Almost everyone suffers from swollen gums at one point or another. Maybe it is hormonal flux during the years of puberty or it’s due to prescription medication. However, swelling of the tissues the gums is not as uncommon as you’d think. In many cases, swollen gums are associated with problems in the mouth. As such, they deserve a lot of attention to prevent potentially tooth and life threatening diseases. Many patients are surprised to learn in the dental chair their swollen gums may actually be the bearers of bad news!
Usually the precursor to gum disease, swollen gums are temporary and not terribly painful. They may feel sore and overall uncomfortable, but in general they aren’t so disruptive to a patient’s life that the individual will drop anything and seek out the services of a dentist. Some mistakenly believe if they can make the swollen gums go away, they can also make the cause for the problem go away. They may choose to purchase special oral rinses or commercially available mouthwashes that promise to cleanse their mouths and leave them virtually squeaky clean.
Self medicating and self treating is unfortunately not an option when it comes to advancing gum disease. When swollen gums are observed, the odds are good the progression of the disease is well underway. At times like these, the use of gels designed for teething infants may be utilized to numb the pain. However, patients who truly want to get rid of the discomfort and the underlying condition must meet with their dentist and his hygienist. The root cause of the problem is bacterial buildup which has calcified and can no longer be removed with simply brushing and flossing. It instead needs to be removed with the business end of a dental pick.
Ignored swollen gums will eventually lead to tooth loss. Granted, there is a lot of time in between the first sign of swollen gums and the stage in receding gums that eventually leads to tooth loss. But, the progression will continue unabated unless professional intervention is sought. No amount of commercially available mouthwash will rid the patient of the bacteria. In some cases, the overuse or the introduction of commercial mouthwashes can actually make the problem a lot worse!
When swollen gums are warning signs, dentists have good news to patients willing to visit sooner rather than later. In most cases a good cleaning will do the trick! The removal of plaque not only gets rid of bacterial buildup, but also removes the irritants leading to the swelling of the gums. Within a few days the swelling will have completely subsided, the breath is fresh and the teeth have a polished white look. Entrusting swollen gums to the care of a dentist and his hygienist is indeed the best course of action! Learning the five questions to ask when you first notice swollen gums is another.
