Pain In Your Gums? It Could Be Gum Disease

Dentist Blog

If your gums hurt or ache near the back of your mouth for no apparent reason, take a moment to inspect your mouth. Sometimes gums can ache when a piece of hard food becomes trapped between your molars. Brushing the gum area too hard with a toothbrush can also cause you pain. Pain can also be a sign of something very serious, such as gum disease. Gum disease can cause many problems for you in the future, including tooth loss. Here are things you can do see if you have gum disease in the back of your mouth.

What Do You Look For?

When your teeth or gums hurt, it's important that you find the source of the pain right away. You'll also need to stand in front of your bathroom mirror. Be sure to use a light bright enough to see inside your mouth clearly.

Also, wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water. Even if you don't find any redness or other signs of infection in your gums, you can inadvertently cause an infection by introducing bacteria into your mouth. Dry your hands on a clean towel, then begin the inspection.

First, examine the color and condition of your gums. If your gums appear red and swollen instead of pink and firm, you may have gingivitis, or mild gum disease. But if your gums also bleed or ooze a white substance called pus, you may have a more severe form of gum disease. 

You'll need to act fast if you find any of the signs of gum disease above.

What Do You Do Next?

Until you see a dentist, rinse your mouth with warm water to ease the pain and inflammation in your gums. Avoid hot water as it may make the situation worse. You can also gently brush and floss your teeth to help remove some of the bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria is a major cause of gum disease, so keeping your mouth clean helps fight it.

Also, monitor your gums carefully. If the your gums begin to pull away from the crowns of your teeth, you may have an advanced form of gum disease. Contact a dentist and report your findings. You may need to see a provider now. A dentist will generally clean the area thoroughly to slow down the spread of infection. 

Some providers administer antibiotics to their patients when they have severe gum inflammation. Antibiotics help fight the infection at the source, so be sure to ask about this type of treatment when you visit a dentist. 

To find treatment for your achy gums, contact a dentist today. You can also check out sites like http://www.vanyodentistry.com for more information.

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19 June 2017

Improving My Dental Appointments

After dealing with a few root canals, I realized that it was time to take my dental hygiene a more seriously. I talked with my dentist about what I could do differently, and he was full of great suggestions that would help. He walked me through different ways to brush, floss, and take care of tartar buildup, and it was really amazing to see the difference that it made. I also started taking a fluoride supplement to strengthen my enamel. When I made it to my next appointment, my dentist was blown away with the improvement. This blog is all about improving your dental appointments by keeping your teeth healthier.