When Perfumes Cause Swollen Gums

Who would ever spray perfume into their mouths? Not only would the sensation be less than pleasant, but the taste would be abhorrent! Of course, if you are in the habit of using commercially available mouthwashes, bad breath strips and a host of other products designed to do away with halitosis (a fancy term that describes the presence of offensive smelling breath) you are doing just that! It may not be the same perfume you might use behind your ears, or are accustomed to seeing ladies spray onto their wrists. But, the concept is pretty much the same. You are trying to mask a scent by covering it up with another one. Sadly, this practice leads frequently to swollen gums.

When perfumes cause swollen gums, it’s worthwhile to look past the need for covering up the smells and instead focus on the causes. Generally speaking, bad breath is directly related to the bacteria growing in the mouth. They may be lurking on the tongue, in the whitish substance that seems to coat it. At the same time, they are found in between the teeth. When you floss you may actually find you are removing a good bit of buildup! Bacteria hiding behind the wisdom teeth by the skin flaps that sometimes form there are also blamed for bad breath. No matter where the bacteria are hiding out and growing, their presence generates bad breath and chemically enhanced perfume (gum, commercial tooth paste, mouth wash) does not do away with them.

Even though dentists are well aware of this fact, patients still think they can make bad breath go away with mouthwashes that promise beautiful smiles and pleasing scents. Using mint leaves and smells as an incentive for purchase, manufacturers of these mouthwashes highlight the fact their products freshen up the mouths of those using them. This is marginally true. Sadly, the mouthwashes do not remove the bacteria and once the burst of freshness is gone, the bad breath returns and mingles with the smell of spearmint. The result is still less than satisfactory.

What makes matters worse is the fact many of these liquids contain chemicals which are known to be harmful to exposed tissues. In addition, allergic reactions are not unheard of. Since the gums are little more than exposed tissues (even though they are cradled in the mouth and kept moist) the fact they are the forefront of problems associated with the use of commercial mouthwashes is not a surprising development. Dentists have looked for alternatives to recommend to their patients. In doing so, they’ve discovered rather than trying to freshen up their mouths, dental patients should focus on disinfecting them.

When perfumes cause swollen gums in your mouth, discuss with your dentist what alternatives to commercially available mouthwashes you should choose. Also, begin examining the relationship between swollen gums and toothbrushes you might be using. Sometimes a simple swig of salt water swished around the mouth can accomplish more than even the more expensive oral rinses. Other times your dentist may suggest you rinse with a solution made from water and hydrogen peroxide. While the taste leaves something to be desired, the effect is much more effective!