Inflamed gums, how to treat them?
Swollen gums are a warning sign that there is a problem that needs to be addressed urgently.
What causes swollen gums and how to treat them?
If your gums are swollen, have changed colour from a pinkish tone to a darker one or bleed naturally or when you brush, this is a warning that there is a problem that you need to treat urgently.
It is advisable to make an appointment at one of our clinics to diagnose the problem and apply an early solution.
Inflamed gums, what should you do?
- Inflammation of the gums.
- Symptoms of gingival inflammation.
- Prevention.
- Treatment of gingival inflammation at Clinicas Udemax.
Inflammation of the gums or gingival inflammation.
Inflammation in the gums produces swelling, redness and, in many cases, pain in the area. The reasons for inflammation can be multiple:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. It is caused by the accumulation of bacteria in what is called biofilm or bacterial plaque and by food debris in the gums.
The symptoms of gingivitis are bleeding during brushing or spontaneously, the inflammation itself that we are discussing in the article or a purple discolouration of the gums.
Gingivitis is not painful, but if it is not treated by a professional cleaning and a correct and constant dental hygiene afterwards, it will lead to periodontitis and possible tooth loss.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of gum disease. The accumulation of bacterial plaque around and below the gum line separates the gum tissue from the bone and forms periodontal pockets in which bacteria accumulate and eventually infect and attack dental tissues and bone.
Gingival abrasion
Intensive and excessive toothbrushing can cause gum irritation and lead to gum inflammation.
Nutritional deficiency
As we all know, a lack of vitamin C and B vitamins leads to inflammation and bleeding gums.
Iron deficiency (anaemia) can also be a reason for gum inflammation.
In both cases, correcting the diet to make up for the deficiency will solve the problem.
Hormonal changes
Related to puberty, pregnancy, postpartum or some phases of the menstrual cycle.
They mainly affect women.
Use of braces or fixed or removable prostheses.
The use of any of the different types of orthodontic appliances can also cause irritation due to difficulties in daily dental hygiene.
Dental hygiene products
You may have developed an allergy to a dental product that you use regularly, such as toothpaste or mouthwash. In the latter case, especially if it contains alcohol.
Symptoms of gingival inflammation
The symptoms are clear. Inflammation is denoted by an abnormal increase in gum volume and is often accompanied by pain to the touch, bad breath and bleeding during brushing or eating.
Prevention
Gingival inflammation is preventable and prevention should be associated with oral hygiene.
To prevent gum inflammation
- Brush gentlythree times a day using fluoride toothpaste.
- Also use dental floss or interproximal brushes and alcohol-free mouthwash. However, attention should be paid to the use of dental floss as, if used incorrectly, it will irritate the gums.
- Visit your dentist once a year or every six months, depending on your dentist’s instructions, for a professional cleaning and a check-up of your mouth.
Treatment for swollen gums at Clinicas Udemax
Once the origin of the inflammation has been determined, our dentist will apply the appropriate treatment and will give us the guidelines we must follow to avoid repeating the inflammatory episode.
In the case of gingivitis or periodontitis, the treatment will be to improve daily dental hygiene by applying the points mentioned above on prevention.
In the case of nutritional deficiencies, you should take care of and/or modify your diet, consuming a greater proportion of fresh foods and giving prominence to fruit and vegetables or foods with higher levels of iron. Give up smoking and reduce or give up alcohol.
In the case of allergies, changing the brand of toothpaste or mouthwash will solve the problem.
If the cause is excessive toothbrushing, we should moderate brushing, use non-abrasive toothpastes and brushes with soft bristles.
Finally, in the case of gingival inflammation caused by hormonal changes or the consumption of medication, it will be our family doctor or the specialist doctor who will determine the treatment to follow in order to solve the source of the problem.
Visit us at
If it has been a while since you last visited your dentist, ask us for an appointment so that we can check your gums and check their general health. We will discuss the above issues at length and review your medical history.
If treatment is necessary after the diagnosis, our dentists will explain in detail how we would carry it out and how long it would take. Otherwise, you will know that you are carrying out your daily hygiene correctly and that you only need to attend regular check-ups to ensure that everything is going well.
Our doctors who specialise in periodontal treatments
Make an appointment at Clinicas Udemax and choose the location that best suits you: Udemax in the outpatient clinics of Policlínica Juaneda, in Arcdental or in Emardental, your clinic in the centre of Palma. For more information, call us on .
