Dentistry: It's More Than Drilling and Filling

Having sore gums is a sign of gum disease, a condition that afflicts almost half of American adults. Gum disease, left untreated, can cause tooth decay and tooth loss, and is a leading oral health concern for many. So, if you have sore gums, you may be wondering if you need to visit any dentists in your area for treatment.

To determine if you need dental intervention or not for your sore gums condition, use this guide. If it's been a while since you've consulted with any dentists in your area, make a dental appointment for a simple checkup to determine what your sore gums may mean.

Your gums are sore and bleeding

Having sore gums can happen for a variety of reasons, such as chewing on foods that poke into your gums or sipping hot liquids that make your gums puffy and irritated. Brushing and flossing your gums too hard can also cause them to bleed. However, if your gums are constantly sore and bleeding and you cannot justify the soreness, see if any dentists can schedule  you for an appointment to have your condition checked out.

You gums are sore and you have a toothache

A toothache in conjunction with sore gums can be a sign of not just gum disease, but tooth decay as well. Often, gum and dental disease go hand-in-hand, so in order to control the situation, you have to treat both conditions equally. Often, tooth loss and deterioration is actually caused by gum disease, so the sooner you treat your sore gums, the more likely you may be to preserve your smile. Sore gums especially need to be treated by dentists if they are associated with puffiness and discoloration around a tooth, as these are signs dental decay is present.

Your gums are sore and you have bad breath

Common among people who have sore gums is a case of bad breath as well. Known as halitosis, bad breath occurs when there is bacteria or other foul matter in the mouth. Sore gums and bad breath put together can mean that there's decay present, in the form of infected gums or tooth decay. If your bad breath does not go away via chewing sugar-free gum, brushing and flossing your teeth, rinsing your mouth with water, and using a mouth wash agent, then dentists can help you achieve a  healthier smile and better breath by checking out your gums to see if their soreness has anything to do with a mouth infection.