Do you know that swollen gums can lead to issues like gum diseases or infections?
Your gums are crucial to your oral health and are made of firm, pink tissue that covers your jawbone.
This tissue is thick, fibrous, and full of blood vessels.
In cases you have swollen gums, they may protrude or bulge out.
Swelling in your gums often begins where the gums meet the tooth.
Moreover, your gums become so swollen, however,r that they begin to hide the parts of your teeth.
Swollen gums tend to appear red instead of their normal pink color.
Furthermore, swollen gums or gingival swelling are often irritated, sensitive or painful.
You may observe that your gums bleed more easily while brushing or flossing your teeth.
Keep on reading to learn more about them in detail.
Causes of Swollen Gums
Here, we will look at the potential causes of swollen gums:
Food Particles
One common cause of swollen gums can be food particles getting stuck in your teeth.
For example, while eating popcorn, the hard pieces of the kernel can stuck between your teeth, sometimes lodging in the gums.
Moreover, this can easily cause irritation and swelling in that area.
Most of the time, these symptoms do not long for a long period of time and will go away once your brush and floss out the food particles.
Gingivitis
It is a stage of gum disease that often causes swelling and irritation in your gums.
Moreover, it is one of the most common causes of swollen gums and will likely be what your Arabic female dentist will observe.
It is important to note that in most cases, you might not know you have gingivitis and only feel mild pain or sensitivity.
However, the treatment is very important.
Without treatment, it can develop into a serious infection, i.e. periodontitis or periodontal disease.
Some of the symptoms to look out for that indicates periodontal disease are:
Pregnancy
One of the important things to know is that swollen gums can be due to pregnancy, even when you have good oral health.
Pregnancy can cause significant and rapid changes in your hormones and these changes can increase blood flow to the gums.
Thus, causing your teeth to become more sensitive to swelling.
Other Causes of Swollen Gums
Some of the other causes of swollen gums are:
Infections
Infections can occur in your mouth and lead to issues causing swollen gums.
For example:
Chronic infections like herpes can lead to complications that cause swollen gums.
Moreover, oral thrush, a yeast infection in your mouth can cause symptoms like swelling.
Furthermore, complications from infected teeth like an abscess can also lead to swollen gums, especially in one area of the gums.
Other Conditions
Some of the other health issues that can cause swollen gums are:
- side effects of some medications
- malnutrition
- sensitivity oral products like some ingredients in the toothpaste or mouthwash
- wearing poorly fitted dentures, crowns, or other dental appliances
In every case, your dentist will review the symptoms you are experiencing and review your medical history to determine the underlying causes.
Treatment Options
If you have swollen gums for more than 2 weeks, then you should talk to your dentist.
They will ask you questions about when your symptoms began and how often you experience them
Moreover, a full mouth dental X-ray can help them to diagnose the cause of your condition better.
They will also want to know if you are conceiving or if you made recent changes to your diet.
With the help of blood tests, they can also check for an infection.
Depending on the cause of your swollen gums, your dentist may recommend oral rinses that can help to prevent gingivitis and reduce plaque.
Furthermore, your dentist may also recommend using a specific brand of toothpaste.
In some cases, you may need antibiotics.
However, if have an extreme case of gingivitis, you may surgery.
One of the options is scaling and root planing.
In this procedure, your dentist will scram away the diseased gums, dental plaque, calculus, or tartar on the roots of your teeth and allow them to heal.
Home Remedies for Swollen Gums
Though with the help of good oral and dental hygiene, you can protect your teeth and gums from many issues, however, they may still occur.
If in case oral symptoms like swelling occur, then you can use the following home remedies that are beneficial.
Let’s discuss them as follows:
Saltwater
Using saltwater rise can help to promote oral health and soothe inflammation in your gums.
According to a study, rinsing your gum cells with saltwater can help stimulate wound healing.
For this remedy, you can mix 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water and rinse for 30 seconds.
Spit out the mixture, and make sure to use it 3 times at least to reduce temporary swelling.
Essential Oils
Some essential oils can promote oral health.
A review in the Journal Evidence-based notes that cell cultures, the essential oils of thyme, peppermint, clove, and tea tree are helpful in preventing the growth of germs. You can also try eucalyptus oil.
However, before using mouthwashes that contain essential oil you should check to make sure there are no other harsh ingredients like alcohol.
They may irritate your gums further.
Aloe Vera
It is a common houseplant that is helpful for oral inflammation.
According to a review in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, aloe vera gel reduces inflammation in the gums from gingivitis.
However, this study also notes that is not essential is better than a medicated mouthwash.
A lot of companies are making mouthwash that contains aloe vera as an active ingredient.
In some cases, you can use the gel directly from the plant.
Turmeric
It is a yellow spice, that is popular for a number of health benefits.
Moreover, it is popular as a healing herb and used in India for centuries.
According to a study, turmeric gel can help to control plaque in your mouth and reduce symptoms of gingivitis.
This is due to its anti-inflammatory nature.
Some companies offer turmeric gel or powder for brushing the teeth and applying it can help to reduce plaque and swelling in your gums.
When should you Visit a Dentist?
Although with the help of home remedies you can solve irritating swelling in your gums, they are, however, not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment from a health professional.
In case the cause of your is an underlying medical condition, the condition may go for some time, but, will return again.
Thus, you will need to visit your doctor for diagnoses and treatment.
If you are experiencing swollen gums, especially for more than 2 weeks, then you should visit your dentist for a full diagnosis and treatment.
Prevention Tips
With the help of some preventive measures, you can avoid swollen gums.
These include maintaining proper oral care and eating healthy foods.
Oral Care: Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once after means can help.
Make sure to visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning.
However, if you have a dry mouth, it can increase your risk of plaque and tartar buildup.
Thus, talk to your dentist about mouthwashes and toothpaste that can help with this condition.
Healthy Foods: Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods can help to promote healthy teeth and gums.
With the help of a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein foods, grains, and dairy, you can make sure you have optimal oral health.
You can add:
- calcium-rich foods like low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified soymilk, tofu, canned salmon, almonds, and some dark leafy vegetables
- phosphorus found in fish, lean meat, dairy, nuts, beans, etc.
- vitamin C helps to promote gum health and includes citrus fruits, tomatoes, papers, broccoli, potatoes, etc.
One of the important things to remember is that you should resist the urge to sneck frequently.
This is because the more you eat, the more you are likely to introduce acid attacks n your teeth.
However, if you do snack, choose wisely.
Avoid eating sugary treats like hard or sticky candy and opt for nutritious choices like raw vegetables, fruits, plain yogurt, and popcorn.
Remember to brush your teeth after snacking to keep cavities at bay.
If you are unable to brush, rinse your mouth with water to get rid of food particles.
Final Thoughts
One of the most common oral issues is Swollen gums and in most cases, they are not a cause of concern.
However, if your swollen gums last for more than 2days, then it can be a sign of an underlying condition like gingivitis, periodontitis, or a tooth abscess. If swelling occurs alongside a fever, then you should contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Moreover, you should not ignore the symptoms like swollen gums and seek medical help from your dentist if you experience other symptoms.
Gingivitis
Other Conditions
Depending on the cause of your swollen gums, your dentist may recommend oral rinses that can help to prevent gingivitis and reduce 
Aloe Vera
Healthy Foods: Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods can help to promote healthy teeth and gums.