Swollen Gums: Causes and Treatment

How well are you taking care of your gums? September is National Gum Care Month, and Sunrise Dental is here to check up on your gum health! Have you been experiencing any gum sensitivity or bleeding? Are you wondering what causes swollen gums? If you have noticed any of these symptoms, it could be an indication of gum disease. 

What causes swollen gums?

The most common cause of swollen gums is gum disease. Nearly half of all Americans suffer from some form of gum disease, mostly due to poor oral hygiene habits. Plaque builds up if you don’t brush and floss every day. Failure to remove plaque causes infections and chronic gum diseases like gingivitis. 

Gingivitis weakens your gums and makes them pull away from your teeth (gum recession), exposing sensitive areas that are not protected with enamel. Unless it is detected and treated, gingivitis will progress into periodontitis and eventually lead to tooth loss.

If you have excellent brushing and flossing habits, you’ll have a lower risk for gum disease, but you should still schedule regular appointments at your dentist. A dental hygienist can remove all traces of plaque, tartar, and bacteria from your teeth—even below the gums, where brushing can’t reach. 

What is the treatment for swollen gums?

Sunrise Dental offers diode laser treatments to treat and prevent gingivitis. Laser therapy is quick, effective, and completely painless. The pen-sized laser wand seeks out and eliminates infected tissue. It destroys the bacteria that cause gingivitis, while stimulating the growth of healthy new gum tissue. 

Ongoing preventive care is essential for patients with gingivitis, because there is no cure for periodontitis. We will create a treatment plan for you and help you to establish better daily care routines. We can also guide you toward the best products to make your brushing and flossing more comfortable. 

Contact Us

Wondering what causes swollen gums? It could be gum disease. Early detection can help prevent gum disease from growing worse. If you have painful, bleeding, or swollen gums, call Sunrise Dental in Glendale to schedule an examination and cleaning right away. The sooner you seek care, the sooner we can provide treatment. 

Photo by amirhosein esmaeili on Unsplash