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Among the many different ailments associated with the mouth, swollen gums are one of the most common. While this is a condition that other people don’t usually notice, it can cause great discomfort, making it difficult to eat or drink, and simply spoil your mood. What are the causes of swollen gums? What ailments can they be associated with? How to treat swollen gums and what are some home remedies that can soothe this type of swelling? You can read about all of this in the article below.
What are the most common causes of swollen gums?
Swollen gums can have many different causes. First of all, they should be looked for in various periodontal diseases, which are most often caused by other diseases or ailments, as well as improper oral hygiene. It is she who is the main cause of ailments related to swollen gums.
Swollen gums very often cause pain and characteristic swelling, and these symptoms are usually associated with the development of inflammation. It most often occurs in people who do not care well for oral hygiene, but it can also appear regardless of this factor. In people who take good care of clean teeth and gums, but still suffer from swollen gums, they can be caused by diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy and menstruation, as well as puberty in younger people.
Healthy gums – which are what?
Just as we differ in hair color, skin tone or teeth, each person also has a slightly different color and structure of the gums. Healthy gums without swelling are usually pale pink in color. The gums can be smooth as well as with characteristic holes. Regardless of whether we have thin or thick gums, light or darker ones, healthy gums are the ones we care for properly.
As already mentioned, swollen gums can occur during adolescence. Why is this happening? All because of the hormones found in the human body. Both during menstruation and during puberty, both in boys and girls, we can observe increased levels of sex hormones, such as estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone. It is the increased amount of hormones that is responsible for the poor condition of the oral cavity.
Why can swollen gums occur in pregnant women?
Swollen gums can also be associated with pregnancy. Red and swollen gums are most often reported by women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Sometimes swollen gums in pregnancy may be accompanied by a granuloma, also known as a pregnancy tumor, which is most often located in the jaw. It is quite a common condition that disappears spontaneously after childbirth, but it is worth noting that during pregnancy it can be quite troublesome, especially when brushing your teeth, when it can be accidentally disturbed, causing bleeding.
How to treat swollen gums?
Swollen gums are a problem that should be dealt with professionally by a dentist. If we notice this type of ailments, we should not delay the visit to the dentist, because the symptoms may get worse over time. A visit to the dentist is particularly important because in order to implement the proper treatment, a diagnosis is necessary, which will take into account, among other things, the cause of swollen gums.
If the cause of swollen gums is residual plaque, the dentist can perform the appropriate treatment that will help to remove it faster and will indicate how to continue caring for oral hygiene so that the problem does not recur.
How to care for the gums?
If we want to have healthy gums, we must first of all focus on proper oral hygiene. For the care of sensitive gums, it is worth using an appropriate paste, which is intended for people with hypersensitive gums, prone to inflammation. The technique of brushing, rinsing and brushing the teeth with a floss is also important.
For people with gum hypersensitivity, it is especially recommended to brush the teeth using the Charters method, in which the brush should be set at a 45-degree angle so that some of the bristles overlap the gum. When brushing your teeth, you should perform rotational movements that allow you to get rid of the residual plaque more thoroughly.
In addition to toothpaste, it is also worth using a properly selected mouthwash. Some of these types of preparations can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription.
How to deal with swollen gums at home?
Some home remedies are also recommended for swollen gums. First of all, it is worth reaching for commonly available herbs, such as chamomile or sage. Rinsing the mouth with infusions of these herbs helps to relieve gingivitis because they have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and astringent properties. Lubricating the gums with aloe is also great.