Do you have swollen, irritated or painful gums? Do your gums bleed or become sore when you brush or floss your teeth?
If yes, unfortunately you are suffering from gum sensitivity. Gum sensitivity and soreness is one of the most common, yet ignored dental health problems. Pain from gum sensitivity can range from just few minutes to days and even months. Gum diseases, poor oral hygiene, unhealthy habits and stressful routine are all probable causes of this dental condition and while mild sensitivity is often ignored, severe gum sensitivity calls for serious treatment and lifestyle changes.
You can deal with less critical gum issues at home, but, in case of a severe underlying cause or associated diseases, it’ll be best to visit a dentist.
Here are 7 ways to tackle unpleasant aches and maintain healthy gums:
1. Take Care of Oral Hygiene
Your mom probably doesn’t remind you to brush and floss your teeth anymore, so you’ve started neglecting your oral hygiene. But if you really want to protect your gums and ensure that they don’t become sensitive, it’s important to develop healthy habits in the long run.
Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush. Ask your dentist for the best technique and keep in mind that excessive or vigorous brushing might worsen the condition. Floss your teeth at least once a day. It’s also a great practice to use an antiseptic mouthwash after every meal as it’ll soothe irritated gums and kill bacteria.
2. Say No to Smoking
Smoking is a bad habit that is not just harmful for your lungs, but your whole body, especially your teeth. Apart from turning them into a nasty shade of yellow, smoking also affects your gums. If you’re a smoker, quit smoking to get rid of gum sensitivity for good.
3. Drink Water After Meals
As simple as it may seem, drinking water is a good way of washing away the remnants of food in the mouth or teeth– plus extra hydration is always a good thing!
4. Eat Food Rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C is your gums best friend. It strengthens them and ensures that sensitivity becomes a non-issue. Try to increase the intake of citrus fruits like orange, kiwi, grapefruit and lemon as they are rich in vitamin C. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and capsicums are also great sources of vitamin C. An adult must consume 65-90 mg of vitamin C every day.
5. Avoid Stress
Stressful jobs and routines can affect both your physical and psychological health. The relation between stress and gum sensitivity might seem odd to some but you’ll observe rapid improvement in your gum condition if you manage your sleep patterns, exercise daily, be happy and take a chill pill.
6. Take Over-the-Counter Medication for Mild Distress
Mild gum sensitivity and soreness can be treated with some over-the-counter medicines too. However, you make sure you go through the medication package insert before using them. Oral gels and pain killers can help soothe gum sensitivity to some extent. These may include: Anbesol, Orajel, Chloraseptic, and Xylocaine.
7. Visit a Dentist
If the soreness doesn’t improve, make an appointment with a Frisco dentist right away. Overlooking lingering gum sensitivity can worsen the condition and you might be at the risk of other gum diseases. The dentist will analyze the causes, diagnose the disease, prescribe medication and suggest treatments to help you overcome the problem.
Request an appointment here: or call Asha Dental at (913) 440-4199 for an appointment in our Leawood office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Bone loss does not necessarily prevent dental implants from being an attractive and effective option for patients who have experienced tooth loss. After a tooth is lost, the area in the jawbone formerly occupied by the root of the tooth deteriorates. This may make it difficult or impossible to get dental implants to replace the…
With so many procedures available, including dental veneers, it is no wonder that so many people feel confused. When it comes to fillings and veneers, there are significant differences. Take the time to learn the difference between the two. Then, talk to your doctor about the treatment you need.More than ever, people have a broad…
More people are going to an Invisalign dentist to get aligners to straighten their teeth because they want to fix their teeth discreetly. Even though the aligners are made from clear plastic, they are very effective when it comes to treating most of the problems people have with their teeth.Invisalign clear aligners provide people with…
If you notice pain in your jaw, you may be dealing with one of the many types of TMJ disorders. This condition may cause spasms of the facial muscles and clicking or popping sounds in the jaw. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders typically make eating and talking painful or difficult. The dentist may recommend different treatments…
Bone loss does not necessarily prevent dental implants from being an attractive and effective option for patients who have experienced tooth loss. After a tooth is lost, the area in the jawbone formerly occupied by the root of the tooth deteriorates. This may make it difficult or impossible to get dental implants to replace the…
With so many procedures available, including dental veneers, it is no wonder that so many people feel confused. When it comes to fillings and veneers, there are significant differences. Take the time to learn the difference between the two. Then, talk to your doctor about the treatment you need.More than ever, people have a broad…
