What causes your gums to swell around your teeth
Swollen gums around a tooth are commonly caused by plaque-related gingivitis, trapped food, irritation, tooth decay, or infection near the tooth.
The short answer
Gum swelling is a sign of inflamed gingival tissue, not a diagnosis by itself. Plaque, food impaction, a sharp restoration, hormonal changes, and infection can all produce it.
What is the direct answer?
Swelling limited to one tooth is more concerning for a local cause such as decay, a gum pocket, an erupting tooth, or an abscess.
What does this question mean?
The gingiva forms a seal around each tooth and contains blood vessels and connective tissue. Inflammation increases fluid and blood flow in this tissue, making it red, tender, enlarged, or prone to bleeding.
What can you do next?
Brush gently along the gumline with fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth daily. Rinse away trapped food with water, but do not squeeze a swelling or place caustic substances on it.
When should you seek dental care?
See a dentist if swelling lasts, recurs, bleeds easily, or is associated with bad taste, pus, fever, tooth pain, or looseness. Facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or trouble swallowing is urgent.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the swelling is gingivitis, periodontitis, decay, an erupting tooth, or an abscess. Ask whether you need periodontal probing, a cleaning, or an X-ray.
Frequently asked questions
Can swollen gums heal?
Inflammation caused by plaque can improve after effective cleaning, but swelling from decay or infection needs treatment of the underlying tooth.
Why do gums bleed when swollen?
Inflamed gingiva has fragile blood vessels and can bleed when brushed or probed.