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What You Can Do About Swollen Gums
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Posted on 6/17/2016 by Todd Jorgenson |
 Do your gums look puffy and red? Are they bleeding when you try to brush or floss? These signs, along with pain and discomfort, are all indications of gum disease, but other problems like tobacco use, hormonal changes, and improper oral hygiene can also contribute to swelling.
What Should You Do?
If you notice that your gums are swollen, there are a few things that you can do on your own at home:
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Keep brushing and flossing. It may seem counterproductive to keep brushing when every time that you do so your gums bleed, but this is exactly what you should be doing. You'll help to rid the sensitive area of the bacteria that is causing it to become inflamed. |
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Stop smoking. Kick your nicotine habit, and you'll likely experience some significant changes in your mouth, including improved gum health. |
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Avoid foods that irritate your mouth. Especially hard foods are bad news when your gums are irritated, as are extremely hot foods and drinks. Try and avoid them until you get your swelling under control. |
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Reduce your stress level. High stress can increase the cortisol hormone in your body, which can lead to inflammation and swollen gums. Try and stay stress-free whenever possible. |
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Eat better. A healthy diet can be associated with improved gum health, so make sure you are getting enough calcium, vitamin C, and other important nutrients. |
Gum swelling should never be ignored, and while there are a number of causes, the condition can usually be reversed if you treat it early on. If you don't treat your swelling, early stage gum disease (gingivitis) can be allowed to progress to a more serious form, and ultimately, you could even lose your teeth.
Since gum disease has been associated with systemic diseases like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, you can also be improving your overall health by caring for your gums.
Please contact us if you have any questions about swollen gums. |
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