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Swollen gums

definition

Swelling of the gums is not an uncommon reason why the dentist is visited. This is often accompanied by pain and redness and can be limited to a small area or affect the entire gum.
There are many reasons why this problem arises, but in most cases there is a pathological occurrence in the oral cavity behind it. It is therefore advisable to visit a dentist if the swelling persists for several days.

causes

As indicated above, there is not just one cause of swollen gums. Due to the wide range of possibilities, it can not always be easy to determine the reason for the change. As a loan, it is almost impossible, which is why professional education is advisable for everyone concerned. For example, swelling in the oral cavity can occur after surgical interventions such as the removal of wisdom teeth or implants.

Read more on the topic: Swelling in the mouth

Another reason can be abscesses or fistulas, which often cause severe local swelling. Pronounced periodontitis also leads to thickening of the gums due to the inflammatory processes. Sometimes the cause can only be determined through a precise medical history, as the reason can also be the use of certain drugs, which cause gum growth as a side effect.

After a root canal treatment

Root canal treatments are performed when the tooth nerve dies. Mostly caused by bacteria that get inside the tooth through deep caries.
The treatment tries to clean the root canal and kill the bacteria that have settled there. In some cases it is not possible to completely eliminate this. The bacteria can then enter the surrounding tissue via the root tip, where they cause inflammation. This then manifests as swelling of the gums and pain. In such cases, the canal should be cleaned again to remove the inflammation and thus the swelling.

Read more on the topic: Pain during a root canal treatment

After inserting an implant

Inserting an implant is a surgical procedure that also damages healthy tissue.
The body often reacts to such trauma with swelling in this region. So one shouldn't worry at first as this is a healing process, which is a good sign. In some cases, however, an infection can also occur if the work has not been carried out properly. Inflammation develops around the implant, which eventually causes swelling. So if the swelling does not subside after a few days after the implantation, it is advisable to visit the dentist to clarify the problem.

Read more on the topic: Dental implant

After cleaning your teeth

After a professional teeth cleaning, the gums may become swollen, as the treatment irritates the gums and can also be injured. The gums should calm down and look normal again in the next few days.

The best thing to do is to brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush to avoid further stress on the gums. If the gums hurt and are slightly swollen, decongestant and pain relieving ointments from the pharmacy will help. The swollen gums should improve and swell again within a week.

If you develop symptoms of inflammation, such as tenderness and bleeding, you should visit a dentist. In this case, anti-inflammatory mouthwashes such as CHX mouthwash (Chlorhexamed® 0.2%) can help.

Also read: How does professional teeth cleaning work?

Swollen gums on the molar

If there is a swelling of the molar, there are various reasons that are difficult to determine on your own.
One possibility is that a deep pocket has become infected, which then triggers the swelling. Another reason may be large tooth decay, which has caused the tooth nerve to die and the bacteria to spread inside.
If the wisdom teeth have not yet erupted, an abscess may have formed near them, causing the surrounding gums to swell and causing pain. An abscess can also develop in the molar region without the wisdom teeth. As you can see, there are a number of possible reasons for a change in the posterior region, which in most cases requires treatment.

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On the wisdom tooth

Inflammation is often responsible for swollen gums on the wisdom tooth. Especially if the wisdom tooth has not yet fully erupted, a so-called gum hood can form.Food debris and plaque accumulate there and inflammatory swelling occurs in this area. The resulting gingival pocket can be treated by a dentist.

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Swollen gums in the baby

Swollen gums in a baby are a sign of teething.
If the baby gets its first teeth, the gums swell, itch and can hurt. In addition, the jawbone feels firm and hard and begins to tighten.

Teething starts from the 6th month and is felt differently from child to child. Some don't notice anything and you suddenly discover the first milk tooth and for others a very uncomfortable time can begin. When teething begins, babies sleep worse and become more restless, and fever can occur.

A chilled teether or a piece of fruit can help to aid teething. Babies then often chew on it. Chewing on solid objects relieves pressure on the jaw and helps teeth break through.
Chamomile tea can help relieve itching and swollen gums. This should not be sugared and should already have cooled down. You can apply the tea to the painful mucous membrane with a cotton swab. In the pharmacy there are cooling gels that can be applied, but this should be discussed with the pediatrician before use.

Read on under: Teething in the baby

During pregnancy

Swollen gums during pregnancy are not uncommon.
The hormonal change in the woman's body has an unfavorable effect on the gums. The connective tissue is loosened and the gums are supplied with more blood, which causes them to swell and can be a gateway for bacteria.

The bacteria can cause what is known as pregnancy gingivitis. This manifests itself in a strong reddening and additional bleeding of the gums while brushing the teeth. It is therefore particularly important to take good care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy in order to minimize inflammation and prevent gingivitis.

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Swollen gums on braces

Daily dental care is made more difficult by fixed braces, which means that more plaque can adhere to the teeth. Due to the difficult removal of the plaque and the incorrect cleaning technique, these often lead to swollen gums and thus to inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis.

Only individual areas or even the entire jaw can be affected. Especially at the beginning of the treatment, the patients first have to get used to the new situation and learn the new brushing technique with braces.

If the gums are already inflamed and swollen, mouth rinsing solutions from the pharmacy and professional teeth cleaning at the dentist help, the stuck plaque is removed and the inflammation is reduced.

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With a cold

With a cold, the immune system is weakened and there is an increased germ load from bacteria or viruses in the mouth area.

In most cases, there is already an unnoticed previous disease of the teeth and then, in connection with the common cold, gingivitis breaks out and the gums swell. The immune system is busy fighting the common cold, while the number of germs in the pre-stressed gum pockets increases. There is a combined infection and overload of the immune system.
Gingivitis can persist even after the symptoms of the cold have subsided. In any case, in the case of combined infections, you should visit a dentist in addition to your family doctor.

Concomitant symptoms

In addition to the swelling of the gums, other symptoms often occur. These are mostly related to the inflammatory process. In the area of the swelling, the blood flow increases, which then becomes visible as reddening. In addition, the vessels can become more permeable and fragile. This then leads to the fact that these tear open when you brush your teeth and the gums start to bleed.

Read more on the topic: Bleeding gums

In severe cases, wounds can even develop in these areas. In addition, certain substances are released that increase the sensation of pain in the swollen gums. The slightest touch is enough to activate the pain receptors. However, it does not mean that the additional symptoms need to appear. Of course there can also be just a swelling without it hurting or bleeding.

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Pain

As mentioned above, gum swelling can be accompanied by pain. A common cause is inflammation progressing. In such a situation, complex processes take place in the affected area. This also means that cells release certain signal substances - so-called pain mediators - which then reach the surrounding nerve cells and increase their sensitivity. Ultimately, this means that the cell transmits pain signals that are not normally registered as such. This ultimately leads to a permanent feeling of pain and light touches, such as those that occur when brushing your teeth, are perceived as extremely painful.

If swelling develops after a surgical procedure and you are in pain, it is mostly due to the traumatized tissue that was destroyed during the operation. This pain subsides after a few days and the interim period can be bridged with painkillers.
Read more on the topic: Pain in the gums

Swollen gums without pain

Swelling of the gums can also be painless. This could be due to a slight inflammation or a growth. In these cases, it is best to wait two to three days and see if the situation improves. If this is not the case, the dentist should be visited, who can then better assess why the swelling is there and whether something needs to be done. In the meantime, good oral hygiene should be observed.
It is best to brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss or interdental brushes. Home remedies such as sage tea can also help.

Read more on the topic: Oral hygiene

pus

If it is found that pus is leaking from the swollen gums, this is a sign of an abscess, the contents of which are now spreading into the oral cavity. This is a clear sign of an advanced pathological change in the oral cavity that urgently needs to be removed.
Therefore, the dentist should be visited as soon as possible, and he will usually refer the affected person to the oral surgeon. They can then remove the abscess through surgery, which in most cases is unavoidable.

Read more on this topic:

Abscess in the mouth
Abscess on the tooth

diagnosis

Making a diagnosis should always begin with a detailed questioning of the patient, since the dentist can already make a suspected diagnosis from the conversation, which he then examines with further tests. Previous interventions such as root canal treatments or implantations can be an indication. New drugs too, as some can cause gum swelling. If periodontitis is suspected, the doctor can assess the patient's periodontitis status in order to make this diagnosis. In other cases it is worthwhile to take a panoramic x-ray.

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therapy

The treatment of the swelling depends of course on the cause, which is why it is necessary to determine this first. After the reason for the thickened gums has been identified, further therapy can be discussed. For example, if the cause is periodontal, periodontal treatment with several sessions should be performed. If, on the other hand, the inflammation is not very pronounced, a simple professional tooth cleaning with additional oral hygiene training can be sufficient.

If the swelling is caused by an abscess, it must be surgically removed. If swelling occurs after a failed root canal treatment, this must be repeated in order to eliminate the remaining bacteria or the tooth must also be extracted. In other cases, just waiting can clear the problem as the swelling will subside on its own. As you can see, there is no single solution to the problem and, as is so often the case, there is no avoiding a visit to the dentist.

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Home remedies for swollen gums

In the case of slight swelling, it may be worth trying to get better with home remedies at the beginning. These can be of help especially with inflammation. Below are some of the home anti-inflammatory remedies that can be used. But everyone should be aware that these cannot always help and are not a miracle cure. One of them is sage tea. Sage has been used for medicinal purposes for many years because it has an antibacterial and disinfectant effect.

By reducing the number of germs in the oral cavity, the inflammation can be relieved, which also reduces the swelling. Another remedy is tea tree oil. When using it, you should mix a few drops with water and use them as a mouthwash solution. Tea tree oil also has an antimicrobial effect. Propolis, also called bee resin, can help minimize inflammation. When buying this home remedy, however, you should pay attention to whether it is suitable for swallowing or only for rinsing the oral cavity. However, if the home remedies do not work after a few days, professional help should be sought.

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homeopathy

Homeopathy also offers remedies that are supposed to help against inflammation and thus also against swollen gums. However, as with home remedies, you shouldn't rely too much on this method. Self-therapy should be discontinued, especially if the symptoms worsen.

The preparation Mercurius solubilis or Calcium phosphoricum can be used to treat inflammation in the mouth. Everyone should decide for themselves whether this method is effective. Nevertheless, it is important to identify treatment failure quickly and to look for an alternative.

Duration

It is difficult to give a clear duration of swelling on the gums.
It can be a chronic process and the gums remain swollen for months or years. Swelling, which in turn is caused by pulling teeth or implants, may have subsided after less than a week.

Read more on the topic: Duration of a gingivitis