Common Causes and Treatments For Swollen Gums

Swollen gums are one of the most common oral health issues I have treated in my entire career as a dentist. Gum swelling can be a sign of a more serious oral symptom, but many patients tend to ignore it, thinking that it will not last for long. However, I always recommend that patients seek the help of a professional as soon as they learn about the condition. Read on and learn more about the causes of swollen gums and what you should do to alleviate the pain and discomfort.

What Are The Common Causes Of Swollen Gums?

Gingivitis is the most common cause of swollen gums. It can range from mild inflammation to severe gum damage, leading to tooth loss if left untreated.
Certain medications have the side effect of causing swelling in the gums.
Poor nutrition is also to blame for gum swelling, particularly lack in Vitamin C. Not eating a healthy diet can lead to a wealth of oral issues.
Switching brands of toothpaste or mouthwash can also lead to gum disease. This may be due to a reaction between a certain ingredient in the new brand and your gum tissues, leading to inflammation.

What Should You Do If You Have Swollen Gums in Rochester, NY?

As I mentioned earlier, always contact your dental professional when you see signs of gum swelling. While waiting for your appointment, here are some things I recommend to help you feel better and minimize the swelling.

Rinse your mouth with salt water. Simply mix a pinch of salt in a glass of water and wash your mouth thoroughly with the solution. This is an easy way to alleviate pain caused by gum swelling.
Avoid caffeinated beverages and soda. These drinks can further increase the irritation in your gum tissues. Also stay away from alcohol and tobacco.
Eat healthy. Add fruits and vegetables to your daily diet, especially those rich in Vitamin C.
Practice good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly is the best way to recover from gum disease and prevent other oral health problems.
Don’t ignore the problem. Simply dismissing it as something you can endure will not help. Visit a professional to determine the exact cause of your swollen gums and whether it’s a symptom of a more serious health condition.

While there are treatments available for gum disease, I still recommend taking steps to prevent the disease in the first place. Practicing good oral hygiene, eating healthy and visiting your dentist regularly may be just what you need to maintain the health of your teeth and gums.

Here Is What You Can Do For Bleeding Gums

Do you have bleeding gums? If you do, then there are a few things you can do right now to prevent a serious dental emergency…

1. Contact A Dentist
The very first thing you should do is contact us. Contacting a dentist is important because bleeding gums can be a sign gingivitis. We can take a look at your gums and rule out gingivitis, which is a type of periodontal disease, or take the next step if you do have gingivitis.

2. Brush Your Teeth
Another thing you can do right now is brush your teeth, and continue to brush your teeth on a regular basis. Sometimes plaque and tartar can build up when you don’t brush properly. We recommend brushing your teeth after every meal, or at least 2-3 times per day. It is important to brush your teeth properly and on a regular basis to avoid the build up of plaque, dental decay, cavities, infections, and bone loss it can cause.

3. Rinse Your Mouth With Warm Water
If your gums are only bleeding a little bit, then we recommend rinsing your mouth with a little bit of warm water. Sometimes when your gums bleed, it might not be anything serious, so you might be able to stop the bleeding by rinsing with water. However, you should still contact a dentist, because if it is gum disease, then you will want to have a professional take a look at your gums and then provide treatment to you.

The worse thing you can do is ignore the problem. If your gums bleed, then you need to take care of the problem as soon as possible. This is especially true if your gums bleed on a regular basis or even just a few times per week. The last thing you want to do is to not take care of your bleeding gums, as it might lead to bigger problems as we’ve discussed above, such as periodontal disease which is a very serious condition that can cause deterioration to your smile and lead to a life of dentures, crowns, bridges, and even dental implants.

So, if you have bleeding gums give our Rochester, NY office a call immediately to schedule a dental examination.

Three Dental Symptoms To Look Out For

When it comes to dental health, prevention is always the best medicine. For most people this means brushing their teeth everyday and visiting the dentist 1 – 2 times a year for a checkup and cleaning.

While that is certainly a great way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, it is not a guarantee that a dental emergency will never crop up. Even for people who take great care of their teeth there are a 3 dental symptoms that should never be ignored.

The first symptom that should never be ignored is stabbing or throbbing pain in or around the teeth. Pain of this nature is a strong indicator that a cavity is present. This could even be true if visually the affected tooth looks fine. When the pain is intense it means that the nerves are being impacted which is a sign of a serious decay issue.

Another symptom that should not be overlooked is any pain that is occurring in a tooth that has previously been worked on. Unfortunately it is possible that a tooth can continue to decay even after a filling has been put in. This type of decay can be the most insidious because it can go on for months unnoticed. Because these teeth have already been compromised it is critical to get to a dentist as soon as the patient notices any pain.

The final symptom that a person should not ignore is sensitivity to heat or cold. Sensitivities in this regard are not normal and can be a first sign of beginning decay. It can also be a sign of less serious conditions like teeth grinding that the patient may not be aware of.

There are many other dental symptoms that could have made this list, but keeping an eye out for the three mentioned above is a great way to prevent serious dental conditions in the future.