Understanding Throbbing Gums: Causes And Prevention
Caring for your oral health involves not only protecting your teeth from decay and fracture , but also maintaining gum health, which is an essential part of your overall oral health. Gums are the pink tissue that surrounds the teeth, framing them, and adding a beautiful touch to your smile.
Gum health is not only essential for your oral health, but did you know that gum health may affect your general health, too? Gum diseases were found to be linked to many general health diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Throbbing gums are a symptom of advanced gum inflammation or infection. This blog will help you better understand the causes behind gum disease, ways to relieve the pain, and how to prevent it.
Did you know that gum diseases are highly prevalent in the UK, with a projection that over half of adults (54%) will have gum disease by 2050, up from 42% in 2020.
What is my gums throbbing?
Throbbing gums often indicate your body’s response, as increased blood flow rushes to the affected area to combat an underlying problem.
A throbbing gum often begins with inflammation caused by persistent plaque. As plaque and tartar accumulate along the gumline, they initially cause redness, swelling, and bleeding . If left untreated, the bone supporting your teeth can start to deteriorate, forming painful pockets. As gum disease progresses, the gums may recede, the tooth roots become exposed, and teeth can loosen as their support diminishes.
Mainly, throbbing gums are caused by gum inflammation; however, the following factors may also contribute to throbbing gums:
- Dental infection: A tooth with an infected pulp and abscess formation can cause referred throbbing pain in the gums due to the accumulation of infected tissue and pus.
- Trauma: Any trauma due to excessive force, poorly fitting dental appliances, or sharp food can lead to gum infection, inflammation, and throbbing gums.
- Hormonal fluctuation: hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause are known to cause gum inflammation and throbbing pain.
- Improper oral hygiene practices—such as vigorous tooth brushing, incorrect brushing techniques, or using a hard-bristled toothbrush—can cause continuous injury to the gums, leading to inflammation and irritation.
- Smoking and the use of tobacco products reduce blood flow to the gums, impairing healing and increasing the risk of gum infections.
If you experience throbbing gums, visit our dental experts to identify and treat the underlying cause before further damage.
Looking for Instant comfort? Follow these tips for temporary relief of throbbing gums.
- Brush and floss your teeth using the proper brushing technique.
- Gargle with warm saline
- Apply a warm compress to the skin overlying the area with throbbing pain
- Avoid acidic, hot, spicy, and hard food to avoid further gum irritation.
- Apply a warm, soaked tea bag over the throbbing gum. The tannic content in the tea may help reduce the gum swelling and the associated throbbing pain.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers.
- Book an emergency dental visit to have a full dental check to identify and solve the underlying problem.
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Treatment of throbbing and inflamed gums
The treatment of throbbing gums primarily depends on addressing the underlying cause.
If the throbbing gums are caused by gum diseases , such as gingivitis or periodontitis, various gum therapy options are available. These treatments include professional teeth cleaning , scaling, and root planning.
The difference between teeth cleaning and scaling lies in the depth of the cleaning. Professional teeth cleaning involves removing accumulated plaque and tartar above the gum line, whereas scaling targets plaque and tartar below the gum line.
If the throbbing gums are caused by a dental abscess, root canal treatment of the affected tooth is necessary to eliminate the source of infection and relieve throbbing gums.
In cases where throbbing gums are caused by hormonal fluctuations or an oral ulcer, the discomfort can subside within a few days by maintaining daily oral hygiene. If the pain results from continuous friction caused by a dental appliance, adjusting or correcting the appliance is sufficient to relieve the throbbing gums and resolve any related issues.
Additional treatment options may be necessary to repair damage to the supporting periodontium caused by inflammation, such as pocket reduction surgery and gum or bone grafting.
Pocket reduction surgery is a minor periodontal procedure designed to reduce the depth of the pocket around the tooth, thereby decreasing bacterial colonization and promoting conditions that favor the reattachment of the periodontal ligament.
Gum graft surgery is essential for restoring receded gum tissue by taking a soft tissue graft, typically from the hard palate, and attaching it to the site of recession while ensuring adequate blood circulation to promote healing. Bone grafts operate on a similar principle, where bone material from another area of your body or an external source (either synthetic or natural) is used to stimulate new bone growth to support the tooth.
How to avoid throbbing gums
Avoiding throbbing gums is strongly related to maintaining your oral health. The following tips may help you maintain your oral health:
- Brush your teeth twice and floss once daily using a medium or soft toothbrush. Avoid a hard toothbrush to avoid gum injury
- Use a proper brushing technique by tilting the brush at 45 0 angle on the neck of the teeth and moving downward. Avoid vertical motion as it may cause gum injury.
- Quit smoking to permit the gums to heal smoothly if injured and prevent further pain due to delayed healing
- Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamin D and C, and drink plenty of water to flush the bacteria away from your teeth
- Schedule regular hygiene and check-up visits every 6 months to professionally clean your teeth and remove plaque and tartar accumulated in non-accessible areas and to catch early progressing diseases.
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Don’t be late—consult our periodontal experts today.
The gums and periodontium form the supporting structures of the teeth. Gum disease can progress silently, causing severe damage that may ultimately lead to the loss of a healthy tooth. If you notice any symptoms affecting your gums, such as swelling, redness, bleeding, or throbbing pain, contact our expert periodontists immediately to prevent further damage that could require complex and costly treatments.
Camden High Street Dental Practice is a world-class dental facility in London, offering expert periodontal therapy to help maintain your gum health.
Scheduling regular hygiene appointments is an essential step toward maintaining healthy gums. Contact us today to book your hygiene visit.
