Why are my gum swollen
Swollen gums commonly reflect plaque inflammation, but trapped food, trauma, medication, or a tooth infection can also cause swelling.
The short answer
Swollen gums commonly reflect plaque-related inflammation, but food trapping, an ulcer, medication, hormonal change, or a tooth infection can also cause swelling.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Plaque can inflame the gingiva and make it red, puffy, and prone to bleeding. Local swelling can also come from trapped food, a wisdom tooth, trauma, medication, hormonal changes, or infection at a tooth root.
What can you do next?
Continue gentle brushing along the gumline and clean between teeth without snapping floss into the tissue. A salt-water rinse may soothe the area, but do not squeeze a swelling or place irritant chemicals on it.
When should you seek dental care?
Book care when swelling persists, recurs, or is limited to one tooth. Urgent assessment is needed with fever, pus, spreading facial swelling, or difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing, or breathing.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask which tissue is swollen, whether a tooth is infected, and whether probing, cleaning, a filling, or an X-ray is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can this be treated at home?
Continue gentle brushing along the gumline and clean between teeth without snapping floss into the tissue. A salt-water rinse may soothe the area, but do not squeeze a swelling or place irritant chemicals on it.
What will a dentist check?
Ask which tissue is swollen, whether a tooth is infected, and whether probing, cleaning, a filling, or an X-ray is needed.