A Dentist Explains What Can Cause Gums to Swell

A Dentist Explains What Can Cause Gums to Swell from North Georgia Smiles in Cumming, GAYou should immediately seek the consultation of a dentist if you notice that your gums have been swollen for more than a couple of days. It’s important to stay on top of your oral health, and your gums are no exception. If you’ve ever experienced swollen gums, then you know how painful they can be.

What are some things that can cause swollen gums?

Swollen gums are painful, and while it could be the result of minor issues, it could also be a symptom of something much more serious. Here are some of the main reasons for swollen gums.

Not caring for your teeth properly

Brushing and flossing twice a day is very important, but did you know that there’s a right way and a wrong way to brush and floss? Brushing or flossing too aggressively can cut your gums and cause them to swell up.

Oral infections can cause swollen gums

Things like fungi, viruses, and STDs can cause swollen gums if the conditions aren’t caught early enough.

Going through hormonal changes and shifts

This is mostly found to be a reason for swollen gums in women. Going through pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and menopause can cause increased blood flow to the gums, resulting in swelling and pain.

Mouth ulcers

Ulcers are extremely painful and are often thought of as occurring in other parts of the body, but they can also happen in the mouth. These types of ulcers are extremely painful and can result in swollen and bleeding gums. Canker sores are in the same category as mouth ulcers, causing pain and swelling in the gums.

Malnutrition and a deficiency in critical vitamins

Vitamin C and B are extremely important to the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums. Not getting enough of these vitamins and bad eating, in general, can lead to things like scurvy and malnutrition. These diseases can cause the gums to swell and become extremely painful, so make sure you’re getting all the vitamins that you need.

Food, burns, and other irritants

Certain kinds of foods that are acidic or spicy can cause swollen gums. Even eating something too hot temperature-wise can burn your gums and lead to swelling. Other irritants like using a toothpaste that you’re allergic to or using a mouthwash that you have a reaction to can also cause swollen gums.

What can I do to treat my swollen gums?

Luckily, there are both self-help treatments to treat swollen gums, as well as medical professionals to help you recover from them. If you have swollen gums, make sure that you start taking vitamin B and C supplements and keep from eating overly hot or acidic foods. Doing these things will at least keep the problem from getting worse.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist in Cumming, GA

Learn more from your dentist

If doing these things doesn’t relieve the pain and swelling enough, you may want to consult a dentist. Your dentist will provide you with things like creams and medications that will reduce swelling faster and get you back to feeling your best.

Request an appointment or call North Georgia Smiles at 770-889-7867 for an appointment in our Cumming office.

Related Posts

A Dentist Advises Against Leaving A Cavity Untreated

One of the things that a dentist will check for during your bi-annual checkup with them is cavities. Cavities are harmful and painful. They can actually lead to more significant problems if they’re left untreated. In this article, we’re going to look at what exactly a cavity is and why a dentist advises you never…

General Dentistry: 3 Questions To Ask A Dentist About Gum Disease

One aspect of dentistry that often gets overlooked is gum disease. Dentists are a wealth of information regarding this dangerous condition that can lead to heart disease and diabetes. Speak with yours and learn everything you need to know about this critical topic.You should arrive at your dental appointment with a list of prepared concerns.…

A Dentist Gives Tips To Prevent Bad Breath

Dentists know that having bad breath can be embarrassing. This is a common issue for many people who have dental problems. There are some simple steps that we can take to prevent bad breath, even if it's caused by poor oral hygiene or gum disease. In this article, we'll go over these six tips and…