If want to enjoy sound oral health then it is imperative that your gums are strong, healthy and free from diseases. In other words gums are a vital aspect of oral health for any individual. Gums basically cover the jawbone and made of firm thick and fibrous tissues. Pinkish in colour these tissues have a large number of blood vessels inside them. Gums can become swollen and swollen gums can protrude or bulge out to the extent that it becomes easily noticeable.
A dentist having years of experience in handling patients in London says when your gums become swollen the swelling usually occurs on the line where it meets the tooth. Swelling could be so intense that it may hide parts of the teeth from vision. It is also quite typical that swollen gums appear reddish instead of the normal pinkish colour.
Dentists also refer to swollen gums as gingival swelling and this condition is accompanied by pain, sensitivity and irritation. In certain cases it may also happen that the gums bleed while brushing and flossing the teeth.
Reasons behind swollen gums
A dentist who possesses years of experience in providing treatment to swollen gums says the most common reason behind gum swelling is gingivitis although various other reasons may also be responsible for it –like certain types of infection, pregnancy, malnutrition and others.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the cause behind the majority of cases of swollen gums and this condition is nothing but gum disease which makes the gum tissues both swollen and irritated. The worst part of this dental problem is its symptoms are very mild and that is why most people are not aware and conscious about this problem. But gingivitis is an alarming dental condition to say the least and you must not ignore this condition and leave it without any treatment under any circumstance. If you ignore this oral health condition and do not go for the right treatment it is likely to get worse with time leading to more serious complications like periodontitis and even tooth loss.
Why or how gingivitis occurs? The most obvious factor that helps this grave oral health condition to develop in a patient’s mouth is poor oral hygiene. When you have low oral hygiene plaque build-ups are natural in your mouth. These build-ups present themselves on your teeth and the gum line. Plaque formation or deposition is a natural phenomenon and there is no way you can skip it.
Your helpful guide to straightening the teeth using lingual braces
A busy dentist who provides gum swelling treatment to a large number of patients round the year explains plaques are nothing but a thin film that deposits itself on your teeth and the gum line every day. It contains food particles and harmful bacteria in your mouth which are responsible for cavities in the teeth and other oral health issues. It is important that you clean your teeth and the overall mouth properly every day to clear out these harmful plaque build-ups. When these plaque build-ups remain in your mouth (as your mouth does not get proper cleaning) over a period of time, the thin films of plaque become hard. And now these become known as tartar.
So, tartar is nothing different but is hardened plaque deposited in your mouth. Tartar build-ups are not easy to remove as plaques and normal brushing and flossing are not sufficient to remove these. At this stage you need immediate intervention of a dental professional to remove tartar build-ups from the mouth. A dentist who possesses years of experience in providing cure for swollen gums warns, if tartar deposits remain in your mouth and not removed you are under high risk to develop gingivitis.
Pregnancy
Swollen gums are also a typical symptom during pregnancy. During pregnancy there is a rush of hormones in the body of every woman and as a result of this blood body in the entire body including the gums increases. Increased flow of blood makes the gum tissues irritated and swelling occurs. This misbalance in the hormone levels may also affect the natural immunity of a pregnant woman and as a result of lowered immunity level an individual’s body may not be able to fight off the harmful bacteria that are responsible for gum disease. This is why pregnant women are also in higher risk bracket to develop gingivitis.
Malnutrition
Lowered vitamin levels in the body may lead to swelling of the gums. This becomes more obvious when the body suffers from deficiency of vitamin B and C in particular explains a dentist who provides gum inflammation treatment to a large number of patients across the UK. It is relevant to mention that vitamin C has a vital role to play in keeping your teeth and the gums strong, healthy and free from diseases. Patients who suffer from abruptly low vitamin C level in the body often develop scurvy which is a condition usually considered as the precursor of gum disease and anaemia. However malnutrition is uncommon and rather unknown about in developed countries like the UK.
Fungal and viral infections
Fungal and viral infections may also result in swollen gums. Patients who suffer from Herpes are prone to develop a condition which is called Acute Herpetic Gingivitis and it is important to tell you that one of the major symptoms of this condition is swollen gums. Even tooth decay if left ignored and untreated may lead to abscess. A dental abscess often shows the symptom of localised swelling of the gum. Apart from the causes of gum swelling mentioned above an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth (the condition is called Thrush) may also result in gum swelling.
Easy home remedies
Now let us discuss few tried and tested remedies that you can use at home to lessen the discomfort from swelled gums in the section below.
- Take care to soothe the gums; brush and floss the teeth gently and make sure there is no irritation in your swelled gums
Rinse the mouth several times a day with warm saltwater to clear away harmful bacteria from the mouth. It also helps fight inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth to cure for swollen gums.
- Keep your mouth hydrated; drinks lots of water to stimulate the production of saliva suggest dentists working at the renowned Emergency Dentist London Pro.
- A cold compress or an ice pack helps minimising swelling.
- Stay away from smoking or any other form of tobacco consumption, alcohol, strong mouthwashes and such other items to avoid irritation in the mouth.
