Gums itch, hurt and bleed: causes, possible diseases

Itchy teeth - how does it manifest itself? Possible causes of this symptom and options for its elimination

Often, patients turn to dentists with a rather strange complaint - itchy teeth. Most often, a person has no idea what this symptom is or why it appeared. As a rule, such itching indicates the development of some pathological process, so first you need to find out its cause and only then begin the appropriate treatment. In children, a similar symptom may indicate that the process of teething has begun; in adults, it more often signals the onset of inflammatory processes in soft or hard tissues. Read more about why your teeth may itch and what to do about it.

Disease Prevention

To prevent diseases that cause the gums to itch under or between teeth, the following recommendations must be followed.

Be examined by a dentist at least once every six months.
Take vitamin complexes to replenish vitamins and minerals, establish good nutrition. Include in your diet solid foods necessary to improve blood circulation (apples, carrots) and foods to saturate with nutrients (fish, dairy, meat, fruits).
Minimize the consumption of sugar, which causes gums to itch, and replace it with natural sources - berries and fruits.
Maintain oral hygiene regularly, use a brush of the required hardness depending on the condition of your teeth and gums. Do not neglect the use of mouthwash after brushing your teeth and every meal. If the solution is not on hand, plain water will do.
Ensure healthy sleep, absence of nervous exhaustion, overexertion, stress. If necessary, visit a specialist to select sedative medications.
Timely treat diseases of the oral cavity and the whole body as a whole.

The condition when gums itch in adults does not always go away on its own. To eliminate it, it is necessary to identify the cause, undergo a course of treatment, and then follow preventive measures.

Sources:

https://anZub.ru/novosti/cheshutsya-zuby/
https://DesnaZub.ru/simptomy/cheshutsya-desna-u-vzroslogo
https://MikDent.ru/stomatolog/bolezni/pochemu-cheshutsja-zuby.html
https://athletic-store.ru/zud/cheshutsya-desna-u-vzroslogo-prichiny-zuda-pochemu-bolyat-krovotochat
https://DentConsult.ru/desna/pochemu-cheshutsya-desny.html
https://mnogozubov.ru/cheshutsya-desny-chto-delat/
https://zubnoimir.ru/desna/cheshutsya-u-rebenka.html
https://infozuby.ru/cheshutsya-zuby-u-vzroslogo.html
https://vdesnah.com/zudit-desna.html

What sensations arise when they say – teeth itch?

Dentists are often contacted complaining of strange and not very pleasant sensations. Patients describe them as follows: the teeth seem to itch and itch. But in fact, such symptoms can be provoked by a variety of pathological processes. For example, sometimes similar sensations occur when inflammation develops in nearby soft or hard tissues.

Strange and not very pleasant sensations arise

And after removal, injured tissue may itch slightly while the process of restoration and healing takes place. When a similar symptom occurs in children, it may indicate the eruption of primary or permanent incisors and molars.

Inflammation of the oral mucosa or stomatitis

The cause of itchy gums can be stomatitis, inflammation of the oral mucosa. This symptom is most often caused by herpetic and fungal forms of the disease.

Herpes or herpetic stomatitis appears against the background of the activity of the herpes simplex virus. Elements of a rash appear in the mouth, namely bubbles with liquid. This is accompanied by itching.

In the fungal form of the disease, which occurs when Candida fungi actively multiply, a white coating appears on the mucous membrane. The disease is accompanied by itching, bad breath, and pain when chewing.

To cope with herpetic disease, antiviral agents and symptomatic drugs are used. This could be Acyclovir, Zovirax. From the symptomatic ones, you need to choose those that will relieve inflammation, eliminate itching and swelling of the tissues. With this form of pathology, the temperature often rises, so antipyretics may be required.

Topical antifungal medications are used to treat fungal stomatitis. The disease may recur periodically.

Possible causes of itching

Obviously, there are many potential reasons for this phenomenon. Some patients are bothered by itching in a limited localization on the gum or oral mucosa, others complain that the entire gum itches. To understand what triggered the symptom, you definitely need to visit a doctor.

Manifestation of an allergic reaction

Hygiene products, that is, toothpastes and mouthwashes with flavors and preservatives, can act as allergens. A similar reaction can also be provoked by an ointment applied to the mucous membrane, including a means to improve the fixation of the prosthesis. Allergies are sometimes provoked by the dentures themselves, or rather by the materials from which they are made - acrylic with toxic monomers in its composition or nylon. The cause of itching in the gums may be an allergy, for example, to metal braces.

“When my allergy started after the installation of an acrylic prosthesis, my gums began to itch so much that it seemed like the remaining teeth were itching. There were very unpleasant pulling sensations. Then I immediately went to the doctor, he told me to take off this prosthesis and need to make a new one. When the mucous membrane gives an allergic reaction, you will immediately understand it; you won’t confuse it with anything else.”
Evgeny V.D., from correspondence on the forum www.32top.ru

The cause of itching in the gums may be an allergy.
When an allergic reaction develops, other symptoms are usually associated, for example, swelling, redness, and soreness. In such a situation, it is better to take an antihistamine and avoid direct contact with the allergen. To prevent more serious consequences, you should seek help from a specialist.

Diseases of the oral mucosa

Quite severe itching often occurs against the background of certain diseases of the mucous membrane. Experts in the field of periodontology include the following diseases as such pathologies:

periodontitis and periodontal disease – inflammation and destruction of periodontal tissue and ligamentous apparatus, leading to loosening and tooth loss. According to statistics, patients with similar diagnoses in almost 15% of cases cite unpleasant itching in the gums as one of the disturbing symptoms1,
gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue, including the areas between the teeth (gingival papillae), which causes redness, soreness and bleeding,
stomatitis - inflammation of the oral mucosa, which is characterized by the appearance of painful and itchy ulcers,
leukoplakia - thickening and keratinization of the upper layer of epithelial cells, in which the affected areas acquire a whitish or grayish tint, and the patient experiences obvious discomfort, burning and itching,
candidiasis is a bacterial infection caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of a fungus of the genus Candida, which leads to the formation of a dense, indelible coating on the tongue and mucosal surface, as well as the appearance of characteristic symptoms, including itching.

The cause of the appearance of characteristic symptoms can be stomatitis.
These are only the most common diagnoses made in periodontology. The symptoms of many diseases are similar, so to clarify the cause, you must consult a doctor and undergo an appropriate examination. In addition to a visual examination, radiography may also be required, including an orthopantomogram, as well as an oral smear.

Acute deficiency of vitamins and important microelements

If the body does not receive enough vital microelements, vitamin C and zinc deficiency may develop over time. The lack of these substances most often affects the condition of the gums, in particular, it leads to the fact that the mucous tissues weaken, become more friable, itching and bleeding occur. In advanced cases, teeth become loose and even fall out.

Nervous system disorders

Often similar sensations arise due to nervousness. Constant stress and anxiety or sudden mental shocks - all this affects the physiology of the body. The oral mucosa is also affected. Often, against the background of nervous system disorders, inflammatory diseases develop, for example, aphthous stomatitis.

Stress has a detrimental effect on health

Dental diseases

When the front or chewing teeth begin to itch, this may indicate the development of dental diseases. Experts include the following pathological phenomena as possible prerequisites:

abundant accumulations of plaque and subgingival deposits as a result of insufficient hygiene or disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system,
bruxism or involuntary clenching of the jaws during sleep, leading to pathological abrasion of the enamel,
initial caries or sluggish pulpitis can provoke sensations reminiscent of unpleasant itching within the affected area.

Abundant accumulations of plaque and subgingival deposits can also cause itching.
Similar symptoms in some situations appear after an extraction procedure or poor quality dental treatment. In the second case, itching signals the possible development of complications - you need to consult a doctor again.

Other Possible Prerequisites

As for what else can cause your teeth to itch, you can also consider this symptom as a secondary manifestation of other pathological processes occurring in the body. In some cases, itching occurs due to colds, including the flu. It must be said that injury to the mucous membrane can lead to a similar clinical picture. To understand exactly what itching in teeth means, you should consult a doctor.

Drug treatment

For home treatment of itching in teeth, the dentist prescribes local and systemic drugs, which are selected separately for each clinical case. Among them may be the following medicinal groups:

NSAIDs. These drugs suppress the activity of the inflammatory process and relieve pain (Nise, Ibuprofen, Nimesil, etc.).
Antiseptics. Drugs in this group cause the death of a wide range of microorganisms responsible for many dental diseases (furacilin, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, etc.).
Antimicrobial. These drugs act on bacterial infections and are prescribed for diseases of bacterial origin (Metrogil-Denta, Solcoseryl, etc.).
Antibiotics. These agents have a detrimental effect on pathogenic bacteria and are selected taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen to a particular active substance (Lincomycin, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxilav, etc.).
Antihistamines. These drugs reduce the sensitivity of the immune system, which exhibits a hyperreaction to any safe substances (Suprastin, Tavegil, Clemastine, etc.).

“Age-related” features of symptom manifestation

Teeth can begin to itch at any age, but in different situations this will be the result of different preconditions. Below are clinical cases that occur more often in a certain age range.

Itching in childhood

Many parents are interested in the question of whether a small child’s teeth or gums, that is, still a baby, can itch. That's right, this symptom occurs against the background of the eruption of primary incisors. During this period, babies usually become capricious and cry a lot, putting any rattles or fingers into their mouths. The beginning of the process can also be noticed by external signs: the gums swell a little, turn red or even turn blue if a small bruise appears. Later, a white stripe appears when the tooth has already broken through the thickness of the gum.

In infants, this symptom may occur during teething.

Older children may also complain of similar symptoms. And in this case, they usually indicate the beginning of a change in bite. During this period, it is important to regularly bring the child for preventive examinations so that a specialist, if necessary, can recognize abnormalities in time and begin appropriate treatment.

When does the symptom appear in adolescents?

If a teenager complains of similar symptoms, this may indicate the development of some pathological processes. This requires diagnosis by a doctor, because the cause is often hidden inflammation inside the tooth or gum tissue, and then the sooner treatment begins, the faster the problem can be solved with minimal risk of complications. By the way, itching often occurs against the background of bite correction with braces. Similar sensations may occur immediately after installation of the system or correction of the arc tension force.

Often itching occurs during bite correction with braces.

As an adult

In an adult, symptoms can be triggered by smoking, drinking low-quality alcoholic beverages, or an allergic reaction to the material of a filling, crown or prosthesis. Sometimes such symptoms are caused by inflammation in the gums and mucous membranes, including gingivitis, periodontitis, glossitis or stomatitis.

Often such a reaction is caused by neuralgic disorders, which, by the way, include bruxism. Constant trauma to the mucous membrane from protruding parts of an incorrectly fitted prosthesis, poorly installed crown or filling also provokes similar sensations of discomfort.

Bruxism is also a cause of the problem

Why can an adult’s gums itch?

Some diseases and conditions of the body can lead to the appearance of dental itching in adults. If a small child's gums itch, this can be explained by the fact that baby teeth are coming out. When a similar condition occurs in a teenager or adult, this should alert you. The gums may itch due to a developing pathological process in the oral cavity. Allergies often cause gums to become inflamed and itchy. During the period of tissue healing after tooth extraction, patients often complain of bleeding and itching in the gums. To get rid of these unpleasant manifestations, you need to find out why your teeth itch.

Dental diseases

The most common cause of itching in the gums is the presence of chronic diseases - gingivitis, periodontitis. Patients also complain of bleeding and discomfort during brushing. Swelling and redness of the soft tissues are observed, and with periodontitis the following signs are added:

exposure of roots;
loosening of teeth;
separation of pus from periodontal pockets.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, the mother's body requires more nutrients. Lack of calcium, fluorine, and some vitamins negatively affects the entire body, especially bones and teeth. While carrying a child, many women notice bleeding, itching and pain in the gums. These symptoms usually disappear after the baby is born. To strengthen teeth and gums during pregnancy, a course of vitamins is prescribed. Using medicated toothpaste will also help cope with bleeding gums and sensitive enamel during pregnancy.

Itching after tooth extraction

After tooth extraction, symptoms such as bad breath, pain and inflammation in the gums may appear. This is how alveolitis manifests itself - an inflammatory process of the wound walls. Normally, after surgery, a dense blood clot forms in the socket, which protects the wound from the penetration of bacteria. For various reasons, it can fall out, which is why the wound becomes infected and the hole inside begins to fester. Patients complain of discomfort in the oral cavity, swelling, unpleasant odor and taste, and a slight increase in temperature. It is not recommended to self-medicate; to alleviate the condition, you should consult a dentist. After the cavity is cleared of pus, the doctor puts an anti-inflammatory agent into the hole and prescribes treatment.

Allergic reactions

If the tissues between the teeth are itchy and inflamed, this may be a manifestation of an allergy to the components of hygiene products. Allergies are caused by some filling materials, wearing metal prostheses, or orthodontic structures. The mucous membranes look irritated and appear red. Swelling of the larynx and tongue develops, and salivation increases. At the first sign of an allergy, you should consult a doctor to replace your dentures.

Wisdom tooth eruption

Complications may develop, body temperature may increase, and your health will deteriorate. Patients complain of severe pain when opening the mouth and eating.

Other reasons

Why do my teeth hurt and my gums bleed? Itching and pain can be caused by various reasons. The most common of them are:

Tartar. The main symptoms include bleeding gums and an unpleasant odor.
Constant stress. The reason that teeth itch may be a psychosomatic reaction to chronic stress.
Avitaminosis. If your gums itch and bleed, this may be due to a lack of vitamins. For example, with a lack of vitamin C, there is a risk of developing scurvy. To avoid dental problems, you need to include fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet.
Hypothermia. As a result of increased body temperature and general weakness, tooth sensitivity increases. When you have a cold, you often feel as if your lower front teeth are being pulled out of your jaw. There is also aching in the joints and redness of the throat mucosa.
Fungal infections. The presence of white spots and plaque indicates candidiasis, that is, thrush. The disease is characterized by the fact that the gums hurt in one place - in the area where the ulcers are located.

Itchy teeth during pregnancy

In a girl during pregnancy, the cause of itching may lie in inflammation of the gums - gingivitis is considered a frequent companion of expectant mothers during pregnancy. Also, due to serious changes in the hormonal background, there is an intensive leaching of calcium from the body, which causes the enamel and hard tissues to weaken, and hyperesthesia develops. Itching sometimes has neuralgic background and can be a consequence of the development of dental diseases such as caries, pulpitis, stomatitis or, for example, periodontitis.

During pregnancy, there can be many causes of symptoms

Itching in the gums can occur due to poor-quality prosthetics

If removable dentures are installed, the cause of discomfort may be allergization of the body. This is due to the presence of a monomer in the prosthesis, which can cause an allergic reaction.

If your gums and teeth itch after fixing bridges and crowns, this may be due to galvanosis of the oral cavity. This may be due to the use of crowns made of a variety of metals. In such situations, both artificial boxes and removable structures must be urgently replaced.

How to get rid of a symptom

If this is a mild discomfort caused by accidental injury to soft tissues, you can rinse your mouth with an antiseptic (Chlorhexidine or soda-saline solution) and in the near future try to avoid too intense mechanical impact on the injured area. If the symptom is in no way related to damage to the mucous membrane, and the discomfort only intensifies, you should see a dentist as soon as possible for a consultation.

Drug therapy

Taking any medications is permitted only as prescribed by a doctor. Remember that independent attempts to solve the problem without the participation of a specialized specialist often lead to a worsening of the condition and the addition of dangerous complications. As part of the symptomatic treatment of itching, drugs of the following pharmacological groups can be prescribed:

antibacterial,
antihistamines,
anti-inflammatory,
sedatives,
multivitamin complexes,
antifungal, etc.

You should take any medications only as prescribed by a doctor.
Additionally, medications are prescribed for both oral and local use, including ointments and gels for treating affected tissues. Only a qualified doctor can select the optimal set of medications for quick and safe treatment.

What does traditional medicine offer?

If the cause of itching lies in inflammatory processes, decoctions prepared from medicinal plants, such as chamomile, sage or oak bark, can help stop their spread.

Herbal decoctions can be used at home

Another good remedy with a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect is a soda-salt solution. You need to thoroughly mix one teaspoon of each substance in a glass of boiled, warm, but not hot water. After this, the product can be used as a mouth rinse. You just need to understand that this is only part of maintenance therapy, but not the main treatment. There is no way to do this without the help of a doctor.

Helping ourselves at home

When your gums itch and you don’t have free time to go to the doctor, you can alleviate your condition by using home remedies, and your teeth will stop hurting. To do this, you need to carry out simple procedures.

When your gums itch, rinse your mouth with cool or very cold water. During rinsing, any remaining food that may have remained in the teeth is removed, and severe discomfort gradually subsides. This procedure will also relieve inflammation and swelling, if any. When such symptoms begin due to allergies, it is better to rinse with filtered water. Substances found in running water very often become irritants.
You can try holding ice in your mouth. He will cope with the discomfort perfectly, but not for long. If ice is not to your taste, use frozen vegetables, fruits or berries. Freezing will moisturize the mouth and remove the cause of itching.
A wonderful method would also be to rinse your mouth, but with the addition of salt. This procedure will relieve the itching for a while. Rinsing should occur for two minutes, no less. The rinse solution is very simple to prepare; you just need to take a glass of warm water and a spoonful of salt. Mix the resulting mixture well and begin the procedure.
The next method is to rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide. To prepare the solution, take half a glass of warm water and half a glass of peroxide. The duration of treatment is ten days, and rinse for fifteen to thirty seconds.
When your gums itch, a paste prepared according to a folk recipe will remove the infection that exists and irritates the gums and teeth. To prepare it at home, you need to take baking soda and water. Mix these two ingredients to form a paste. You shouldn’t make it too watery; it should be thick so that it can be conveniently applied to sore spots. You can replace water with hydrogen peroxide.
Aloe flower lotions perfectly relieve inflammation in the mouth. To do this, aloe is cut and applied to the area that itches. It is advisable to use a fresh flower rather than a dried one.

Rinsing your mouth with peroxide

When your teeth hurt and itch, you can not only try the methods listed above, but you should also follow the necessary rules. First, make adjustments to your diet. Remove salty, smoked, spicy, sour and peppery foods, as well as coffee. It's better to drink water until the pain and itching subside a little. When it is not possible to completely change your diet, then simply reduce the number of servings.

It is prohibited to lead an unhealthy lifestyle during the treatment period - this includes smoking. It is important to eat dairy products and ice cream. Be less nervous and emit negative emotions. Such problems can lead the human mouth to periodontal disease.

Preventive measures

Itching can develop for various reasons on the upper or lower jaw. However, experts in the field of periodontology have formulated a number of simple universal recommendations, following which you can minimize the risk of developing any dental diseases:

brush your teeth twice a day, use floss and irrigator to better clean hard-to-reach places, do not forget to rinse your mouth after every meal,
respond promptly to the appearance of suspicious symptoms in the oral cavity, do not self-medicate, but immediately go to the doctor,
try to lead a healthy lifestyle, give up smoking and alcohol if possible, eat less sweets, especially before bed, make sure that your diet contains enough foods rich in vitamins and beneficial microelements, including minerals, calcium, fluorine and phosphorus,
undergo regular preventive examinations at the dentist, as well as twice a year - the procedure of a professional. hygiene for removing plaque and deposits.

If you experience any unpleasant symptoms, you should contact a specialist.
Remember that groundless arrogance in the case of dental diseases often results in very disastrous consequences. Inflammation quite quickly turns into a chronic, completely incurable stage, and neglected caries, pulpitis and periodontitis lead to tooth loss. Therefore, if itching appears, do not wait for the symptom to go away on its own - consult a doctor immediately.

1Gerasimova A.P., Pavlov V.N., Periodontology, 2008.

What to do

Parents should always ensure that their child brushes their teeth thoroughly in the morning and evening after meals.
Read also: How soon can you eat after filling a tooth?

If your gums still start to itch, you should immediately purchase a brush with soft bristles and medicated paste.

This way you can determine whether the itching is an allergic reaction of the body.

You also need to pay attention to the foods your baby eats. Introduce more fruits and vegetables into your diet, this is especially important in the spring. Serve only warm food, because... hot increases gum irritation.

After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with herbal decoctions and medical solutions.

How to stop itchy gums due to inflammation

Many patients are concerned about the question: if the gums between the teeth itch, what to do and whether they need to go to the dentist.

If you have a symptom caused by chronic diseases, it is important to contact the clinic in a timely manner. Another reason for seeking treatment is the ineffectiveness of self-treatment.

For colds and runny nose that cause itching of the gums, it is necessary to take anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs to treat the cause.

To relieve inflammation, Nurofen, Mig, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and powders based on them are used.
At elevated temperatures, take antipyretics.
For rinsing during inflammatory processes, when the gums itch, use an aqueous solution of Chlorhexidine, Miramistin and Stomatofit, tinctures of Rotocan and Calendula.

Particular attention is paid to the reasons that caused the symptom: gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease, stomatitis, candidiasis. Depending on the disease, the specialist will prescribe antibacterial, antifungal, antiherpetic (for herpetic stomatitis), and healing agents.

Additionally, dental gels are used: Cholisal, Metrogyl Denta (Metrodent), Kamistad, Solcoseryl.

Cholisal miramistin