How To Fix A Hole In Gums? Causes, Prevention, treatment, and Remedies

It is too familiar to experience inflamed or sore gums. But finding a hole in gums is something that needs your attention. So what does it mean to have a hole in your gums??.

Any area in your gums that is catered or packed compared to the surrounding tissue appears as a hole in your gums. 

If you are concerned about knowing more about it, keep reading this article to learn more medical facts about holes in gums. We also discuss potential causes,  the mode of prevention, and the treatment of holes in gums. This article will give brief and precise answers to the following questions about holes in gums.

• How to fix a hole in my gum?
• How To fix a hole in my gum at home?
• Why is there a hole in my gums?
• How to prevent holes in gums?
• What is the treatment for holes in gums?

What is meant By Hole In Gums?

The Gums are the front bone structure at the upper part of our mouth, where the teeth grow out from. They are very soft in nature and, therefore, require little care. A small perforation in the gums occurs when our teeth do not come out straight at times. This may make a small hole, which is called gum perforation. It is also noticed that people with bleeding gums have more chances to get these kinds of holes.

Why Is There A Hole In My Gums?

Let’s discuss the 4  potential causes of gum holes in detail  

1. Periodontitis 
2. Infection 
3. Open Tooth Socket
4. Necrotizing Periodontal Disease

Periodontitis

The gum tissue beyond the teeth’s reach is called the periodontium. It has tiny ligaments and bones as tooth anchors. As loose connective tissue, food habits easily influence the gum, which is very sensitive to how you clean your teeth. Most gum diseases are related to the periodontium. 

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease. Plaque accumulation on teeth leads to gum disease. The majority of plaque is made up of bacteria that devour the sugars in our diet to obtain the energy they require.

The bacteria that consume these sugars also produce waste products, which can irritate and inflame your gums and make them more likely to bleed. It is called gingivitis.

Periodontitis can develop when this inflammation penetrates further into the gum tissue and damages the bone.

Periodontitis can lead to bone and tissue loss and gum removal from teeth. So it creates holes or pockets in areas between teeth and gums. Its symptoms include

• Swollen, red gums
• Bleeding gums
• Teeth sensitivity
• Sore gums
• Bad breath
• Receding gums
• Teeth loss
• discomfort or pain when chewing

Infection 

Bacterial and viral infractions can also cause holes in gums. One example is Herpetic gingivostomatitis caused by the herpes simplex virus. In this condition, lesions appear in the gums and may form ulcers. Its symptoms include

• Swollen, red gums
• Bleeding gums
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Malaise
• Irritability 

Open Tooth Socket

Another reason for holes in gums is an open tooth socket, which follows the procedure of tooth extraction. The hole in this condition heals eight weeks after the extraction. 

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease

It is a rare gum disease associated with tissue death (necrosis). It mainly occurs in people with weak immune systems. The gums can be punched out in this condition, and painful ulcers can appear. There is also a possibility that necrotic areas are covered by white or yellow color pseudomembrane 

Its symptoms include

• Intense pain
• Fever
• Spontaneous bleeding
• bad breath
• receding gums
• Inflamed lymph nodes

Where Gum Holes Can Appear in My Mouth?

The location of holes in your gum varies highly depending on the root cause. If the gum hole is due to an open tooth socket, it will appear at the extraction site. If the cause of the gum hole is a necrotizing periodontal disease, it is likely to appear in genital areas where teeth meet the gums. Holes due to infection can occur at any place in the gums.

How To Fix A Hole In Gums?

Scaling And Root Planing To Fill your Hole in Gums

Scaling and root planing are also known as deep cleaning and used to treat periodontitis. It is a two-step process that consists of 

•  Scaling: Scaling involves the removal of plaque that is present on teeth and in the pocket around the gum line
• Roor planning; Root planing entails scaling the teeth’s roots, which are situated more below the gum line. Planning makes the roots more supple, which may encourage them to reconnect to your gums.

Periodontal Surgery

It treats the severe conditions of periodontal disease.  Periodontal surgery is of various types, including. 

• Regenerative procedure: This procedure involves golding back gum tissue, followed by removing plaque. Then, a specific piece of material is produced from proteins or bone and assists surgeons in repairing missing tissue and bone.
• Gum Grafting: Gum grafting is a treatment for receding gums. It involves using gum tissue from another part of the mouth to cover the tooth’s exposed surface.
• Flap Surgery: Firstly, the surgeon will make a minor incision. Then, plaque on the deeper tooth surfaces is removed by lifting the gum tissue. As a result, your gums may be able to cling to your teeth more tightly.

Medications

In case of a severe bacterial infection or periodontal disease, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to kill bacteria or some anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain.

How To Fix Hole In Gums At Home?

The Hole in the Gums can be treated at home at a minor stage. You can fix the hole in your gum at home without going to the dentist. These simple remedies will help you to take over this condition. It is worth noting that remedies cannot help you to treat the severe conditions of gum disease. In such a situation, You need to consult the dentist immediately 

5 Remedies to Fix Hole in Gums At Home

Use Of Hydrogen Peroxide

Employing a water flosser, such as a Waterpik, and diluted hydrogen peroxide. You can remove and kill all the dangerous germs with the help of these oral irrigators by sending a stream of water under the gums and around the teeth.

Intake Of Green Tea

The high levels of antioxidants found in green tea may help lessen inflammation. Green tea can reduce the immune system’s inflammatory response to oral bacteria, resulting in less damage to the gums and supporting jawbone.

If you’re sensitive to caffeine, consider introducing a few servings daily to your diet, but be cautious.

Apply Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has a long history of treating burns and scrapes on the skin, but it has also been effective in the mouth. Researchers found that aloe vera was equally good in reducing disease-causing germs as two commercial kinds of toothpaste. ²

. Aloe vera gel may offer relief if your gums are sore or inflamed. You cannot use aloe vera rinse or can directly apply the gel on the gums and gently massage to get relief 

Rinse Gum With Sage MouthWash

Some mouthwashes have significant alcohol content, which may even dry out the mouth and promote the growth of bacterial plaque. Sage-based mouthwash, however, can soothe irritated gums. Using sage mouthwash every day can reduce the germs that form dental plaque.

You can create a sage rinse at home. Add one or two cups of boiling water with two tablespoons of fresh or one teaspoon of dried sage. Before straining it, let it boil on low for approximately 10 minutes. You can keep it in a bottle and rinse it twice daily for 30 seconds with a small amount.

Rinse With Saltwater

In addition to helping to mend irritating oral tissue, salt water is a natural disinfectant that can eliminate the bacteria that cause gum disease. Salt draws fluids away from the swelling. Warm salt water is a beautiful place to start if you seek home treatment for gum abscesses.

 How To Prevent the Occurrence Of a Hole In Gums?

1. Maintain Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is the most critical factor in preventing dental diseases. The bacteria in your mouth grow rapidly. Every twenty minutes, they multiply by 1,000 times and produce harmful substances that will decay the gum tissue and other cells of your body. About a million bacteria live in a single square centimeter of the human mouth. If not cleaned regularly, plenty of food remains stuck between teeth, and this will rot your teeth. Thus, gum tissue will degenerate due to a lack of nutrition and moisture.

You can follow the following tips to maintain good oral hygiene

• Brush your teeth twice a day for about two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• When brushing, try to utilize soft circular strokes. Avert abrupt, backward movements.
• Tilt the brush’s bristles toward your gum line to clean the space between your gums and teeth.
• Be sure to brush your tongue in addition to all of the surfaces of your teeth.
• Use dental floss to floss every day to help keep the area in between your teeth clean. Pre-threaded flossers and water flossers are alternatives (Waterpiks)

2. Limit Intake Of Sugar      

Foods containing excessive sugar provide a good ground for bacteria to grow and multiply. Limiting your sugar intake can prevent bacterial infections. Avoid sweet-enriched foods, including carbonated beverages, cakes, and candies.                                                      

3. Visit A Dentist

Even though you clean and floss your teeth frequently, plaque can still build up on them. As a result, visit a dentist for regular dental cleanings, which often entails visiting the dentist every six months.

Additionally, you must visit a dentist if you experience any unsettling gum or tooth-related symptoms. A dentist can suggest a course of therapy and assist in determining the cause.

If you don’t have insurance, you might be able to find a dentist at a reasonable price.

4. Quit Smoking 

Smokin is a significant risk factor for gum diseases. Try to take steps to stop smoking if you do.

This can be challenging, and it might require multiple attempts to give up. Consider contacting your doctor or another healthcare provider to create a cessation strategy. Support can make a difference.

Hole In Gums: It Time To Say Goodbye

Gum hole in your mouth is a common disease that is caused by four main reasons including 

• Periodontitis 
• Infection 
• Open Tooth Socket
• Necrotizing Periodontal Disease

The methods of treatment of gum hole depend on the cause and it includes

• Scaling and root planing
• Periodontal surgery
• Medications

It is always better to prevent medical conditions so you may not have to worry about treating them. To prevent gum holes, you have to quit smoking, limit sugar intake, maintain good oral hygiene, and visit the dentist regularly. 

Zaira Fatima

I am Pharmacist by profession and a medical writer by passion. Being a doctor of medicine, I realize the need for simple, authentic, and reliable content for people on various health topics, medical problems, diet, and nutrition. So I took charge of providing the most relevant and accurate medical knowledge to the general public as well as medical practitioners and students .

My articles are a blend of authentic and updated medical information with clear readability that makes it simple and clear to understand complicated and rare medical conditions. My goal is to serve you with updated, relevant, and trustworthy information about medical  sciences and medical-related topics on a single page.