For many people, navigating oral health problems can be more than a little bit difficult. Understanding why you have any given issue, or whether what you’re dealing with even is a problem, can be complicated for the average person.
For example, you may have noticed that your gums have become a little bit swollen recently. If you’re dealing with that issue, here’s why that may be and what you can do about it.
What Causes Swollen Gums?
Swollen gums are usually a sign of something deeper going on with your oral health, though there are a few things that it could be.
The most common by far is gingivitis. This is the earliest stage of gum disease, a condition caused by bacterial infection along the gum line. Gum disease is incredibly common, with some estimates finding that around 50% of adults in the U.S. have it to some extent. Swollen gums are one of the most common symptoms of the condition.
While gum disease is a likely culprit, there are other things that it could be; for one, pregnancy can often contribute to swollen gums as a result of hormonal changes. Malnutrition and certain vitamin deficiencies can also cause this issue, as can some viral or fungal infections.
What Do I Do If I Have Swollen Gums?
If you have any kind of oral health problem that’s bothering you, you should tell your dentist. They’ll be able to diagnose the precise issue that you’re dealing with, and can key you in on how you can treat it.
In the meantime before your appointment, it wouldn’t hurt to ensure that your oral hygiene is as good as it can be. If you aren’t already, brush twice a day and floss daily to break up plaque deposits. If what you’re dealing with is due to infection, this may improve your swollen gums.
When you see your dentist, they’ll tailor treatment to the core issue causing you problems. If you are dealing with gum disease, treatment may involve a course of antibiotics along with scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning of plaque from under the gum line.
About the Author
When you ask Dr. Mike Asay’s patients what they notice most about him, it’s his remarkable compassion and care for his patients. That empathy allows him to make even the most anxious patients easy when they’re in his dentist’s chair. Dr. Mike graduated from the Baylor College of Dentistry, and he’s remained committed to continuing his education ever since.
If you have any questions about gum disease, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (512) 244-2796.