Is the back of your mouth feeling pain? It is very annoying and uncomfortable. When your mouth hurts, it has various reasons like infections, dental issues, or allergies. One of the main causes that lead to pain in the back of your mouth is sore throat, which occurs because of viral or bacterial infections. Pain at the back of your mouth is often caused by your wisdom teeth growing in or becoming infected.
Here, you can discover why the back of your mouth hurts, its symptoms, and how to treat it. Sometimes, it is caused by a small sore or something due to serious issues. We cover everything in this article that will help you figure out what's happening with your mouth. You can learn about various tips that help you to take prevention and protect yourself from gum pain. Let's get started in detail.
Understanding the Pain: Types of Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are a common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors. There are three main types of mouth sores: canker sores, cold sores, and oral thrush.
Canker Sores
This is the common form of ulcers that occur in your mouth. Canker sores appear as a painful white or yellow ulcer surrounded by a bright red area. The main cause of this ulcer is stress, injury, or food allergies. If you do not treat them, they disappear automatically in a week or two. It can also lead to gum pain.
Cold Sores
If we talk about cold sores, the main reason for their cause is viruses, and they appear outside of your mouth on the lips. These appear as small red blisters filled with fluid and not just affect your lips but also appear anywhere on your face. They are spread if someone comes in contact with you.
Oral Thrush
It is a fungal infection that is caused by overgrowth of Candida yeast. Oral thrush looks like white, creamy patches on your tongue or the inside of your cheeks. If your immune system is weak or you have another medical condition like diabetes, there is a higher chance that you are affected by oral thrush.
Common Causes of Back of Mouth Pain
The back of your mouth is a sensitive area, and several factors are the reason that the back of your mouth hurts. Here are some of the common reasons why this pain occurs:
Injuries and Accidents
- Biting your cheek or tongue: Accidentally biting yourself can cause painful cuts or sores.
- Dental work: If you have wisdom teeth removed or have other dental procedures, it can lead to gum pain or swelling for some time.
- Sports injuries: Getting hit in the jaw or mouth during sports can cause bruises or even cuts.
Dental Problems
- Cavities or infections: Bacteria are the main cause that produce infection inside your mouth or cause sore throat, they can lead to pain in the back of your mouth.
- Gum disease: Issues like gingivitis or periodontitis can make your gums swollen, sore, and bleed easily.
- Impacted wisdom teeth: When wisdom teeth don’t come in properly, they can cause pain, swelling, and infection.
Infections and Illnesses
- Cold sores: The main reason is the herpes virus, which is mostly shown on your lips or in your mouth.
- Oral thrush: This fungal infection can cause white patches inside your mouth and happens when there's too much yeast.
- Strep throat: A bacterial infection that causes a sore throat, fever, and trouble swallowing.
Side Effects from Medication
- Some medications, like chemotherapy drugs or antihistamines, can cause dry mouth or painful sores.
Nutritional Deficiencies
- Not getting enough vitamins like B12, iron, or zinc can lead to mouth sores and other oral health issues.
If the pain in the back of your mouth doesn't go away, it's a good idea to see a doctor or dentist. They can help find out what's wrong and suggest the right treatment.
Symptoms to Watch For
In case of pain in the back of your mouth or having, paying attention and taking the symptoms seriously is important. If you take it seriously, you can get proper treatment and get rid of the pain. Here are some common symptoms to notice:
Pain Intensity and Duration
First, notice the duration of the pain and how much its intensity is, and this will help you get a clue. If you feel sudden or sharp pain, it occurs due to injury and trauma. But if you feel minor pain that is caused by infection or other conditions.
Appearance of Sores
If you have sores in the back of your mouth, then it is important to note their appearance. If they look oval shaped and yellow from the center, then these are canker sores. Cold sores appear as blisters on the lips around the mouth. Oral thrush can cause white, creamy patches in your mouth.
Difficulty Eating or Swallowing
Pain in the back of the mouth can make it difficult to eat or swallow. This can be especially problematic if the pain is severe or if there are sores in the area.
Other Associated Symptoms
In addition to pain, you may also experience other symptoms, such as:
- Fever: A fever can be a sign of infection.
- Swelling: Swelling in the jaw or neck can be a sign of injury or inflammation.
- Bad breath: Bad breath can be a sign of gum disease or other oral health problems.
- Difficulty opening your mouth: Difficulty opening your mouth can be a sign of a jaw injury or TMJ disorder.
Treatment and Prevention Tips
Here, you can learn about various treatments and preventions that save you when the your mouth hurts. In case of mild pain, you can manage it at home. But if the pain or disease is severe, you have to visit your dentist for a proper diagnosis.
Home remedies
- Over-the-counter pain relievers: When you feel pain, take nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen because they are painkillers and help you to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Saltwater rinses: Washing your mouth with warm saltwater can be beneficial, and they help soothe sore gums and promote healing.
- Cold compresses: Applying a cold compress to the affected area can help reduce swelling and pain.
- Avoiding irritants: If certain foods or beverages are irritating your mouth, try to avoid them.
Prevention
- Practicing good oral hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and see your dentist for regular checkups.
- Managing stress: Stress can contribute to mouth sores. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, meditation, or yoga.
- Eating a balanced diet: A healthy diet can help boost your immune system and prevent infections.
- Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: These habits can irritate the mouth and increase your risk of oral health problems.
Conclusion
If you notice that your mouth hurts, don't take it easy because sometimes it occurs due to some serious issues and also causes problems. There are different things that cause this problem. Some of them are injuries, dental problems, and infections, and mostly, they happen due to a deficiency of vitamins. If the pain is severe, then visit your dentist and know what's happening inside.