect brushing technique and an excess of bacteria in your mouth, leading to the gums becoming spongy and sore.

Luckily, gum disease is treatable in minor cases and manageable in more severe ones, with our team being able to provide you with a scale and polish, and bacteria targeting mouthwashes.

Ulcers

More common when you are ill or under stress, ulcers or canker sores can cause your gums to feel sensitive and uncomfortable in daily life.

Sadly, as the cause of ulcers is non-specific, they may resolve themselves when you get better or feel less stressed. However, if your ulcers are larger than a 5 pence piece, are recurring in the same part of your mouth or bleed, then you should see our team for an appointment, as this can sometimes point to oral cancer.

Hormonal changes

This is a more common issue with women, but is not solely exclusive to them, as men experience hormonal changes too.

But, if you are female, you are more likely to experience sore gums if you are menstruating if you are pregnant or are going through menopause. Many teenage girls also experience sore gums due to hormonal fluctuations, so if you have a teenage daughter who has painful gums, it may be worth contacting our team and your doctor for an assessment.

Smoking

It should come as no surprise that if you smoke, you have a higher chance of developing sore gums. The hot air that is breathed in during smoking can cause inflammation and can alter the texture of the gingival tissue, making it more likely to bleed.