Sore Gums: Causes and Treatment

What Causes Sore Gums?

Vigorous Brushing

Your sore gums could be due to something as simple as too-vigorous brushing along your gumline² or using a toothbrush with harder bristles.

Try being gentler when brushing your teeth and switching to a soft bristled toothbrush if there are no visible problems with your gums like redness or ulcers.

Braces and Dentures

Wearing braces with wires and brackets to straighten your teeth can make it harder for you to brush and floss effectively, leading to gum irritation and soreness¹⁸. To help combat this, speak to your dentist or orthodontist about how to look after your oral health while you have braces.

Ill-fitting dentures can also lead to soreness in your mouth – visit your dentist to have them refitted if you’re suffering with soreness from your dentures.¹⁹

Gum Disease

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that causes gum irritation, redness, and bleeding when brushing your teeth.³

Gum disease is caused by plaque build-up on the teeth and gumline and can usually be treated with a strong oral hygiene routine – brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time, plus daily flossing.⁴

It’s important to visit your dentist when you have sore gums to find out if it could be gum disease and how you can improve your oral health before it advances to periodontitis.⁵

Canker Sores

Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, are a type of ulcer that cause white indents in the gums or inside the mouth. They can be painful and cause problems with eating and speaking.

Most canker sores heal on their own within a week or two. If you get one that is very large, painful, or takes longer than two weeks to heal, seek medical advice.⁶

Hormones

Hormonal changes, particularly due to changes in levels of oestrogen and progesterone, can lead to a greater risk of gum disease. This happens because oestrogen and progesterone surges cause greater blood flow to the gums, making them more sensitive to irritation.⁷

Examples of times when someone might experience gum soreness due to hormonal changes include:

• Puberty⁸
• During a period⁸
• When using hormonal birth control⁸
• Pregnancy⁹
• Menopause⁹

Dental Abscesses

Sore gums can also be a sign of a gum or tooth abscess.

A gum abscess (gingival abscess) usually forms due to damage to the gum, e.g. through food or a toothpick penetrating the gumline. A gum abscess can develop further into a periodontal abscess if not treated, and pus can spread deeper into the gum tissue and jawbone.¹⁰

A dental abscess can cause painful toothache and, due to pus infecting the tissues and jawbone around a tooth, can eventually cause tooth loss if not treated.¹¹

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer, or mouth cancer, can occur in different parts of the mouth. Persistent gum soreness and ulcers on the gums should be investigated as they could be a symptom of mouth cancer.¹²

Preventing Sore Gums and Teeth

The best way to prevent sore gums and teeth is to look after your oral health.¹⁴ A good oral hygiene routine includes:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes¹⁴ with a fluoride toothpaste, such as Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum Whitening.
• Flossing regularly.¹⁴
• Visiting the dentist at least once a year.¹⁴
• Quitting smoking.¹⁵
• Limiting your sugar intake.¹⁶
• Limiting your alcohol consumption.¹⁷