Pain in the gums and jaw: causes and solutions

Soldatova Lyudmila Nikolaevna

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Dentistry of the St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, Chief Physician of the Alfa-Dent Dental Clinic, St. Petersburg

Today, almost everyone knows that teeth need especially careful care. We buy expensive pastes and use special thread. But, unfortunately, when taking care of our teeth, we completely forget about the tissues surrounding them, while the health of our gums needs to be monitored no less carefully.

Many people are familiar with the symptoms when the gums begin to hurt when pressing between the teeth. And many, unfortunately, ignore this unpleasant pain. Let's figure out what can cause it, what these sensations indicate, and how to relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Causes of pain in the gums when pressing

Remember, discomfort in your gums is a reason to see a dentist. No matter what kind of pain you feel, relatively mild or severe, you need to determine the cause of the problem as soon as possible and begin treating it.

As a rule, pain in the gums when pressed is provoked by three diseases:

1. Gingivitis. This disease is accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane and bleeding. Inflammation is provoked by microbial plaque, which occurs due to non-compliance or improper oral hygiene.
2. Periodontitis. The disease, as a rule, is accompanied not only by unpleasant sensations, but also by a general deterioration in well-being. The patient feels which tooth is bothering him, as his “elevation” is felt above the other teeth.
3. Periodontitis. The disease occurs due to untreated gingivitis. With periodontitis, the necks of the teeth open, pus oozes from the gums, and the teeth become mobile. The problem affects the entire cavity and can lead to tooth loss.

Why does it fit on the tooth?

When gums become inflamed, pockets form that do not fit tightly to the tooth.
Overgrown tissue grows on the tooth and can completely cover it. Causes:

1. Gingival hyperplasia. The disease occurs against the background of blood diseases, hormonal changes, as a reaction to drug therapy. The pathology is often hereditary and therefore often manifests itself in children.
2. Fibrous or hypertrophic gingivitis. The gum swells, becomes dense, and floats onto the tooth. The pain is mild or absent, there is no bleeding. Pathology may indicate vitamin C deficiency, diseases of the digestive and cardiovascular systems, and tartar deposits.
3. Acute pericoronitis.

Provoking factors are tartar, malocclusion, teething.

Treatment of gum pain

It is important to treat gum disease as soon as possible. Any, even the most harmless pathology, can turn into periostitis with high fever, swelling of the mucous membranes and loose teeth. Moreover, inflammation in the gums releases toxins that provoke the development of blood poisoning.

You should not discount the possibility of pain in the gums when pressing due to illiterate treatment by a dentist. Normally, pain after treatment persists for 1-2 weeks. If the pain continues longer and does not subside, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. It happens that after poor-quality dental canal filling, bacteria appear in the voids, which provoke an infectious process.

The dentist may also leave the edges of the filling uneven, causing damage to the gums. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor so that he can improve his work.

Attacks of pain when pressing on the gums are also common with increased sensitivity of the teeth and gums. However, with proper care, this pain goes away quite quickly. When it occurs, you should use toothpastes and rinses for sensitive teeth.

For example, ASEPTA Sensitive preventive toothpaste allows you to perform oral hygiene without irritating sensitive gums. The combination of 3 desensitizing components - potassium citrate, hydroxyapatite, thermal mud - significantly reduces the sensitivity of teeth and gums.

For more effective prevention of pain in the oral cavity, it is recommended to use ASEPTA gum gel with propolis. In this product, propolis is produced in the form of a gel, which makes it easy to apply to the gums. Prolonged contact with the painful area of ​​the gum allows the gel components to penetrate deeper and promotes rapid healing.

The cause of pain when pressing on the gums can also be various injuries to the gums and teeth, received, for example, when trying to crack nuts or toffee. Such injuries also need to be shown to the dentist as soon as possible, otherwise there is a possibility of an inflammatory process.

Diagnostics

To identify the cause of gum pain, the dentist examines the oral cavity, evaluates the configuration of the face and the condition of the lymph nodes.
The doctor collects an anamnesis of the patient’s life and illness. To make an accurate diagnosis and choose an effective treatment method, additional examinations are prescribed. Diagnostic methods:

• general blood test - carried out to assess the severity of the inflammatory process;
• in case of periodontitis, measure the depth of the periodontal canals with a special instrument;
• plain x-ray of the jaw;
• orthopantomogram - examination allows you to see how the teeth are located in the jaw;
• cytological analysis.

When a bacterial infection is detected in the oral cavity, an additional analysis is performed to determine the sensitivity of pathogens to antibacterial drugs.

What to do if your gums hurt:

How to relieve pain when pressing on the gums

Remember, only a dentist can help eradicate the pain experienced when pressing on the gums or teeth. It is important to quickly determine the cause of the discomfort and prescribe proper treatment. However, to eliminate discomfort before visiting a doctor, you can try the following methods:

• Take painkillers, such as paracetamol or analgin. The main thing is not to overdo it with such drugs, as they can be addictive and negatively affect the functioning of internal organs.
• Brush your teeth properly, trying to free the inflamed cavity from plaque and food particles.
• Rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda, furatsilin or potassium permanganate.

Remember, it is strictly forbidden to warm your cheeks and gums or apply warm compresses to the sore spot. Heat can trigger more severe inflammation. Also, you should not take antibacterial or anti-inflammatory drugs without a doctor’s prescription.

It is also prohibited to put analgesics into the cavity of a diseased tooth. This popular method is far from safe: you can not only cause an infection, but also get a serious burn to the mucous membrane.

Reasons why teeth may hurt after cold weather

• General hypothermia of the body.
• Prolonged exposure to the air flow coming from the air conditioner.
• A draft can cause hypothermia.
• Inhaling frosty air through the mouth.
• Being outside in windy weather with your face open.

Treatment for gum pain

The treatment tactics for pain in the gums when pressing depends on the cause of the disease. If the pain appears due to problems with the teeth, the canals are filled or refilled. The doctor removes the source of inflammation. Advanced stages of the disease are treated with surgery and removal of the diseased tooth.

If the cause of pain in the gums when pressing is their inflammation, it can be relieved with medications prescribed by the dentist. As a rule, in such cases, the doctor prescribes antibiotics or other penicillin drugs. Rinse must be prescribed.

Folk remedies – decoctions of medicinal herbs – also help relieve pain and inflammation. Oak bark, chamomile, and sage perfectly remove unpleasant sensations. A solution of baking soda with a few drops of iodine also helps relieve inflammation.

Other popular methods for treating inflammation at home are:

• Propolis tincture
  has antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. To prepare it, dilute a teaspoon of tincture in 200 ml of water. You need to rinse your mouth with propolis up to five times a day.
• Massage with oils
  has a beneficial effect on the gums. It is not at all difficult to do: apply a few drops of tea tree, eucalyptus, juniper or fir oil to the pads of the thumb and index fingers of one hand. You need to massage the gums gently for 5-10 minutes. After the massage, you should not rinse your mouth.
• Aloe
  also contains many anti-inflammatory components. For gingivitis or stomatitis, you can chew a fresh leaf of this plant a couple of times a day.

Periodontitis

If with gingivitis the inflammation affects only the gum tissue, then with periodontitis the inflammatory process spreads to the bone and all periodontal tissues. This disease is characterized by the presence of periodontal pockets, exposure of the cervical area of ​​the teeth and their mobility. And it all starts with simple bleeding gums.

There are three stages of this disease: mild, moderate and severe, which differ in the severity of symptoms. The disease is treatable only at the initial stage, and it is very important not to miss the moment when the reversible stage of the disease becomes incurable.

Before starting treatment, the periodontist determines the cause of the disease and conducts a comprehensive diagnosis. Often other specialists are involved in treatment to eliminate concomitant diseases. The success of periodontitis treatment largely depends not only on the competence and well-coordinated work of doctors, but also on the active participation of the patient in this long process.

Nutrition: prevention of inflammation

If gingivitis is the cause of pain when pressing on your gums, it is important to review your diet by including healthy foods in your diet. To prevent future diseases, first of all, you need to consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables:

• Apples and pears contain a lot of pectin, which helps accelerate tissue regeneration.
• Citrus fruits are a real storehouse of vitamin C, which also helps reduce bleeding and inflammation.
• Black currants, blackberries, and raspberries contain a large amount of minerals and vitamins that increase the body's resistance.
• Carrots, cabbage and zucchini are valuable fiber and vitamins that enhance metabolic processes in the body and accelerate tissue regeneration.

To prevent gum inflammation, professional teeth cleaning is also recommended. The procedure is carried out by a dentist and allows you to eliminate all accumulated deposits and tartar.

So, now you know the most common causes of pain in the gums when pressing. Remember: when your gums or teeth bother you, you should never put off visiting the dentist. The sooner the doctor determines the cause of the problem and begins treatment, the greater your chances of saving your teeth, gums and avoiding possible complications.

Sources:

1. The role of anti-inflammatory rinse in the treatment of periodontal diseases (L.Yu. Orekhova, A.A. Leontyev, S.B. Ulitovsky) L.Yu. OREKHOVA, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department; A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist; S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry of St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I. P. Pavlova
2. Clinical studies of antisensitive toothpaste “Asepta Sensitive” (A.A. Leontyev, O.V. Kalinina, S.B. Ulitovsky) A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist O.V. KALININA, dentist S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova
3. The effectiveness of the use of Asept “adhesive balm” and Asept “gel with propolis” in the treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis and gingivitis in the acute stage (Municipal Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk, Kaminskaya T. M. Head of the therapeutic department Kaminskaya Tatyana Mikhailovna MUZ City Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk

Possible complications

Complications with sore gums arise due to the spread of the infectious process throughout the body.

The most common complications :

• formation of a fistula, sometimes it affects facial tissues;
• loss of teeth due to increased mobility;
• sinusitis, sinusitis;
• sepsis;
• osteomyelitis.

Severe dental diseases require surgical intervention. After them, you have to recover for a long time and follow all the rules of the rehabilitation period.

Injury

Injury to the gums is a common occurrence. It can occur suddenly due to mechanical damage, for example, during brushing your teeth, a chemical or thermal burn, or from an impact from a fall or tooth fracture. In this case, the gums hurt a lot, and this causes discomfort to the patient. To prevent inflammation, seek help from a periodontist. He will treat the wound with medication and prescribe the necessary medications for rapid healing.

Sometimes the injury becomes chronic. In this case, the gums are subject to constant mechanical stress due to:

• uncomfortable removable denture
• malocclusion
• bad or professional habits (biting threads with teeth)
• tongue, lip or cheek piercing

Chronic injury causes pressure sores to appear on the gums. If the cause is not eliminated in time, necrotic areas will subsequently have to be removed surgically.