Sore gums are a common symptom of poor oral health. They are very common in adults and teenagers. There are six common causes for sore gums: teething, impacted teeth, an injury, gum disease, cancer, and mouth ulcers.

Teething is a painful process where the teeth force their way through the gum surface. This process is necessary, but creates very sore gums. Teething is usually completed in childhood, with the exception of wisdom teeth, which can appear in the teenage years or early twenties.

An impacted tooth can also create sore gums. When a tooth is coming through the gums, it can develop at the wrong angle. As a result, the tooth can become stuck or impacted and must be extracted by a dentist.

Sore gums can occur if there is any type of impact to the teeth or gums with a hard object, such as furniture or the floor. These types of injuries are quite common in contact sports, such as hockey or football. Mouth guards are designed to absorb the impact and reduce the chance of injury to the teeth and gums.

Gum disease or periodontal disease is very common in adults and is the leading cause of sore gums. Gum disease weakens the attachment of the teeth to the gums. It is caused by an infection in the gums due to the presence of tarter on the teeth, at the gum line. This type of infection is called gingivitis, with its most noticeable symptom being sore gums that bleed when the teeth are brushed. Sometimes, there are no symptoms other than sore gums.

Untreated gingivitis can progress past the point of sore gums. The gums can swell, bleed, and change color. If gingivitis is not treated, the sufferer runs the risk of having his teeth become loose and fall out.

Mouth cancer is very serious and some of the first symptoms are sore gums, bad breath, and teeth that move. Other symptoms include red or white patches in the mouth, bleeding, and trouble swallowing. Mouth cancer is most commonly found among people who smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, but can develop in other people as well.

Mouth ulcers can cause sore gums if the ulcer is located on the surface of the gums, or if the gums rub against the mouth ulcer due to its location. Frequent rinsing with salt water or mouthwash will reduce the bacteria in your mouth. This will encourage speedy healing of the mouth ulcer.