I know this is a really weird question but, soon after I started a more vigorous exercise program combined with a whole foods, reduced calorie diet, my gums got really sore and sensitive. They bleed every time I brush and floss. Also I have multiple canker sores in my mouth now (gross).

Has this happened to anyone else? Is it some sort of a detoxification symptom?

I thought exercise and eating well was supposed to be good for me. :P

Are you eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables? It would seem to be a vitamin deficiency possibly? Or maybe you got an infection around the same time you changed your diet?

I don't think it could be a vitamin deficiency because that would take a long time to show up.... i have only been stepping it up the last 2 weeks. (I also eat pretty balanced and take a multivitamin)

hmmmmm

Yeah 2 weeks does seem like a short period of time. I would think either vitamin deficiency or lack of fat in your diet could cause such issues. Otherwise it doesn't seem as it would be diet related.

Maybe you're allergic to something? There's tons of possibilities here. My guess is that the exercise & diet aren't what's doing it, but that it could possibly be AGGRAVATING what's doing it.

My gums are sore and sensitive, too, but I never could figure out why...

This will sound strange, but when I drink too much caffeine, I tend to clench and grind my teeth more, and that gives me sore teeth and gums.

blue_sky, you should consult your doctor or dentist. My guess is an allergy to something, but we can only guess here.

Jay

Hi there! First, bleeding gums and soreness could be due to clenching your teeth and grinding your teeth during exercise. It could also be an indication of vitamin deficiency, especially vitamin C. If you have changed your diet to whole foods and reduced the caloric intake you might indeed be deficient in vitamins. Especially those that are require fat to be absorbed. Increased bleeding/sensitivity also can be related to hormonal factors, such as TOM for example or pregnancy (NO, I'm not saying you are pregnant - just giving an example!)
Canker sores are another issue -- usually these are a result of an autoimmune process, whereby your body removes the surface layer of tissue. They are really, really painful (got them too!). As for cause, no one really knows for sure. Stress is often considered as one factor; vitamin deficiency is another; hormonal factors may be another (TOM, for example). I've had people absolutely swear that increasing vitamin C intake heals them and prevents them, while others say that increasing vitamin C makes them worse. Others swear by multivitamins. What I do is take a maternity-grade multivitamin and up my vitamin C. You might consider increasing your fat intake to ensure that those fat-dependent vitamins are actually absorbed.
In the mean time, go out and buy some topical anesthetic, like the stuff sold in tubes for teething babies, and rub it on the sores. It will make you more comfortable, that's for sure.
If you are really worried, go to a DENTIST, who is a specialist in head/neck issues. They know far more about oral lesions than your MD.

I'm having the same issue; I just figured it was a side effect of my meds, but now I'm curious if it might be something else.

I know when I am hungry I tend to clench and grind my teeth a lot. Drinking more helps as does chewing gum. I am clenching my teeth right now--time to go snack....