Grandma's Tips for Inflamed Gums

Inflamed gums are often caused by gingivitis, along with other factors such as nutrient deficiencies, hormonal changes, or infections. Swollen gums, also known as gingival swelling, are often irritated, sensitive, or painful.

Your gums are very important for your oral health. Gums consist of firm, pink tissue that covers your jawbone. This tissue is thick, fibrous, and full of blood vessels.

When your gums become inflamed, they can protrude or bulge. The swelling of your gums usually starts where the gum meets the tooth. However, your gums can become so inflamed that they start to cover parts of your teeth. Inflamed gums appear red instead of pink.

Inflamed gums, also known as gingival swelling, are often irritated, sensitive, or painful. You may also notice that your gums bleed more easily when brushing or flossing.

Grandma's best tip for inflamed gums

For sensitive or inflamed gums, there are toothpastes that have been clinically proven to help. Grandma's best tip is Paradontax toothpaste. This favorite grandma's remedy product for bleeding gums helps the gums recover faster. There is also a special toothpaste for children.

What causes inflamed gums?

While swollen gums are often the result of gingivitis, many other factors can also play a role, such as pregnancy, malnutrition, or certain types of infections.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the most common cause of inflamed gums. It is a gum disease that causes your gums to become irritated and inflamed.

Many people don't know they have gingivitis because the symptoms can be quite mild. However, if left untreated, gingivitis can eventually lead to a much more serious condition called periodontitis and potentially to tooth loss.

Gingivitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene, which allows plaque to accumulate on the gums and teeth. Plaque is a layer consisting of bacteria and food particles that settle on the teeth over time. If plaque remains on the teeth for more than a few days, it turns into tartar.

Tartar is hardened plaque that cannot be removed by flossing and brushing alone. You then need to see a dentist, as tartar can lead to gingivitis.

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Pregnancy

Inflamed gums can also occur during pregnancy. Due to the influx of hormones your body produces during pregnancy, blood flow to your gums can increase. This increased blood flow can cause your gums to become irritated more easily, leading to swelling.

These hormonal changes can also hinder your body's ability to fight bacteria that cause gum inflammation. This can increase your risk of developing gingivitis.

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Malnutrition

A deficiency of vitamins, especially vitamins B and C, can lead to gum swelling. Vitamin C, for example, plays an important role in the maintenance and repair of your teeth and gums. If your vitamin C levels become too low, you can develop scurvy. Scurvy can cause anemia and gum disease.

In grandmother's time, malnutrition might have been more common, but in developed countries, malnutrition is really rare nowadays. If present, it is usually seen in older adults. Grandfathers and grandmothers who can no longer take good care of themselves, for example.

Infection

Infections caused by fungi and viruses can potentially cause inflamed gums. If you have herpes, this can lead to the condition acute herpetic gingivostomatitis, which causes inflamed gums.

Thrush, which is the result of an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast in the mouth, can also lead to inflamed gums. Untreated tooth decay can lead to a dental abscess, which is a localized swelling of the gum that needs to be treated by a dentist.

What are the treatment options for inflamed gums?

Medical treatment

If your gums have been inflamed for more than 2 weeks, you should certainly not try any grandma's remedies or other grandmother's tips, but simply talk to the dentist. The dentist will ask about when your complaints started and how often they occur.

X-rays of your entire mouth may be needed to check for bone loss. They will also want to know if you are pregnant and if you have recently made changes to your diet. They may order blood tests to check for an infection.

Depending on the cause of your inflamed gums, the dentist may prescribe mouthwashes that help prevent gum inflammation and reduce plaque. He or she may also recommend using a specific brand of toothpaste. In some cases, antibiotics may be necessary.

Paradontax helps with inflamed gums.

If you have an extreme case of gingivitis, surgery may be necessary. This is usually only recommended for people with later stages of gum inflammation, including moderate or advanced periodontitis.

A common treatment option is scaling and root planing. This is a procedure in which the dentist scrapes away diseased gum tissue, plaque, and tartar on the tooth roots to allow the remaining gum tissue to heal.

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Home treatment

• Treat inflamed gums gently. Some tips for home care
• Soothe your gums by brushing and flossing gently, so you don't irritate them.
• Rinse your mouth with a salt water solution to rid your mouth of bacteria.
• Drink plenty of water. Water stimulates saliva production, which weakens disease-causing bacteria in the mouth.
• Avoid irritants, such as strong mouthwashes, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Apply a warm compress to your face to reduce gum pain. A cold compress can help reduce swelling.

How can I prevent inflamed gums?

With these well-known grandmother's tips, you can prevent inflamed gums, such as good oral hygiene and healthy eating.

Oral hygiene

Brush and floss regularly, especially after meals. Visit the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and discuss any other symptoms. For example, if you have dry mouth, a problem often caused by certain health conditions or medications, this can increase the risk of plaque and tartar buildup.

You can also talk to a dentist about mouthwashes and toothpastes that can help with your gum health.

De-stress

Some studies suggest that chronic stress may be linked to an increased risk of gum disease.

Not only that, but stress can also increase the severity of gum problems and reduce the effectiveness of treatments.

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Controlling your stress levels can help prevent inflamed gums and improve oral health. Practicing yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises are a few simple and effective strategies to relieve stress.

Bleeding gums grandma knows best

Certain types of toothpaste contain ingredients that can help improve oral health by reducing sensitive teeth, soothing gum inflammation, reducing tartar buildup, or preventing tooth erosion. Fortunately, grandma knows best with bleeding gums. And it's not just an old wives' tale, because Paradontax is both grandma's best tip and clinically proven to be the best solution for red, bleeding gums.