Inflamed Gums: Causes and Tips to Prevent It
When the gums are very inflamed, it can hurt very much at some point. In the case of inflamed gums, the gums may be bleeding, red in color, and swollen. Inflamed gums are often caused by plaque that eventually turns into tartar. Bacteria play a major role in this. But now you want to know why inflamed gums hurt very much and what you can do about it? I will answer all your questions clearly below.
What is inflamed gums?
With inflamed gums, there is redness, swelling and bleeding gums. However, these three symptoms do not have to occur simultaneously. In smokers, bleeding often does not occur. This is because gums have less blood flow in smokers. Bacteria in the mouth often cause inflammation of the gums. The bacteria are first of all in plaque. Dental plaque consists of food residues, mucus and bacteria. These bacteria convert the carbohydrates and sugars into an acid.
The bacteria present in the mouth and elsewhere can also be very useful: lactic acid bacteria keep the intestinal flora healthy. These types of bacteria are mainly used in the preparation of yogurt, sauerkraut and buttermilk. In the mouth, these bacteria cause damage by the breakdown of sugars, causing tooth decay or caries. Most bacteria that cause inflamed gums are in the saliva. After you have eaten, food residues remain in the mouth, these residues attach to the gumline. Bacteria from the saliva mix with the remaining food residues. This gives the bacteria a very good opportunity to grow from there. It is still unclear which bacteria are to blame for this. More than 400 kinds of micro-organisms live in the mouth. In addition, it is very difficult for researchers to grow the oral bacteria in a laboratory.
Plaque to tartar
If the plaque is not removed within 24 hours, it will continue to harden. After about 48 hours, plaque turns into tartar. You cannot remove the tartar yourself and it is a source of bacteria for further growth. You can also see tartar as a biofilm, where there is a unique environment with a large group of bacteria. Dental plaque adheres easily to tartar. When the bacteria are in a large number, they start to behave differently and more dangerously. They seem to be more resistant to antibiotics or their host’s immune system. This eventually forms deep pockets along the gumline.
A pocket is a space between the gumline and the tooth that is deepened. In a healthy (normal) state, this space is called a sulcus and is 1 to 3 mm deep. A pocket is deeper and is slowly filled with gums and tartar, which will make the pocket even deeper.
You cannot clean the deep pocket by yourself. When the pocket is not treated, bacteria can penetrate deeper and deeper. In time, the jaw bone will break off, resulting in loss of the teeth.
What are the causes of inflamed gums?
Inflamed gums are often caused by poor oral hygiene. By not brushing plaque, it can eventually harden into tartar. Dental plaque is a soft, sticky layer of bacteria that lies over the teeth as a barely visible spot. If you don’t brush your teeth regularly, plaque will eventually calcify to tartar that eventually attaches to your teeth. This often happens in the edge of the gums.
Why does inflamed gums hurt?
Inflamed gums can hurt a lot and that’s a good thing! The pain makes us aware of the fact that something is going wrong with the gums. Pain is always a warning sign. The gums are a well-perfused area and will therefore bleed quickly with inflammation. The pain is mainly caused by the nerves that run through the gums. These become very irritated as a result of the inflammation.
How do you get rid of infamed gums?
Flossing daily
It is often recommended to floss at least once a day to properly remove food residues between the teeth. Try flossing as gently as possible and don’t rush it. If you touch the floss with too much pressure on the gums, it can bleed a lot. After flossing, rinse your mouth with water.
Brush your teeth
Try brushing your teeth after flossing. It is recommended to brush twice a day, or brush after every meal (wait half an hour). Brushing with an electric toothbrush is highly recommended because it does not give too much pressure and the gums are massaged very well. You should not forget to replace the toothbrush or a brush head in time. Try to replace this every three months.
Antibacterial mouthwash
An antibacterial mouthwash can help to get rid of inflamed gums. It kills the bacteria present in the mouth and it is preventing plaque and tartar build-up. It is best to first ask your dentist whether an antibacterial rinse is suitable for you.
Dental adjustments
What can also cause inflamed gums is if crowns, implants etc. do not fit properly, it can also irritate the gums. Always make an appointment with the dentist to avoid these complaints, so that you do not experience such problems.
Professional teeth cleaning
If there is an accumulation of tartar on your teeth, manual brushing will not help remove it. It is advisable to make an appointment with a dental hygienist to have your teeth cleaned properly. The dental hygienist has the opportunity to do this. After thorough cleaning, inflamed gums can be treated, for example by means of a good toothpick instruction from the dental hygienist. It is important to take good care of your teeth at home.
Video about inflamed gums (gingivitis)
My gums hurt and blood
The first few days the gums will start to hurt more and bleed more and more. Most people are then quickly inclined to stop oral care, to spare the gums. This is actually a wrong choice: the oral care should be continued. The bleeding will stop after 7 to 14 days. The pain can be severe while brushing. The pain will also subside after a few days. With a lot of pain you will also notice that there is a lot of drooling during brushing. If it is necessary, you can keep a towel or cup under the chin as a precaution.
Consequences of inflamed gums
Inflamed gums can have unpleasant consequences over time. Inflamed gums (gingivitis) can progress to periodontal disease, a deeper inflammation that affects not only the gums, but also the underlying canister structure. This bone ensures that the teeth are properly held, and if it is affected after some time, the teeth will become increasingly loose.