Swollen Gums – Causes and Treatment

We all know that we should take good care of our teeth, but what about our gums? You perhaps don’t care much if your gums are slightly swollen or become red, but the fact is you should. Swollen gums can cause much annoyance and can be a sign of some gum disease.

What Causes Swollen Gums?

• Gingivitis – Gingivitis is basically a gum disease that makes your gums swollen and irritated. People don’t even usually realize that they have gingivitis as the symptoms can be quite mild. However, if gingivitis is not treated on time, it can pave the way to a more serious condition known as periodontitis.
• Malnutrition – if you’re deficient in vitamins, particularly B and C, then to your gums can swell. Vitamin C, for instance, has an important part to play in repairing and maintaining your gums and teeth. If your body does not have enough of this vitamin then you may develop scurvy, and this can cause anemia, and then gum problems.
• Pregnancy – during pregnancy, the rush of hormones produced by the body can increase the blood flowing through your gums, and this can make your gums irritated, thus causing swelling.
• Infection – an infection caused by viruses and fungi too may make your gums swollen. If you’re suffering from herpes then it can pave the way to a condition known as acute herpetic gingivostomatitis, and this can cause swollen gums.

The Treatment Options

If your gums are swollen you need to treat them with care. You can soothe the condition by flossing and brushing gently. Use a saltwater solution to rinse your mouth, and drink as many glasses of water as you can. Water improves saliva production, and this helps kill any bacteria-causing disease present in your mouth. You may even use a cold compress to ease swelling, and a hot compress to get rid of the pain.

If, however, your gums stay swollen even after two weeks then you need to visit your dentist. After examining your condition, and getting an X-ray, if needed, your dentist may recommend oral rinses, may suggest another brand of toothpaste, or may even prescribe antibiotics.

Swollen gums indeed can be a big problem, more painful than you can imagine. Thus it will be best to follow the best oral care routine to prevent this problem from developing, and if it does, do not waste much time and visit a dentist for help.

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2 Responsesto “Swollen Gums – Causes and Treatment”

1. Pattie Stepp says:

   January 19, 2018 at 9:39 am

   Swollen gums is so painful. It’s difficult to eat if you’re having this kind of condition. Number 1 option to prevent this is to practice proper oral hygiene and always consult your dentist if you feel pain like this.

   Reply
2. Jeffrey Patterson says:

   March 26, 2018 at 4:53 pm

   It’s the most painful thing ever and it attacks always at midnight. Thankfully, I found this post.

   Reply