Your gums are composed of the tissue that surrounds your teeth. Pink and firm when they are healthy and happy, your gums can also be a barometer of your oral health, becoming discolored, puffy, and swollen when there is a problem. While gums can become inflamed for a whole host of reasons, there is usually one solution to get rid of the inflammation – making an appointment with your dentist for evaluation and treatment.
Common Causes of Swollen Gums
One of the most common causes of swollen gums is gum disease. It starts with gingivitis, an early form of gum disease in which built up tartar and plaque around one’s teeth begins to introduce bacteria into the gum tissue that surrounds them. Treated early enough with a thorough dental cleaning, gingivitis can be reversed, so it is important to be seen as soon as you notice that your gums are looking of feeling a little irritated or inflamed.
Other conditions that can lead to puffy, inflamed gums include underlying nutritional deficiencies, infection, or even pregnancy. While not all of these causes can be treated directly by your dentist, she or he will be able to diagnose the problem and recommend practices or products that can ease the symptoms.
Treating Swollen Gums in the Dentist’s Office
To treat swollen gums caused by gum disease or infection, dentists typically treat swollen gums by first performing a thorough dental cleaning. This will likely be done by your dental hygienist, who will carefully remove all of the plaque and tartar from your teeth with a set of special tools.
If gum disease has progressed to the more advanced stages of periodontitis, scaling and root planing may be necessary. This is more involved procedure in which your dentist will remove bacterial and decayed matter from the dental roots themselves. Oftentimes this is done is quadrants, with the use of local anesthetic.
In the case of infection, your dentist will clean the area carefully and provide instructions on how to continue to treat it at home. This will likely include special rinses and/or antibiotics.
Treating Swollen Gums at Home
The main thing to do at home to take care of swollen, tender gums is simply to be gentle with them. Avoid brushing or flossing vigorously; ensure that you are still brushing and flossing twice a day but do so with care. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and don’t apply too much force.
Avoid things that will irritate your gums, like alcohol, cigarettes, and other forms of tobacco. Instead try to drink more water, which has a positive effect on your overall oral health and will support the healing process of your gums.
Warm saltwater rinses twice a day can help clear any possible infection, and warm compresses (applied to the face around the area) can help to reduce pain. If needed, over the counter pain medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen can be taken, as well.
By being seen by your dentist and following their instructions, your swollen gums should soon be a thing of the past. In the unlikely event that pain increases during treatment or symptoms become worse, be sure to contact your dentist’s office for further evaluation.