Mouth pain is hard to ignore. Whether the pain is coming from a tooth, the jaw, your tongue, an inner cheek, the roof of the mouth, or the gums, it often makes life uncomfortable. When it comes to the gum tissue, which is soft and sensitive, even a minor injury feels more serious than it looks. The good news is that many gum injuries heal well with proper care.
Common Gum Injuries
Gum tissue makes up roughly 50% of the surface area inside the adult mouth, so gum injuries are common.
Cuts and scrapes — By far the most common type of gum injury comes from biting the inside of the mouth, poking tissues with sharp foods like chips, brushing a little too hard, or accidentally poking the gums with a toothpick or sharp object. Especially guilty is the plastic used for containing items we buy in the store or online. People try to tear these containers open with their teeth and end up slashing their gums instead.
Burns — Many of us have burned our gum tissue when eating or drinking something too hot. Impatiently consuming coffee, soup, pizza, and other extremely hot foods irritates the gums and leaves the tissue tender or swollen.
Bruising or trauma — This type of injury usually comes from an accidental fall, a sporting injury, an accident, or a blow to the mouth. These types of trauma injuries often affect the teeth, roots, and surrounding bone and deserve special attention.
Thankfully, most minor gum injuries begin to show improvement over the course of a few days. Worsening or extended periods of pain indicate a deeper issue that it is wise to treat as an emergency dental injury.
Home Care Tips for Injured Gums
Several simple at-home first aid measures provide relief and support damaged gum tissues during the recovery process.
Stop Bleeding: To help stop bleeding, press a clean, damp cloth or gauze against the area for 10 to 15 minutes. Gentle, steady pressure often stops minor bleeding.
Clean/Disinfect: Apply a saltwater solution (1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) and gently rinse around the injured area. When rinsing, do not vigorously swish back and forth, as doing so causes additional irritation.
Reduce Swelling: Place a cold compress on the exterior of the mouth to alleviate swelling/soreness. Do so for short periods of time and always put a layer of cloth between the cold pack and your skin.
Make Wise Food Choices: Many foods are difficult to eat while suffering from a gum injury. Soft foods are generally easier on sore gums. Examples include yogurt, applesauce, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, and cooled-down soups. Avoid sharp, crunchy, spicy, and acidic foods that irritate the wound further and cause additional discomfort.
Brush/Floss Gently: Continue brushing and flossing, but take extreme caution to brush lightly adjacent to the injured area. Brushing and flossing help create a healthy environment for the gum tissue to recover.
These simple steps help injured gums to heal and return to normal. What if, despite taking all of these initial steps, you’re still experiencing significant pain or swelling?
Contact Our Dentist with Gum Injuries
While home remedies treat a majority of minor gum injuries effectively, certain conditions make immediate professional assistance necessary.
Call the Placerville Dentistry Group for emergency care immediately if:
- Bleeding persists
- Pain increases
- Swelling expands beyond the original injured site
- Pus develops
- A tooth becomes loose
- The injury was caused by a fall or a hit to your mouth or head
In situations like these, a dentist needs to evaluate your gums, teeth, and surrounding structures to verify that there is no secondary damage. Depending upon the extent of the injury, your dentist may need to perform various procedures, including cleaning the area, smoothing a sharp tooth edge, prescribing medications, or performing root canal therapy on an injured tooth.
Gum injuries usually heal quickly, but the right care makes a difference. The Placerville Dental Group is pleased to provide emergency dental services for gum injuries, mouth trauma, tooth pain, and other urgent concerns. If you suffer a gum injury or notice symptoms that concern you, contact our emergency dentist in Placerville for prompt help and experienced emergency dental care.
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