my gums have itched horribly so I rinse my mouth with Olive Oil and it stops the itching and when it comes back I rinse again with plain Olive Oil...It is Really Helping....
Dear folk,
I have one tooth that has an itching gum. The dentist X rayed it and everything is fine. It must be a sensitive nerve. I have to avoid poking tooth picks and tooth brushes into the gum as it only makes it worse. The dentist said to just leave it alone.
Another thing that I have noticed is that when there is particular trouble with the gum I end up with a cold - runny nose etc - soon after.
The initial cause of the problem was a tooth extracted down the line that made the other teeth settle into different places over the years.
Roger.
I am 36 years old and I have had this problem since childhood. My first distinct memory is going to the dentist's office when I was 6 after I have scrathed my gums so badly, that they bled and hurt and looked horrific and asked them to put medicine on them. They were amazed at the amount of damage I have done to my gums. I remember being embarrased to tell them why I've done what I've done, because it was an addiction I couldn't control. They did put some green stuff on my gums which totally numbed my whole mouth and after that I remember getting better - to this day, I still dream about finding out what that stuff was! But fast forward 30 years and I am sitting here now, poking at my "spot" with the edge of a paper clipper after terrible 5 days of trying to get relief, including trying very hard to ignore it all day today and failing to...I realized that the worst itching point for me is between two front lower teeth and once I start irritating it, that takes days and sometimes weeks of misery until I finally force myself to NOT touch it and let the sensation fade away slowly. It happens less often lately...the worst episode I had similar to this one was probably a year ago. I've learned that no matter what I musn't break the skin and irritate it more, and even when I feel some minor irritation, I try to ignore it (it's easier to do that when it's in its initial stage) before it gets worse. I suspect that if I start poking deep down at other gums I may get the same irritation, but this is the spot I have been focusing on for years now, and I don't touch any of the other areas. My gum there is totally damaged, my dentist told me I should get a reconsructive surgery - you can see visible signs of gum recession from all the poking and abuse it has suffered through the years. I haven't found one single cause for the itch - I do notice sometimes that certain foods / fruits for example give me an itching sensation all over my gums, but I also have some sort of fruit allergy (hayfever like) which causes my skin around the lips and my tongue to get irritated too. I don't know if it is related to this uncontrollable gum itch sensation actually - it may irritate it or it may make me start poking at it (which I try not to usually), but it's temporary and goes away fast, while the itch in that spot comes and goes without reason and gets prpgressively worse with y intervention. One thing I can say is that it is definitely a genetic condition, because I remember my grandmother telling me when she was around 90! that she always had itchy gums even long after all of her teeth fell of she still coudn't controll the desire to poke at her gums to her heart's content....To me that was a moment of "Abandon all hope, you who enter here..."
But I am so glad to have found this forum and hopefully we will all find an explanation and solution one day!
Hi I have had a severe sinus infection over the christmas period.Now the worst is over I have itchy sinuses and extremely itchy gums.It is in fact driving me nuts.I am going to try a decongestsnt tablet ,even though I do not feel congested.I have tried inhaling over a steaming bowl of vic and that does sometimes ease it.Last night I took a enormous gulp of whiskey just to get to sleep. I spoke to the dentist .He says the teeth have nerves that run through the sinus cavity and that can cause the pain. I hope this goes away! I think this is related to sinus nerves and damage or scarring caused in that area,I hope its not permanent..
Woke up this morning and have fully recovered!!.Here is what I did... Menthol crystals in a bowl towel over head and inhaled for 10 minutes 4 times that day.Took sinutab anti decongestant tablet,2 hours later took ibuprofen with food.Then just before bed took a anti histamine tablet.Then whilst in bed put vicks vapour rub on my chest and back and a lump on my top lip...woke up cured good luck people.But I believe this is all related to sinus nerves and congestion,once fully cleared the itching goes too!
I originally started this thread 6 years ago. I'm a physician now, and in the years since I posted my itching gums problem, here's what I've learned:
- It is absolutely not a matter of plaque, tartar, or organic gingival recession
- It is not a vitamin, mineral, essential fatty acid, or any other type of nutritional deficiency
- It is not treated by antibiotics, antifungals, antihistamines, or topical steroids
- If you itch like I do in a few spots, including that pulpy part of your hard palate just behind your two front teeth, nerve inflammation may be a component of the itching sensation
- A history of burn injury or trauma could bring about chronic gingival itch
Keep in mind that a lot of things can cause itching gums, and that does include nutritional deficiencies, infections, sinus disease, and poor dental hygiene. This post is about something different, which I could only describe after I ruled out all those other much more common causes.
The latest thing I've thought of is bruxism (tooth grinding) -- I'm going to try a night guard for a while to see if it makes any difference. I'll post an update if I notice any differences. Thanks for everyone's insights, and let's keep fighting the good fight.
After reading all of these postsI am sorry to say that I find some solace in the fact that, after 50 years of suffrering with my intensely itchy gums, that I'm not alone (I guess misery loves company!)
All my life I have complained about this to dentists and doctors and have never received anything close to a serious response. Typically it's just shrugged off as a minimal annoyance that I should just learn to live with. They just have NO IDEA how intensely painful the itching can become.
Over my lifetime I have tried everything everyone else has mentioned in this thread. Scratching my gums until pieces of gum are scraped off has resulted in my gums being "knotched" over tooth #3 and #14. It's always struck me as strange that the itching is located very symmetrically over these 2 teeth only. I follow up the scartching with Peroxide - yup...100% undiluted strength- in order for the peroxide to sting and burn so intensely that the itching is completely overcome - at least for a little while. A feeling of numbness follows the stinging and that's the closest thing I ever get to relief.
The last time I got kmy teeth cleaned the hygienist told me the knotched gums were a result of brushing my teeth too hard. When I explained what I'd been dealing with all these years and what I've had to do to relieve the itching she replied, "OK, if you say so but I've seen this before and it's always due to overly aggressive brushing." Another "professional" who lacks the ability to LISTEN.
After living with this problem since the age of 2 I have come to the conclusion that I will never know why this happens and will simply have to suffer with it. Dentists and doctors just don't seem to have any interest in studying this ailment or in offering serious suggestions as to how to cope with it in a way that doesn't do damage.
After discussing this problem I have been having for 6 years with my dentist, an oral surgeon, and even a gum specialist, I had come to the conclusion that what I was experiancing had no cure. But then everything changed.
Now first of all, I don't know if what I've been doing will work for any of you. But I know how awful and torchurous this strange itching sensation is, and figure it's worth putting out there. Less than a week ago, I grudginly went to an orthodontist for a free consultation about braces. I had no idea that I was going to get more than I bargined for. While the orthodontist was examining my teeth, he asked "Now, what's going on right here?" He was pointing to the small indent between my two front teeth, the area that has itched for YEARS. Just to let you know, he is the FIRST person I've EVER seen that has just pointed out that spot and asked about it without me asking first! At first I was surprised, then braced myself for yet another "Hm, never heard of that" situation as I explained about this awful itch. When I looked up, I was surprised to see a genuine look of concern on his face, not mere confusion, but concern. I cannot describe that moment when I realized that FINALLY someone takes this SERIOUSLY. He then grabbed a small sample of colgate peroxide and gave it to me, asking me to try it for the itching.
I'm not saying that the colgate peroxide made the itch go away immediately, but after doing more research on what itching REALLY IS, I discover my cure. Itching is all in your brain, a natural response that your body has. You HAVE TO accept that this sensation is all in your MIND. I know, this made me super angry when I thought of it first. How could this awful thing be all in my head, I'm not crazy, I'm not making this up it's real and it's the WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD!!!!!!! But in reality, it is just...in your mind.
So that's how I came up with my theory: All of us experienced some sort of minor gum lesion on an easy to access spot. As the lesion healed, it began to itch (as gums do when healing), causing the first itching feeling. Somehow, we kept "feeling" this sensation as time when by. We aggrivated the spot more and more, causing more lesions and damage to the gum. If we stopped itching the spot for a while, it would feel a bit better but we could swear that it was still there. One minor irritation to that spot later, we're back to hacking at our gums again. It became a never ending cycle!
It seems impossible to have the self disipline to not itch at that spot, I did it unconsiously throughout the day. But let me tell you something that you probably already know: YOU HAVE TO STOP ITCHING IT FOR IT TO GET BETTER. And to make it more bearable I'll give you some tips:
1) If the itch is bothering you extremely, quickly get some grains of salt and put them directly on your gums. It's going to burn, but it will give you instant, fairly long lasting, relief from the itching!
2) Whenever you have an overwhelming urge to itch that spot, swish some cool water, or ice, in your mouth. It will give some relief.
3) Use a mild peroxide mouthwash 2-3 times a day to promote gum healing.
4) Try as best you can to not agrivate your spot while brushing, flossing, eating, etc.
5) Remember that if you start itching it again, the never ending cycle will continue to go. Don't "feed the beast."
6) The way you think can make a huge difference! You must keep a healthy mindset: Know that your gum is damaged, and now is healing. If you don't bother your gums, they WILL heal. Don't doubt this!
My gums still feel a tad itchy now and then, but now I know what to do. I truly home my gums will completely heal and I can learn to get this "itchy tick: out of my brain.
I hope this helps, good luck.
Thank you for starting this thread. It gives me comfort to know there are others out there like me. It saddens me to know others suffer like I do without answers. I also am a tooth grinder... all my life. Any luck the guard?
I have the same problem you all do. No allergies, no sinus infections, no bad toothpaste, good oral hygiene. Teeth with or without fillings, gums surrounding both itch. I remember having the problem since I had my first teeth.It is coming from the nerves, it surely is not in my head. Each place itches differently, nearly my whole mouth itches. There are only a few spots that don´t. My wisdom teeth are currently growing and the place had never itched before, now it does-but not normally, like gums itch when teeth grow, its like ten times worse.I think its the nerves gone haywire. I have been thinking about bruxism being the cause, I do press on my teeth while sleeping, but the fact is that my second and third tooth cannot be pressed against the lower ones, they are quite crooked, and those are the ones that itch the most. Its like they are squishing the nerve around the teeth there and it causes the gums to itch and make you ,,rearrange and repair" the position of the nerve...
How relieved I am to hear others have this problem! We do all sound crazy, but sticking a needle in my gums is exactly what I will try next! I've tried each and everything said on this post. The dentist never really seemed to concerned, so I though it was just me. I don't think too much about it....until RIGHT NOW WHEN I FEEL LIKE TAKING MY TEETH OUT WITH PLYERS!!!!! One thing I do that I didn't see mentioned- I use an electric toothbrush to push the brisols between my lower teeth. HEAVEN for a few minutes, but doesn't last. Thank you for making me feel less crazy!!!!
I'll have to try that one!
29 years old, female, regularly exercise, had braces 15 years ago - and yes, I get very itchy teeth! I can sympathise with the others who have said they wish to take thier teeth out with pliers. The itchy feeling comes mostly after exercise but it's horrible to the point that I can't concentrate on anything else. Will try ice and chewing gum after exercise.