What is gum swelling? Learn about the best medical center for dental treatment and cosmetic dentistry

Gum inflammation, everyone is looking for a good look that may affect the shape of the smile, so the medical field is always working to find solutions for all the problems that teeth are exposed to that affect their appearance. Therefore, in our article, we will talk in detail about gum swelling as one of the dental problems, where we will present its most important causes, treatment and the best centers specialized in it.

Gum swelling

Many do not recognize gum swelling as a disease, so it is severely neglected, which increases its complications such as bleeding or complete gum inflammation. Therefore, oral and dental hygiene must be taken care of, and a specialized doctor must be consulted. In the following paragraphs, we will talk about gum swelling in more detail.

Causes of gum swelling

There are many reasons that make the gums swell, including:

Gum inflammation: One of the most common causes of swollen gums. The patient may not recognize it, but with neglect in cleaning them or treating them, the inflammation may increase, and some signs may appear with gum inflammation, including:

• Tooth sensitivity.
• Bad breath.
• The gums turn dark red.
• Feeling pain in the gums.
• You may experience a symptom of feeling that food tastes bad in your mouth.

Infection in the mouth and teeth: Dental problems can cause gum swelling, such as tooth decay and erosion or reaching the tooth roots, or contracting the herpes virus, which is a viral infection that affects the mouth.

Pregnancy: Gum swelling may occur due to hormonal changes that a woman may experience during and after pregnancy. This occurs when blood flow increases in the gum area causing it to swell, and the body’s weakened immunity reduces its resistance to bacteria in the mouth, causing excessive gum inflammation.

Ulcer: Gum swelling may occur due to untreated decay causing abscess and is called localized gum swelling. In addition to excessive growth of naturally occurring yeast in the mouth causes ulceration and swelling.

Vitamin deficiency: Vitamin C deficiency can cause gum bleeding and swelling. In addition, folic acid deficiency increases the risk of infections and inflammation.

Methods of treating gum swelling

There are many ways to treat gum swelling, and in our article we will talk about each method in detail. But in this paragraph we will talk about the most important treatment methods, which depend on visiting a specialized dentist. Here we will explain them:

• Specialized deep cleaning of the teeth: After a thorough examination, the dentist starts cleaning your teeth well, using sterile medical tools, as well as laser use, to remove plaque, calculus, and bacteria that may cause mouth infections. It is preferable to do this procedure every three months to prevent them.
• Dental restoration: The unevenness, crookedness or crowding of teeth makes cleaning difficult, which increases decay or bacteria. Therefore, the doctor recommends treating them to prevent gum diseases.
• Slow-release antiseptic beads or antibiotic microspheres: These are slow-dissolving antiseptic beads that the dentist places in the dental pockets. It releases antibiotics and also helps get rid of bacteria.

Ways to prevent gum swelling

There are many reasons that lead to gum swelling as we mentioned earlier, so there are many preventive ways to avoid getting infected with it, including:

• Visiting the dentist regularly at least once every 6 months for early examination of your teeth to avoid any problems.
• Brushing your teeth daily at least after each meal, and preferably washing them before bed.
• Using a toothbrush and toothpaste containing fluoride to protect your teeth.
• Avoiding unhealthy foods, especially those high in sugars.
• In case of having a chronic disease, adhere to taking the medications for it such as diabetes medications.
• Using dental floss and mouthwash to get rid of food residues and bacteria.
• Avoid smoking and carbonated beverages.

How is gum swelling diagnosed?

When the patient starts feeling that the gums are swollen, it is preferable to visit the doctor, especially if it continues for at least two weeks, in order to make a complete diagnosis of the cause of its swelling. Here are some of the steps that occur for diagnosis:

• The doctor examines the teeth and mouth thoroughly.
• He will check for some things like the duration of gum swelling and the presence of any chronic diseases or pregnancy.
• For more accurate examination, a complete oral x-ray will be required.
• Blood tests are done to make sure there is no infection.
• In case there is a problem in the gums, the doctor may perform a cleaning procedure, or prescribe some medications as well as instructions to be followed by the patient at home and in daily life.

“Book an appointment to get dental x-ray service at our The Dental Center and enjoy accurate and immediate diagnosis using advanced x-ray techniques, which contributes to providing excellent care and effective results.”

Symptoms of swollen gums

There are many symptoms that indicate gum problems including gum swelling. There are also other symptoms that some people may not think are a result of their inflammation and swelling, including:

• Noticeable swelling of the gums with gradually increasing pain.
• The gum color changes from healthy pink to dark red.
• Bad breath comes out of the mouth.
• Feeling that the gum layer in the mouth has become weaker.
• Gum recession.
• Bleeding in it, especially when cleaning the teeth or eating.

Complications of swollen gums

The patient may neglect swollen gums, which increases complications, including:

• Periodontitis: What starts as simple treatable swelling can turn into inflammation in the gums, which increases until it affects the tissues and bone of the teeth below it, causing tooth loss; This is called periodontitis.
• Ulcerative gingivitis: It is one of the acute forms resulting from neglecting gum swelling and inflammation, which makes the gums inflamed and bleeding with severe pain due to the appearance of ulcers on them, called ulcerative necrotizing gingivitis.
• Chronic gingivitis: Gum swelling may be due to some diseases such as diabetes or coronary artery disease. Some medical studies have said that neglecting proper treatment, bacteria may spread in the mouth that can enter gum tissues and travel in the bloodstream that can possibly infect the heart or lungs.

Factors that increase the risk of swollen gums

Some people consider swollen gums unimportant, causing neglect, in addition to habits that increase its risk. Therefore, in the next paragraph, we will explain some of the factors that increase the risk of infection:

• Dry mouth, which increases the presence and spread of bacteria in the mouth.
• Smoking and taking tobacco.
• Lack of oral and dental hygiene, which increases plaque and decay.
• Poor nutrition by eating unhealthy foods lacking in vitamins, especially vitamin C.
• Taking medications that cause inflammation such as phenytoin for epileptic seizures.
• Dental restoration that does not suit the mouth and gums.

Medications used to treat swollen gums

As we mentioned earlier in our article, there are many treatment methods, including medications provided by the doctor as a solution to treat swollen gums, including:

• Erythromycin: An antibiotic for gum inflammation, used as an alternative for patients allergic to penicillin.
• Doxycycline: Preferred in treating inflamed gums caused by periodontitis, as it prevents the growth and spread of bacteria in the mouth.
• Penicillin: One of the best antibiotics to treat ulcerative necrotizing gingivitis, but its use is not preferred for those with penicillin allergy.
• Metronidazole: It is not only used as a drug for gum inflammation, but also helps in the process of cleaning teeth and removing nerves, as it reduces decay.
• Paracetamol: Used as a fast pain reliever for gum inflammation.
• Lidocaine: Found in ointments used to relieve pain from inflammation.

Home treatment for swollen gums

Some people resort to home treatment for gum swelling. Although not guaranteed, there are some treatments the doctor may recommend, including:

• Salt solution: Used to combat bacteria, prevent its spread, and reduce gum inflammation. It consists of a teaspoon of salt placed in a cup of lukewarm water and stirred well. The experiment is repeated once daily while avoiding swallowing it. But it is preferable to stop repeating it for a period and return to it to avoid the effect of the substances in the salt on the teeth.
• Dental care products: Using a good quality toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste daily protects teeth from decay. They should be used at least three times. Additionally, using mouthwash and floss removes any food residues and bacteria in the mouth. To learn more about effective swollen gum treatments, read this article.

When is gum swelling dangerous?

Gum swelling starts to become dangerous when their irritation increases, the swelling continues for long periods, pain increases, and blood appears. Swelling then turns into severe inflammation called periodontitis, which can eventually lead to tooth loss.

How long does gum swelling last?

The duration of gum swelling depends on its early detection, the condition of the gums, and the type or method of treatment used. Therefore, the duration ranges between 2 to 4 weeks.

Best medical center for dental treatment and cosmetics

When searching for good dental centers, global preventive standards must be available. For this, we recommend The Dental Center, which includes the elite of the most skilled doctors in Egypt who have experience and skill in therapeutic and cosmetic dentistry. There is cooperation between the medical team to provide complete care at the lowest cost, using the latest technological techniques that provide patients with the best results to restore their health and smile again.