By EKalman January 11, 2024 - 2:47am

Brushing our teeth daily is essential for good dental health, but it also helps to maintain our gums healthy. Healthy gums are pale pink, whereas unhealthy gums are red, swollen, and inflammatory, and may bleed. Here are the reasons why your gums may become sensitive and painful, and gum disease is not always the culprit.

1. Brushing and Flossing Too Hard
There is such a thing as brushing too hard. When brushing your teeth, you should use proper technique. Gums are delicate, so scrubbing too hard might harm the tissue and cause inflammation. Instead of using physical force on your gums and teeth, massage them. Circular motions work best, which is why leading dentists prescribe electric toothbrushes.

Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and replace it once every three months. Be cautious during flossing. Gently move it up and down the curvature of each tooth. Sawing back and forth will hurt your gums.

2. Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers or cankers are extremely painful. They are frequently caused by injuries, such as biting your cheek, or by autoimmune disorders. An ulcer on your gum will cause pain. For comfort, apply a topical therapy or rinse your mouth with salt water.

3. Gum Disease
Gum disease is the leading cause of gum pain. Gingivitis is the less dangerous variety, but if not treated, it can lead to periodontitis. This results in red, irritated, and bleeding gums. Gingivitis and periodontitis are treatable with expert care and proper dental hygiene, so schedule an appointment if your gums are bleeding and hurting. Periodontitis, if left untreated, can cause tooth loss.

4. Hormones
Hormones might have an unexpected impact on our oral health. Some women develop sore gums when their hormone levels rise, such as during pregnancy or menstruation. Menstrual gingivitis causes aching, inflamed, and bleeding gums when a woman's period arrives, but the disease goes away a few days after. Women in menopause can get dry gums that become painful. Even using oral contraception can harm gum health.

If you are a woman and see a consistent tendency in your gum troubles, hormones may be to blame. When it comes to gum disease, prevention is always preferable to cure. Schedule at least two dental check-ups every year. Your dentist can identify abnormalities before they become severe difficulties. In addition, clean your teeth twice a day and floss once. Avoid sugary snacks and drink plenty of water to rinse your mouth after meals.

5. Braces
If you are currently getting braces treatment, you may notice slight tenderness around the gum line due to tooth movement. Alternatively, you may have some pain following an adjustment.

6. Poorly Fitted Dentures
It is expected to experience some stiffness for a few days after receiving your dentures. However, if the pain persists, it may indicate that they do not fit well. If your gums are still uncomfortable, your dentures may need to be modified.

7. Poor Diet
Diet has an important influence on gum health as well. Poor eating habits and extremely restrictive diets result in a shortage of nutrients required to maintain the body healthy. Because teeth and gums are living elements of the body, they suffer when their nutritional requirements are not satisfied. Speak with your dentist about the ideal foods for your oral health.

8. Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
Individuals who smoke or chew tobacco are at risk for a variety of health issues, including gum disease, a weaker immune system, oral cancer, and other conditions that can cause painful, swollen, and inflamed gums.