Gum Irritation- Causes and Treatment

Gum inflammation or irritation causes pain and makes your life difficult. It is a disease of tissues forming the structure that surrounds and supports teeth. Gingivitis is the proper medical term used by the doctors to refer to gum diseases.

Pain is one of the symptoms of this disease along with redness, swollen, tender and puffy gum. It is not as severe as that of a toothache. However, it is still painful and must be taken care of, before it develops into periodontitis.

Also, it is not one of the nice experiences to witness your gums bleed when brushing teeth in the morning. Some of the experts believe that gum problems are hereditary. Their observation is based on the fact that some people naturally tend to form very little plaque on their teeth. On the other hand, in some others, the plaque accumulation is more and faster.

Lack of proper dental care and hygiene leads to the formation of the plaque around gums and teeth. During the mastication, the tiny food particles accumulates in the slits between teeth.

These food particles, on decomposing in the saliva, hardens into the plaque and become hiding places for the bacteria. With the passage of the time, the build up of plaque and the toxins released by the bacteria irritate the gum between the teeth, which can spread to other areas.

It is known that certain medicines that are prescribed to counter diseases such as high blood pressure and heart diseases irritate gums. Chemicals that are used in the medicines that are used as oral contraceptives, antidepressants, decongestants, antihistamines and nasal sprays may also act as the cause.

Most of the pregnant women, suffer from this condition or what some people call pregnancy gingivitis, when the baby comes to term. This inconvenience causes swelling and bleeding of the gum.

A partially wedged or impacted wisdom tooth may have flap of the gum covering it. During the mastication, food particles may get lodged under the flap and irritate the gum around the crown of the budding wisdom tooth.

If you have been to the dentist for a tooth filling, then, you must know that the tooth may remain sensitive for some time. Gum irritation after filling is experienced, if the tooth decay has reached the pulp which is present inside the tooth. The dentin in this area is sensitive and hurts easily because of the filling until, it develops a protective layer.

During a root canal treatment infected pulp and the nerve is removed from the inside of the tooth. Then this cavity is cleaned and sealed. Normally this takes care of the infection. However, if there are more than one root canals in the tooth and if one remains untreated, it allows the infection to spread in the treated tooth.

An improperly done root canal or break down of the used sealing material, may allow bacteria an entry in the inner aspect of the tooth. Both of these conditions, after a root canal, can results in the spreading of the infection.

Gum irritation caused due to teeth whitening products is not very uncommon. The chemicals used in the teeth whitening products, on coming in contact with the gum, can cause inflammation.

The formation of plaque can be easily avoided by regular teeth brushing and flossing. Thus, removing the root cause of the irritation. Your dentist may prescribe remedies in the form of pain killers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, codeine and morphine to contain the pain due to it. In addition the dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection.

In its severe form, irritation and pain in gums may drive you to your dentist. However, if the pain due to it is mild then you can try some useful home remedies which may help you in taking care of the problem.