man wincing in pain because of sore gums

Why Do My Gums Hurt?

Do your gums hurt after flossing? Do you have sore gums after eating? You are not alone: nearly half of adult Americans suffer from gum disease. But gum disease isn’t the only possible cause of sore gums, either in general or after eating, flossing, or brushing. If your gums are sore, you might suffer from one or more other factors, including vitamin deficiency, hormones, illness, improper brushing or flossing, or the use of incorrect oral care products for your mouth.

Possible Causes of Sore and Sensitive Gums

Swollen gums or gums that are bleeding are frequently linked to gum disease, which has two stages:

Gingivitis

Sore gums are often one of the first signs that you might be suffering from this early, mildest form of gum disease. Elementa Silver offers products that prevent and provide gingivitis treatment at home.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of gum disease with serious consequences, including possible tooth loss and the development of other health problems.

Other possible causes of sore and sensitive gums:

Diet

Proper nutrition supports good oral health. A healthy, well-balanced diet that includes recommended daily requirements for vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, vitamin B, and calcium, minimizes your risk of developing sore gums and gum problems.

Hormonal Changes

Changes in a woman’s hormones can affect their gums. During puberty, an influx of hormones can lead to swelling and sensitivity due to increased blood flow to the gums. Just before a woman’s menstrual period, her gums might become swollen and be more likely to bleed. From the second or third month of pregnancy through the eighth month, some women develop gums that hurt or swollen and bleeding gums. During menopause, some women experience unusually dry gums, which in turn can cause soreness and an increased likelihood of bleeding gums.

Stress

Many people wonder: Can stress cause gum pain? Gums and stress have a connection since stress heightens the cortisol levels in the body, which can increase inflammation throughout the body, including the mouth and gums.

Tobacco

Using tobacco products such as cigarettes, snuff, and chewing tobacco can cause gum disease, and increases your risk of sore gums, as well as oral cancer. There is also evidence that general gum loss is due to tobacco.

Oral Cancer

Some of the symptoms of cancer in the mouth are sores that will not heal, a growth or lump in your mouth, difficult or painful swallowing and loose teeth.

Improper Oral Hygiene

Though regularly brushing and flossing your teeth is important, maintaining a diligent oral hygiene routine is critical for keeping your mouth healthy and helping prevent sore gums. If you have sore gums after cleaning, whether after brushing or flossing, you could be brushing too hard or using an improper flossing technique. You might benefit from switching to oral care products that help prevent and provide gingivitis treatment at home. If your gums hurt after eating, you might be suffering as a result of a food or dental product allergy, burns, an abscessed tooth, or a blood disease. Always consult your dentist or doctor if you notice sensitive or sore gums for a prolonged period of time.

Hurt and Sore Gum Relief

In many cases, the cause of sore or sensitive gums is connected to oral hygiene. If your gums hurt, the best place to start is with improved oral hygiene practices.

Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Floss at least once daily, and remember to use a proper flossing technique to prevent sore gums after flossing.
Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of calcium and vitamins B, C, and K to satisfy vitamins for teeth and gums.
Visit a dentist regularly, at least twice a year.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Switch to oral care products that better meet your dental needs, whether it is for basic cleaning or to provide gingivitis treatment at home.

Using the Right Toothpaste and Mouthwash

If your gums are sore after brushing, you might not be using the right toothpaste or mouthwash for your gums. Products with nano silver could improve your dental health, and Elementa offers a unique line of products such as tooth gel and natural mouthwash for gums and gingivitis prevention. Nano Silver naturally has antibacterial and antifungal properties. At nano size, silver particles can penetrate the biofilm and better destroy bacteria cells to regrow gums naturally. Biofilm, or plaque, is the layer of bacteria that builds up over time on the surface of your teeth. One of the benefits of nano silver is that the particles can more easily penetrate the outer coating of the biofilm. A nano silver solution releases silver ions directly inside the biofilm to target acid. Nanosilver shouldn’t be confused with colloidal silver, since nanosilver is significantly more effective at protecting enamel and balancing the oral biofilm by reducing acid. Check out these tooth gel and mouth rinse products that contain nano silver, and learn how switching to Elementa products might improve your oral health and hygiene to better prevent sore, swollen, or bleeding gums.

surprised man holding toothbrush about to brush teeth with non vegan toothpaste

Is Toothpaste Vegan?

The question of whether or not toothpaste is vegan might sound like it comes with an easy yes or no answer. In actuality, though, this question is much more loaded than it seems on the surface. You see, a toothpaste or mouthwash might not contain any products derived from animals, but that doesn’t mean that it’s inherently vegan. Likewise, a toothpaste or mouthwash might call itself cruelty-free, but still contain animal-derived products that render it not vegan. To get into the how and why of this, it’s going to require a little bit of research and plenty of explanation. Ultimately, though, this will allow us to finally answer the question of: is toothpaste vegan — and what it is about the product that makes it vegan in the first place. The best place to start is with an actual definition of what it takes for a toothpaste or mouthwash to truly be vegan in the first place.

Defining Vegan Toothpaste and Vegan Mouthwash

In today’s pop culture, vegans often find themselves at the butt of all kinds of jokes about food and dieting. While done in good fun, this ends up creating all kinds of common misconceptions. So many, in fact, that even those who might call themselves vegans can get confused by what it really means to be vegan. While the dietary aspect seems to be the main thing people think of when they hear the word vegan, it’s actually so much more than a diet: It’s a lifestyle. While vegans are similar to vegetarians in that they don’t eat meat or seafood, they take things a step further in a few key ways: they don’t consume any products derived from animals, such as eggs, milk or, in some instances, even honey. They also don’t use any products derived from animals. This can include anything from makeup to clothing to, yes, even some toothpastes and mouthwashes that either contain animal byproducts or were tested on animals. This covers more toothpaste and mouthwash brands than you might think. In reality, very few toothpastes and mouthwashes are truly vegan.

Why Toothpaste Free From Animal Products Still Might Not Be Vegan

If you turn over to the back of your toothpaste and read the ingredients, it’s unlikely you’ll find meat, eggs, or dairy listed — this doesn’t automatically make it vegan, though. That’s because toothpaste and mouthwash free from animal products can still be tested on animals, which goes against what it means to be certified as a vegan product. Confused as to why these companies are brushing the teeth of animals or trying to get them to use mouthwash? In truth, this isn’t what testing on animals looks like. Typically, maids in Georgias will dust all shelves and décor in your house. Instead of attempting the impossible task of teaching animals to use human hygiene products, scientists will use the animals to see how they react to artificial colors and how they respond to chemicals that are then used as main ingredients in the most popular toothpaste and mouthwash brands. Clearly, this is not vegan — even if the toothpaste itself is free from products that come from animals.

Vegan Toothpaste and Cruelty-Free Toothpaste: Is There a Difference?

Looking at the inverse of this, it’s just as common to find toothpastes that claim to be cruelty-free but still contain animal byproducts. It’s easy for someone following a vegan lifestyle to pick up a product, see that there are no obvious animal-derived ingredients like eggs or dairy, notice the cruelty-free label, and add it to their cart none the wiser. But, it’s better to let true medical, uk take care of this. However, the fact remains that most toothpastes — even cruelty-free ones — are not vegan at all. This is thanks to one key ingredient: glycerin. Glycerin is something of a universal ingredient across all kinds of foods, hygiene products, and cleaners alike. It can be found in anything from shampoo to shaving cream to dish detergent, and many of the major toothpaste brands are guilty of including it in their products. It sounds harmless, but it’s often derived from animal fats. It doesn’t have to be, though: Glycerin can occur naturally in fermented things like vinegar and beer. For a toothpaste to truly be vegan, it needs to be both cruelty-free and include glycerin that doesn’t come from animal fat.

The Bottom Line: Elementa Silver Is Both Vegan and Cruelty Free

Thankfully, there are toothpaste and mouthwash brands out there that can successfully check both boxes. Elementa Silver is one such brand that can proudly call its products both vegan and cruelty-free. This comes from Elementa’s promise to never include animal products in their toothpastes or mouthwashes and their refusal to test their products on animals. Beyond this, Elementa also utilizes plant compounds and cutting-edge nanotechnology to deliver the very best vegan and cruelty-free products possible. Through the utilization of Nano Silver, Elementa infuses plant compounds and nanoparticles of silver to penetrate the tooth’s biofilm barrier that many other name-brand products simply cannot do. When all is said and done, toothpaste is not inherently vegan. Neither is every cruelty-free toothpaste brand. Nevertheless, Elementa Silver is different from the competition. Browse Elementa’s product line today to see toothpastes and mouthwashes that are truly vegan and cruelty-free. Click here to shop.

Month: July 2021