HEALTH

What to do if there is gum swelling?

Oral health consists of gum health and you need to take proper care of it. The gums, made of pink tissues, cover your jawbone. This tissue is thick and contains thousands of blood vessels. When the gums are swollen, they might start protruding. The place where the gums meet the tooth is the specific area where gum swelling usually takes place. Sometimes, gums might be so swollen that they can even hide your teeth. Swollen gums would look red instead of their natural colour pink.

Gingival swelling can be painful and uncomfortable to deal with. Swelling will make gums much more vulnerable, causing them to bleed while brushing and flossing. As suggested by princeton emergency dentistry, read further to know what you need to do when you have swollen gums.

  • Seek Medical Treatment: If you’re noticing swollen gum for over 2 weeks, you need to contact a professional dentist. The dentist will ask you some questions and assess what caused gum swelling and how often you feel pain. They might conduct oral X-rays to know if you’re suffering from bone loss. They will ask you what food and drinks you have in your diet and if you have made any changes recently. They may order blood tests to know if you have hidden signs of infection. Depending on the causes and severity of the gum swelling, they can suggest you the best treatment options. Surgery will be required in case of severe gingivitis.
  • Consider Home Treatment: If swollen gums aren’t causing severe problems, you can treat them in your home. Brushing and flossing gently can help, as you don’t irritate them by force. Use a mouthwash or saltwater solution to rinse your mouth and get rid of the bacteria. However, make sure you don’t use super strong mouthwashes to avoid irritants. Limiting alcohol and tobacco consumption and drinking plenty of water is important. A cold compress can prove effective at reducing gum swelling.
  • Use Different Kinds of toothpaste: Certain toothpaste can decrease oral sensitivity, reduce tartar build-up, and soothe gum inflammation to improve your oral health. Ensure the toothpaste doesn’t contain any artificial flavouring agents as they might lead to tooth decay. Reports suggest using toothpaste that contains fluoride. Brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes with a medical-certified toothpaste.

Gum swelling is a common situation that you might knot now until the signs become severe. If you, fortunately, notice signs during the initial days, don’t ignore them. These steps can help you decrease gum swelling. If the situation doesn’t improve after 2 weeks, contact a dentist for a full mouth evaluation.