Introduction
Gum sensitivity is a common oral problem faced by many people across the world. Gum sensitivity arises when you have inflamed and sore gums. The causes of gum sensitivity are usually poor oral health, some deficiency, any bodily or hormonal changes and consumption of tobacco or acidic food.
What is Gum Sensitivity?
Gum sensitivity is a common dental condition caused by inflamed or sore gums. Gum sensitivity causes irritation, soreness, pain and discomfort in your gums. Gum sensitivity can cause your gums to become swollen, tender, and prone to bleeding.
Some unhealthy lifestyle habits such as eating acidic food, drinking sugary beverages and consuming tobacco may contribute significantly to gum sensitivity.
Common Causes of Gum Sensitivity
The common causes of gum sensitivity can vary a lot depending on the person. As we discovered earlier, these can be because of deficiencies or hormonal changes among other things.
What leads to gum sensitivity is when we ignore these small problems and let them grow into bigger ones. Below is a list covering some of the major causes:-
- Gum Disease: The most common cause is gum disease. If any gum diseases are not treated at the earliest it can cause tooth loss. Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and the advanced stage is known as periodontitis.
- Vitamin-D Deficiency: Deficiency of vitamin D causes inflammation and discomfort which can lead to gum disease and sensitivity. Common vitamin D deficiency symptoms are soreness, swollen gums and bleeding gums.
- Other Health Conditions: Other health conditions such as diabetes and hormonal changes in the body can also cause tooth and gum sensitivity.
- Smoking Tobacco: Smoking tobacco or consuming regular alcohol can cause severe tooth and gum sensitivity which can even lead to serious health issues. Read more about smoking and gum health here.
Early Signs and Symptoms of Gum Sensitivity
The early symptoms of gum sensitivity usually go unnoticed due to mild issues. The early signs could be
- Swelling: One of the early gum sensitivity symptoms could be swelling. Swelling is often overlooked because it’s not seen as a serious issue until it progresses to a more advanced stage.
- Redness: If you notice redness around the gum tissue then this could be a symptom for sensitive gums.
- Bleeding: Gum bleeding is a common sign of sensitive gums.
- Bad Breath: If you experience persistent bad breath despite regular brushing, it could be a sign of sensitive gums.
Risk Factors for Developing Sensitive Gums
There are many underlying factors which could develop sensitive gums. Early treatment or preventive oral care can help you.
- Poor oral hygiene: You can face tooth and gum sensitivity if you do not keep up with proper oral care and hygiene. Try Perfora’s Water Flossers for gum care.
- Tobacco: Tobacco not only affects your oral care but also attacks your whole body. Therefore, it is better to avoid tobacco in any form for better oral health.
- Medications: Certain medications such as anti-depression and heart disease can cause gum disease.
- Poor diet: Having a poor diet affects your oral health. Excessive eating of junk food and taking carbonated drinks leads to dry mouth which leads to gum sensitivity.
When to Seek Professional Help for Gum Sensitivity\
You should immediately seek a dental professional’s help when you notice-
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Regular gum bleeding,
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Swelling
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Redness
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Soreness
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Pain and discomfort while chewing
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Receding gums
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Pus between teeth and gums
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Bad breath
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Frequent fever due to gum pain
Conclusion
Gum sensitivity is a common occurrence and it can happen due to the smallest of reasons, especially when they are ignored. Maintaining proper oral hygiene and taking good care of your oral health can help you effectively combat gum sensitivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How to fix gum sensitivity?
Answer- To fix gum sensitivity, maintain proper hygiene by regularly brushing with an anti-sensitivity toothpaste and flossing, using mouthwash and limiting sugar and acidic food.
Q2. Why are my gums all of a sudden so sensitive?
Answer- You may feel sensitive gums due to cold or hot food consumption, brushing too hard, eating acidic foods, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, gum diseases, any hormonal changes and other underlying health issues.
Q3. Do sensitive gums go away?
Answer- Yes, sensitive gums can go away by maintaining proper oral care, brushing twice regularly, flossing, limiting sugar and acidic food and regularly visiting the dentist.