Gum swelling is a very common problem and can be a sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to help alleviate swelling and minimize your discomfort! That’s why in this blog, we’ll give you 10 tips to reduce swollen gums at home.
There are a number of things that can cause swollen gums.
The most common cause of gum swelling is gum disease, gingivitis, or periodontitis. This is caused by bacteria that get between the teeth and the gums and cause an infection that usually causes the gums to swell.
Another cause can be poorly fitting dentures or partials that can actually irritate the gum tissue.
Medications can also cause swollen gums, particularly high blood pressure medications.
Sometimes an individual can be sensitive to certain toothpastes or the ingredients in toothpastes. That can cause the gums to swell.
Another cause could be food particles, the most common culprit is popcorn kernels. Any foods that can easily get stuck between the tooth and the gum and can cause the gums to swell. It can actually cause bone destruction and contribute to gum disease.
Smoking or vaping can cause swollen gums. What happens is the nicotine in the tobacco product causes a constriction of the blood vessels and can cause the gum tissue to be malnourished which can contribute to gum swelling and even gum disease.
The #1 cause of gum swelling is gingivitis and periodontal disease. Also, not brushing and flossing the teeth properly and thoroughly can be a major contributing factor to gum inflammation.
So what can we do to treat swollen gums at home?
- Thorough brushing and flossing will go a long way to reducing your problem.
- Consider switching to a firmer toothbrush. A harder toothbrush will clean more thoroughly and will stimulate the tissue to promote the flow of blood to the area.
- Start using a Waterflosser or Waterpik. Start out on low pressure and build it up to the highest pressure.
- Speak with your physician about switching your medication. You want to find a medication that is a non-calcium channel blocker.
- Try switching toothpastes. Depending on the individual certain toothpastes can cause irritation, erosion and gum swelling. If you still have a problem, try using no toothpaste at all.
- Get a dental cleaning! A thorough dental cleaning will go a long way towards treating gum swelling.
- Avoid tobacco products. Particularly chewing tobacco or snus. We have seen a number of patients who have destroyed their gum tissue from these products. It can absolutely contribute to swollen gums.
- Avoid foods that get stuck between your teeth, like popcorn.
- 9. If your teeth aren’t tight together, consider getting a filling or cleaning that area properly so that food does not get stuck in there and contribute to gum swelling.
- If none of these options work, look into having your gingivitis or periodontitis treated! We use a laser, which is not painful, to treat the swollen gums and get rid of the gum disease.
Swollen gums are almost always a sign of an unhealthy situation. We want your mouth and your body to be as healthy as possible. If your mouth is not healthy, you are not going to be as healthy as you could be. Try to treat your swollen gums at home, but if this is not possible we would love to help you! If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please Contact Us.
