You might find the thought of itchy gums confounding, but it’s actually a fairly common occurrence that many people experience at different times in life. This is because there are several common causes of itchy gums. What could cause irritation and itchiness in your gums? Here are some of the causes you should know about.
Poor Oral Hygiene
When you brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash daily and see your dentist regularly for check-up and cleaning, you’re giving yourself the best chance to keep your mouth healthy and well. If you neglect these essential steps you could end up with tartar and plaque buildup that causes all kinds of discomfort and harm.
Sticky plaque can build up on teeth and extend below the gum line when you fail to practice proper oral care. Over time, this can lead to infection, gingivitis, periodontitis, and extremely serious oral health issues. In the meantime, plaque buildup and related infections can irritate your gums and cause you to experience an itching sensation, among other potential symptoms.
Allergies
Not everybody has allergies, but for those that do, there could be a number of symptoms. Whether you have food, seasonal, pharmaceutical, or other allergies, you might experience indigestion, hives, or even anaphylaxis when exposed to allergens. You could also have swelling, burning, or itching sensations in the gums. If you’re allergic to certain metals, make sure to let your dentist know before you get fillings so appropriate filling materials can be used.
Hormones
You know that hormonal fluctuations can cause you to feel tired, achy, irritable, or even overheated. What you might not know is that your hormones can affect your oral health. It’s not uncommon for people to experience itchy gums during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or other periods of hormonal shift.
Although such symptoms may fade over time, it’s always best to see your dentist when you experience itchy gums. Even if you think they’re related to temporary hormonal changes, they could still be harmful to your health if there are other causes involved.
Trauma
Any time you experience trauma to your mouth, you could end up dealing with a variety of associated symptoms. Itchy gums could result from an accident, injury, or illness, but this symptom could also be related to unseen trauma like bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching). You might not even realize you’re suffering from bruxism. This is why it’s always best to visit your dentist when your gums start to itch so you can receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
