Swollen gums can be due to various causes. They may or may not be accompanied by a bad breath or bleeding but the swelling alone is often enough to make you feel uncomfortable throughout the day or when you’re trying to enjoy a meal.
It is important to pay attention to your gums because gums play a major role not only in your dental health, but in your overall well-being. In many instances, swollen and bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. However, there are a number of other things that could be causing your gums to swell.
Most swollen gums is due to one cause – bacterial plaque. That white, filmy debris that congregates along the gumlines and on the surface of your teeth causes not only cavities, but gum infections as well. Why?
That’s because the plaque builds up along the margin of the gum lines and also begins to creep in underneath the gum pocket, infecting the gums from the inside out. Once plaque gets into an area and isn’t cleaned out thoroughly, it causes an immune response in the body which then leads to inflammation of the surrounding tissue.
Another cause would be irritation. Allergic reactions to ingredients in toothpaste, food, medications, or even metal dental restorations (eg., braces) can cause irritation, redness, or swelling of the gum tissue. Most people find that changing out their toothpaste is usually adequate if they recently began using a different brand when the symptoms began to occur.
In choosing a toothbrush, choose the one with soft nylon bristles that have blunted ends. Medium or hard bristles they may damage the enamel on your teeth or cause red and swollen gums.
When you brush, make sure you use gentle, circular motions to massage and clean the teeth and gums. While many people use a back-and-forth motion, this motion can irritate and damage your gums, making them sore and more likely to bleed or recede.
Make a habit to floss every after toothbrushing. Be gentle when you floss. Rather than forcing the floss between your teeth, carefully slide it up and down, following the curve of each tooth.
More so, applying cold compress to the swollen gums and gargling your mouth with salt and water can also alleviate the swelling.
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