What is Gum Swelling?

Swollen gums can be caused by gingivitis or other causes. While these swellings may be mild and not cause discomfort to the person, they can also cause severe pain that can negatively affect the daily life of the person. Generally, it can be seen in cases where oral and dental hygiene is not taken care of and not done properly. However, in cases where it is seen in people who pay attention to oral and dental hygiene, different health problems may develop underneath. For this reason, it is important to undergo a dental examination to determine the underlying causes and to realize the treatment.

Swollen gums, most of the time, if oral and dental hygiene is maintained and hard foods are not consumed, it improves within a few days. However, if it persists for a long period of time, such as a week, it should be checked and intervened by a dentist. Although it is an issue that is not taken into consideration too much, it can cause serious health problems if it progresses and is not treated. Problems such as gum recession or tooth loss may be encountered. In order to prevent such situations, a dentist specialist should be consulted and treated first.

What are the Symptoms of Swollen Gums?

Swelling of the gums is a common problem among gum disorders and is known as a health problem experienced by almost everyone. This condition, which can occur with different symptoms and signs, can cause pain or pain in the teeth.Symptoms of swollen gums can be listed as follows:

• Swelling in one or more parts of the gums
• Redness of the gums
• Pain or discomfort in the gums
• People may experience difficulty speaking, eating and mouth movements
• Hypersensitivity to hot foods or cold liquids
• White inflammation in the area where the swelling develops
• Bleeding gums

How to Diagnose Swollen Gums

Dentists also check the gums during routine examinations.For the diagnosis of gum swelling, the dentist specialist measures the spaces between the patient's teeth and gums and looks for gum recession or problems that may arise from the gums. Usually, measurements made during routine check-ups and examinations reveal the general condition of the gums and the problem area.

In some cases, this kind of temporary discomfort may also occur after a filling. However, swollen gums can also be seen due to serious health problems. For the diagnosis of swollen gums, conditions such as bleeding in the mouth, redness of the gums, swelling, bad breath are checked. How long these problems have been going on are also important points in determining different underlying health problems. In addition, the specialist may suspect different problems and may want to take a piece of the gum for examination to detect these problems. 

In addition, individuals should have routine dental examinations at least once or twice a year, even if they do not suffer from tooth or gum disease. Experts recommend 1 regular check-up every 6 months. Any problem or discomfort detected by the dentist after the check-up and examination can be treated in a timely and appropriate manner.

How to relieve swollen gums

There are some applications and methods that people with problems such as gum disease or swelling of the gums can do at home. Answers to problems such as what is good for gums, how to relieve swollen gums at home, can be listed as follows:

• Especially soft brushes should be preferred and gently brushed regularly
• Food residues between teeth should be removed by flossing after tooth cleaning
• Cleaning the tongue in addition to tooth cleaning helps gum swelling problems to heal faster
• You can gargle with salt water to eliminate bacteria in the mouth
• To avoid gum sensitivity, avoid hot or cold foods
• Soft foods should be preferred
• In cases of pain, cold compresses can be applied with the help of ice

In addition, drinking plenty of water and fluids prevents the formation of bacteria in the mouth. Harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco are also among the substances that cause gum problems. Therefore, avoiding such substances can help to eliminate swelling. 

What are the Treatment Methods for Swollen Gums?

There are some points to be considered before the treatment of swollen gums. Medical treatment can be applied on the advice of a physician for swelling that lasts for a week or two weeks. In such cases, the problem causing the swelling is first identified and treatment planning is made on this situation. Generally, applications for drug treatment are preferred.

Different methods can be applied to prevent gingivitis or plaque. Mouthwashes prescribed by the dentist and some home remedies are usually sufficient for healing. 

Ensuring oral and dental hygiene is an important part of the treatment of swollen gums. For this reason, it is beneficial to gargle with salt water to clean the tongue and to expel the bacteria in the mouth.

It is also recommended to drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol or smoking during treatment. In addition, it is recommended to protect the area where swelling develops and to prefer soft foods instead of hard foods. 

There are some points to be careful about after treatment to prevent recurrence of the disease. The most important of these is to ensure oral and dental care and to pay attention to hygiene. It is important to perform oral care on a daily basis and to make it a routine to prevent the occurrence of oral and dental diseases.

How Should a Patient with Gum Problems Proceed?

People with gum problems should first pay attention to brushing their teeth, pay attention to oral and dental health and provide the necessary hygiene conditions. In addition to these, the ways to be followed are as follows:

• Use dental floss to remove food residues between teeth after brushing
• Adopt regular eating habits
• Fruit and vegetables should be included in the diet
• Avoid spicy, acidic, carbonated foods and drinks until recovery
• Gum pain can be relieved by gargling with salt water
• Clean the tongue and pay attention to oral and dental hygiene
• People who breathe by mouth may need support to overcome this habit.