Painful gums And Disease
Despite the training and education we all receive, oral health is not perfect yet and the first sign of trouble is often painful gums. The gums are a very sensitive area of tissue that suffer many possible abuses both from the inside and outside. A little bleeding is not unusual but can lead to many different major medical problems.
Discovering painful gums can be upsetting but doesn’t cause the alarm of blood seen directly outside your body. Blood oozing or gushing from a scrape or cut can cause some distress but blood in your mouth seems easier to handle. There is little drama with noticing your floss or brush is a little pink after use. The signs should not be ignored if they persist beyond several days time as they could be warning of disease in your mouth or elsewhere in your body.
painful gums should cause some concern if you spit out blood in even small quantities. Blood is usually an internal item for the body and significant quantities coming out of any orifice should gain your attention. If you can taste the salty nature of the blood in your mouth in addition to spitting it out, you may have a serious gum problem and should visit a dentist or doctor in the near term.
If you experience painful gums, should you rush to your dentist? Probably not immediately but if bleeding continues more than several days, a visit is probably prudent. The explanations for this symptom can be many to include several major diseases. Diabetes is one possible cause for bleeding problems and sometimes the gums are the first sign of the disease. Leukemia, a form of blood cancer, will cause extra bleeding in several areas including the gums.
Gingivitis is the most common disease associated with painful gums. Gingivitis occurs if you fail to clean your mouth well or for some other reason the bacteria in your mouth grow rapidly beyond their normal numbers. The bacteria grow rapidly and can soon irritate the gums with swelling and often redness in color.
The painful gums associated with gingivitis should show up when brushing or flossing you teeth. The action of the floss or toothbrush against the gums will cause minor bleeding. The bleeding should cease shortly after you stop cleaning the teeth and gums, and not occur again until more agitation happens. With good oral hygiene for the next few days, the bleeding condition should not reappear.
Infection can be a more serious source of painful gums than simple gingivitis. The gums can get infections from multiple viruses or agents. The herpes virus can infect the gums in the mouth leading to swelling and bleeding. Small circular sores will form and the gum tissues will be sore.
Today’s drugs can cause painful gums if the dosage and usage are not properly followed. The use of anticoagulants is common to prevent blood clots. If the dosage is a incorrect, the gums may start bleeding as a result. Consult your doctor if this occurs frequently.
