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Why Are My Gums Sore?

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Gum tissue is naturally soft and sensitive. This means many things can cause sore gums. You might feel pain between your teeth, on top of some of your teeth, or all over your gums. In some cases, you might only feel it in the back of your mouth.

Sore gums can bleed or swell, though they don’t always have visible symptoms. Regardless of what’s causing your sore gums, you might also notice that the pain is worse when brushing or flossing. It’s possible you may feel more pain if you use a harsh mouthwash, especially one containing alcohol.

Keep reading to learn more about the possible causes of sore gums.

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Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that’s fairly common. It causes inflammation, redness, and irritation of your gums, especially along the bottom of your teeth. Gingivitis can make your gums tear and bleed easily, causing soreness.

Other symptoms of gingivitis include:

• receding gums
• tender gums
• bad breath
• gums that look puffy

Gingivitis is usually caused by poor oral hygiene, such as not flossing or brushing your teeth enough. While it’s not a serious condition, it can quickly progress into a more serious form of gum disease. It’s best to treat it as soon as possible. In most cases, a professional dental cleaning and a regular brushing and flossing schedule should resolve your symptoms.

Thrush

Oral thrush is a fungal infection that affects your mouth. It involves an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida. This is the same fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections. Oral thrush is common in babies, older adults, and people who spend a lot of time in hospitals.

Thrush is characterized by white spots on your tongue or inner cheeks. Some people describe the spots as looking like cottage cheese. Occasionally, these spots can spread to your gums, tonsils, or the roof of your mouth. If they reach your gums, you might feel some soreness or irritation.

Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medications. These usually come in several forms, including a pill, lozenge, and mouthwash.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a more serious form of ongoing gum disease that can develop from untreated gingivitis. It’s an infection caused by plaque buildup that attacks the tissue and bones supporting your teeth. This causes your gums to recede and your teeth to become loose.

While it usually develops slowly, periodontitis can also come on quickly. Its main symptom is gum soreness, and it can also cause:

• swollen gums
• red or purple gums
• bleeding gums
• gum abscesses
• new spaces between your teeth due to receding gums
• pain while chewing
• bad breath
• bite change

Treating periodontitis requires advanced forms of professional teeth cleaning called scaling and root planting. Both of these help to remove bacteria from under your gums. You’ll need to follow up with regular brushing and flossing to avoid another infection.