Swollen Gums

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Swollen Gums?
   When i got my braces my gums started to get swollen and i thought once i got them off that they would get unswollen. I got my braces off in November and there still swollen today. My gums have never bleed. I use the Oral B Professional Care,listerine and i sometimes floss. Does any one why they are still swollen? and any tips to help me get them unswollen.

   • ANSWER:
     visit your dentist.

2. QUESTION:
   swollen gums?
   in between the two middle teeth at the bottom, my gums have sort of swollen up a bit and theres like a mouth ulcer type lump over a bit of each tooth, its small, but rounded, not flat against my teeth, like a mouth ulcer us on my teeth, im really scared and its saturday so i cant see a dentist untill monday.. what can i do? im really worried..

   • ANSWER:
     It may be an abcess, or you may have a bit of something tiny that has slipped underneath the gumline there causing trouble. The best thing you can do until you can see a dentist is to continue to brush, floss and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash. If it is an abcess, you will need to have antibiotics and some dental treatment to prevent damage to the teeth. If it is a bit of irritating something, brushing and flossing may remove it for you and eliminate the problem. You can take something like Tylenol or Motrin for the discomfort, or even use a toothache gel to help if needed. It’s not anything to be scared of, nothing major that can’t be taken care of no matter what it is. Just do good dental care and get to the dentist as soon as you can.

3. QUESTION:
   Swollen gums?
   i have braces and had big gaps between my teeth which were closed quickly but when the gaps closed my gums got inflamed and swelled halfway down my teeth. (it was due to the gaps closing quickly not bad hygeine, the orthodontist told me this) the orthodontist and dentist said to brush well and us salt water to rinse my mouth with. they also said that it was probably likely that the gums would stay swollen and aftre my braces come off that i will need surgery to cut the gums back up to there normal size. is there anyone who has had this done, what do they do exactually, does it hurt much?

   • ANSWER:
     Hi there. It’s called gum scaling….and it’s not totally painless, but it isn’t bad. I had it done when I was a kid due to periodontal disease, and the results were just amazing. Good luck and get er’ done!

4. QUESTION:
   Why are my gums swollen and painful despite good oral hygiene?
   I brush twice a day and rinse with listerine after every meal, but for the past week my gums have been swollen, sore, and bloody. When I brush my teeth now I can barely even touch the gums without them bleeding. I don’t have any other oral problems, only the gums.

   What could be the reason? I also have had migraines and body aches accompanying the swollen gums all week.

   • ANSWER:
     You may be grinding. That’s what happened to me, and it’s because of grinding teeth/clenching without even realizing it.

5. QUESTION:
   How long does it take for swollen gums to swell down?
   I just got my braces off today and my gums are really swollen. The orthodontist says this is normal and should eventually go down. How long does this take?

   • ANSWER:
     Brush and floss very well and in 1 to 2 weeks they will be back to normal.

6. QUESTION:
   How can I make my swollen gums go back to normal?
   I have swollen gums, and they bleed most of the time when I brush my teeth. What should I do for them to go back to normal and stop bleeding?

   • ANSWER:
     You will need to see a dentist. You have the beginnings of periodontal disease. The dentist will schedule you scaling to remove the tartar and debris under your gums. It’s an easy treatment. In the meantime, you need to be flossing. You will continue to get bleeding (until you recieve the treatment), but it will help get your gums in shape.

7. QUESTION:
   How to get rid of swollen gums with braces?
   I got my braces back in November and I went to the dentist in May and they said my gums have started to become really swollen. Then I went to the Orthodontist at the beginning of June and she told me the same thing and that it was hard for her to even put the rubber band around the brackets she said to start flossing and I started about 2 weeks ago and I began using Colgate Peroxyl:Antiseptic Cleanser. But I see no changes with my gums. Do you have any suggestions?

   • ANSWER:
     You should go for a good dental cleaning first. After that, you should buy an ortho brush which helps you brush better and continue flossing. You have to make sure you get to remove any plaque that builds up around the bracket because this will irritate your gums and make it swollen.

     Try gargling with a mouthwash with chlorhexidine as the active ingredient. I usually use Orahex and it works wonders! Use it after brushing and flossing in the morning and evening, for five days only because prolonged use can stain your teeth. You can then gargle with warm salt water. Try also massaging your gums gently with your finger tips to help increase blood circulation.

8. QUESTION:
   Can you always see swollen gums when a baby is teething?
   My 4.5 month old is fussing/crying for seemingly no reason, drooling excessively, chewing on everything and has slightly lost her appetite. I thought she was teething, but I don’t see any sign of budding teeth or swollen gums. Also she has no fever or other signs of a cold or ear infection.

   • ANSWER:
     Some babies are really sensitive to their teeth moving down/up and not actually breaking through. My son went through spells very similar to what you are describing, and still I saw no swollen gums, budding spots, or little white pieces. Then, one day, there were teeth! It sounds like she is just sensitive to the movement in her mouth. I can actually remember when my 12yr molars came in and I cried myself to sleep for weeks because of the pain (and I was old enough to understand what was going on and get myself medicine)! Just be patient and hang in there.

9. QUESTION:
   What is the best thing to do about swollen gums?
   I have braces and, although I’ve had them for a while, I have got swollen gums. I cannot see my dentist or orthodontist as I am on holiday. So what’s the best thing to do about my swollen gums, other than brushing my teeth more?
   No, no pain really

   • ANSWER:
     Gums that are swollen can be treated. If you have a case of swollen gums that is due to inflammation, taking good care of the teeth and gums through proper and timely brushing, as well as, the use of natural oral care product can help reduce the swelling. Dental professional help is required to remove the deposits which are firmly stuck to the teeth if there is a large collection plaque or food debris. If swollen gums is due to certain medications, stopping the intake of the drug will automatically reduce the swelling. In case of swelling due to general illness correction of the health problem usually results in an improvement. For swollen gums that are caused by tumor, then the only answer to it is surgical removal.

     visit http://www.oramd.co.uk for more tips about gum care.

10. QUESTION:
    How long does it take for swollen gums to heal?
    Well my bottom gums dont hurt at all but they look swollen..my parents told me they were so how long does it take to heal and what should I do to help it?

    • ANSWER:
      Try a mouth wash like Listerine and make sure to brush and floss. Sometimes food debris go into the gums between the teeth and get trapped and create bacteria and some possible infection.

      If I were you, I would go see a dentist if it takes quite a long time to heal because it may be an oral infection, an allergic reaction to something, a sign of something else that’s going on in your body even though it’s painless. The dentist would know what is causing your gums to swell and how long it would take to heal.

      But in the meantime, use some Listerine and eat more vitamin foods

11. QUESTION:
    What can I take to relieve the pain from swollen gums?
    I woke up with my bottom inside gums swollen and cannot eat from the pain. No bleeding and they are not red, just swollen but very painful . Is there anything I can do until I can go see dentist on Monday?

    • ANSWER:
      go to the drug store and by some Ambesol and rub on them and also take some Alieve

12. QUESTION:
    how do i get rid of pain from swollen gums?
    yesterday morning i woke up with gums around my lower left wisdom tooth swollen. Started hurting last night, now I cant sleep because of the pain. What is a quick fix for the pain until i can get to a dentist?

    • ANSWER:
      Take 400mg of ibuprofen tablets and apply a teaspoonful of mouthwash to the swollen place. Dentist will give you metronidazle tablets 400mg 3 times daily for 3 days and it will be cured. Sometimes another antibiotic like amoxycillin or co-amoxiclav may be given with metronidazole. No infection means no pain.

13. QUESTION:
    My dogs gums are swollen and he has been bleeding from the mouth for two days?
    Im really worried, I feel sick, he is 15 and he has swollen gums and is bleeding from the mouth, hes laying down right now, I dont think he is feeling to well. Im going to the vets in 2 hours, what can they do, what will they give him, is there hope. Please advise.
    they gave him meds, he should be okay.

    • ANSWER:
      It’s probably just gingivitis. They will give him clavamox right now and then clean his teeth in a few days.

14. QUESTION:
    How can i get my swollen gums to go down?
    ok so i have had swollen gums for a long time since i have gotten braces on. i used to brush not very often but now i am brushing and flossing every single day for the last month or so and my gums aren’t going down at all. they don’t bleed anymore when i brush only sometimes when i floss.

    • ANSWER:
      You need to reduce the number of times you brush your teeth. Only twice a day should be plenty, and after lunch you can just rinse your mouth out. Also, use a soft bristle brush. Don’t scrub your teeth use light strokes and this should help.

15. QUESTION:
    What are some foods I should eat more of and avoid because my gums are swollen and have plaque buildup?
    I recently visited the dentist and have swollen gums and deep pockets that need treatment. I’m wondering if it’s my diet that’s contributing to this because i have pretty good oral hygiene routine.

    • ANSWER:
      Your diet is not at issue your Oral Hygiene is the problem….Perio is a disease caused by poor oral hygiene, and dental neglect….if you have been visiting the dentist regularly this would have been caught sooner. Some drugs cause these problems, and that should have been discussed, otherwise, follow your dentist’s instructions and things will improve.

16. QUESTION:
    What should i do about swollen gums?
    I have braces and my gums are extremely swollen to the point to where they are growing down on top of my braces. What should i do? I dont know and i am freaking out!?!
    Oh and i forgot it has been like this for weeks.

    • ANSWER:
      This sounds like gingivitis.Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning. due to you not cleaning your teeth properly. Do they bleed also when you brush?
      You must clean them thoroughly twice a day and use floss or inter dental brushes.All gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth and gums every day. Many of the bacteria in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease. To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day. This is done by brushing and flossing.
      If you do this properly and try using a mouthwash such as Corsodyl also then you will find this problem subsides within 14 days..although it will return and cause permanent damage and bone loss if you continue to neglect your mouth…remember teeth are for life…not just for Christmas!!

17. QUESTION:
    How do I recover from swollen gums?
    My gums in my mouth are very swollen and my teeth are kind of loose. Is there anyway I can recover from this besides going to the dentist and get some crazy surgery?

    • ANSWER:
      Based on your symptoms you have advanced gingivitis and should be considering going to your dentist ASAP he will not perform any crazy surgery but he will probably recommend you see a periodontist who will do an exam and decide your course of treatment afterwords but still I do not believe any surgery will be involved just lots of medicated mouthwash and a lesson on how to brush teeth.

18. QUESTION:
    How do I treat my swollen gums?
    I have braces so brushing is not very effective anymore, and my gums are all swollen up. However, I floss (like the orthodontist told me to) and soak my mouth with peroxide (I heard it helps to get rid of bacteria), but my gums are still swollen.
    Any advice?

    • ANSWER:
      Did the orthodontist give you any proxabrushes? They look like little Christmas tree shaped bristles. These work great to get all the plaque out from around the brackets. Also using an electric toothbrush (like a Sonicare) helps massage the gums and remove plaque. Some of the inflammation could be from moving the teeth, if you had a lot of spacing and the teeth are moving closer. But usually it comes down to not removing all the bacteria. Ortho requires meticulous oral hygiene. I am sure I dont hae to tell you that all kinds of stuff gets caught around the brackets!!
      I wouldnt rinse with peroxide for very long, long term usage can actually harm the tissue. Instead ask your dentist or orthodontist if they can give you a RX fro PerioGard, or if they have it available to purchase in office. This rinse kills bacteria better than any over the counter rinse. If you dont want to use that rinse try Breath Rx rinse or the new Crest Pro Health rinse. I would stay away from Listerine because it contains a lot of alcohol which actually dries the tissue.
      Interested if you are experiencing a lot of bleeding along with the swollen gums. This is the telltale sign that it is due to bacteria and plaque more than movement of the teeth.
      Key is brush, floss, proxabrush, rinse. Also try a waterpik that flushes bacteria and debris from around the brackets and gums.
      Good Luck, remember it will be over eventually and then you will appreciate how much easier it is to clean your teeth without all that stuff!!

19. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to treat my cat’s swollen gums?
    How much will it cost to get the vet to treat my cat’s swollen gums? I recently saw some blood on the gums. The earliest vet appointment is next tuesday. help!

    • ANSWER:

      http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/10/24/pet.insurance/index.html#cnnSTCText?iref=werecommend

      My friend just sent me this link the other day . It’s an article and references to several pet insurance providers. I imagine if the cats teeth and gums have to be examined the vet may have to knock him out just to do it. That is going to be pricey in itself.
      After visit fee, anesthesia, and meds. It’s probably going to be over hundred bucks, easy. You may be able to hook up with some insurance before you go in to the vet.That way you can get reimbursed a good portion of what you have to pay. So check out the link or just google pet insurance.

20. QUESTION:
    I have swollen gums from being a vegan. How do I cure it?
    I’ve been a vegan for 3 and half weeks but for the last three days my gums have swollen and it’s extremely painful to eat or do anything. What should I do to make the swelling go down?
    Could it be from lack of protein and Vitamin C?

    • ANSWER:
      SPEAK WITH A NUTRITIONIST AND DEFINITELY HAVE SOME BLOOD WORK DONE TO FIND YOUR DEFICIENCIES

21. QUESTION:
    How to get rid of swollen gums?
    I have braces on and my gums in the upper left side are swollen or sore, I’m not sure which. When I brush it, it starts to bleed. I cant floss in that area because the metal thing is almost pushing against the gum and I cant get the string over it. Any ideas ? I dont have any pain or anything like that.

    • ANSWER:
      when i had this i used orajel (complete mouth sore medicne).
      i was just playing around but it worked after just like 5 min..
      it nums it for a while so if you are using try not to get it on your tounge.

      hope i helped

22. QUESTION:
    How do you reduce swollen gums with braces?
    Well, before anyone says I don’t brush enough or floss or anything….I do. I have small teeth and my gums are always very swollen and my orthodontist has already said that I do NOT have gingivitis. With my 1st set of braces it wasn’t this bad….but they were still swollen. Now, my orthodontist said that if my gums are not back to normal then i will have to have surgery. Please help!!!!! Any advice? on what to do??

    • ANSWER:

23. QUESTION:
    How do i get rid of swollen gums?
    My gums are swollen, im not sure why, and i need to know how to fix that. I wear braces but, so far, brushing and flossing isn’t helping so much. Is there anything i could do? I don’t want to end up having to get surgery or something.

    • ANSWER:
      my gums did that too… my orthodontist told me to rinse my mouth with salt water several times a day and when you are sitting around massage your gums with you finger. Gerber makes a baby toothpate that has a silicone thing to go on your finger to rub the baby’s gums. I used this little silicone thing. This actually helped!

24. QUESTION:
    how do you get rid of swollen gums?
    I have swollen gums, according to my doctor it’s from my braces. It’s overlapping my teeth and my braces and it’s making me bleed when i brush. My doctor said that if you brush on top of your gums it will go away and i have been doing that and i see no results. I brush once a day in the morning for about 2 minutes? What should i do?

    • ANSWER:
      Start brushing at night as well. Twice a day is what you want to aim for, and brushing at the end of the day is even more important to get food and debris from the day off your teeth and gums. That’s where bacteria grow. Flossing also would be ideal, but with braces that might be tricky. Talk to your dentist or orthodontist about something that you may be able to use in place of dental floss with your braces on – I think that would make a huge difference.

      Michele

      http://buzz.prevention.com/community/cook-it-up

25. QUESTION:
    How to get rid of red swollen gums?
    I have been to the dentist 2 times this week for a check up and 4 fillings, anyways my gums are swollen hurt and are very red, how can i fix this myself?
    DONT ANSWER WITH STUPID A$$ ANSWERS

    • ANSWER:
      It is porbably worth gargling with some warm salty water twice a day. That should do the trick.

26. QUESTION:
    Is there a was to get swollen gums gone in less that 2 days?
    I get my braces off in two days and my gums are swollen and low on the teeth. Help!

    • ANSWER:
      Green tea, saltwater, oxyfresh and bgse toothpaste.

      Focus on flossing the gumline only.

27. QUESTION:
    Swollen gums, can’t afford dentist, what are home remedies?
    I felt a dwollen part of my gums today that I didn’t notice before. It’s nothing too major, just a little swollen-ness, but I want to know what it is and how to nip it in the bud. I can’t afford visiting a dentist for all of my needs, just cleaning and filling when I need it. What are some home remedies for this, and what is the problem? What are best mouthwashes without alcohol? I’ve heard plenty about peroxide, how effective is it?

    • ANSWER:
      First, clean your teeth very well (and gently), preferrably with a SonicCare toothbrush. SonicCare will actually remove stuff from under the gums fairly well.

      Second, wash your mouth with salt water (2 tsp/cup) every 2-3 hours regularly until the swelling goes down. Salt water is good for killing bacteria, peroxide will work as well in the right mixutre, but salt water tastes better and the effects are lasting.

      Third, floss your teeth carefully and make sure there are no particles lodged between the teeth, or in the gum.

      If it swells more or becomes very painful, you should consider seeing a professional, because an absess can cost you much more than a simple cleaning/fix (such as costs of medications).

28. QUESTION:
    how long into pregnancy will you start to get swollen Gums?
    how long into pregnancy will you start to get swollen gums in term of weeks of the day after you intercourse

    • ANSWER:
      It isnt usually until later in the pregnancy but im sure it could be withn the first couple weeks due to more blood flow. And could also cause some bleeding of the gums and tooth sensitivity.

29. QUESTION:
    Can someone tell me what I can do for swollen gums?
    My gums are swollen and I can not afford to go to the dentist, is there something that I can do until I go.

    • ANSWER:
      swollen and painful gums are warning signs that you are under attack gum disease. be wary that signs of gum disease often appears in the advanced state. the best course of action is to seek the help of a dentist. be able to keep and pay attention to a good program of oral habits. if gum disease is left without any treatment, tooth loss will eventually happen. water can keep bad bacteria at bay, so better keep the mouth hydrated by drinking adequate amount of water. the use of an all natural oral care product will help fight bad bacteria that dwells in the mouth that can promote the development and progress of gum disease
      visit http://www.themouthdoctor.com for more gum care tips.

30. QUESTION:
    How to settle down inflammed and swollen gums? 10 points best answer?
    Anybody know any medications, complementary medicines, herbal ways to make inflammed and swollen gums less swollen??
    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      YOu can definitely go ahead with rudraksha. Please use 5 mukhi rudraksha with 4 mukhi for your teeth problem.

31. QUESTION:
    How can you relieve pain from swollen gums around wisdom teeth?
    my wisdom teeth have just started to get swollen just out of nowhere can anyone tell me how to relieve the pain i get from the swollen gums?

    • ANSWER:
      The best pain medication for most types of inflammatory pain is ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc.). The chemicals that cause pain are the same ones that cause swelling. Ibuprofen stops these pain/swelling chemicals from being produced. It’s better at this than naproxen (Aleve) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). As long as you are in good health and have no history of sensitivity or allergy to ibuprofen or aspirin, you can take ibuprofen for the pain. Try taking 2 pills, 200mg each, for a total of 400 mg at first and see if this works. If not, you can take up to 800 mg (4 pills of 200 mg each) every 6 hours MAXIMUM. Do not exceed 3200 mg in a 24 hour period. It is very bad for vital organs. Take as little as you possibly can, as long as the dose is effective. I hope this helps.

32. QUESTION:
    Will my swollen gums go down after gingivectomy?
    I got a gingivectomy because my gums were covering too much of my teeth and I wanted them to look bigger. The day of the surgery, they looked great. Two days have passed and my gums have seemed to cover my teeth back up and I’m unsure if they’re just swollen or if they’re going back to the way they were? Is it possible that my gums have grown back?

    • ANSWER:
      They are probably swollen. But the thing is why were your gums overgrown in the first place? If it was braces then they should be swollen and should come down soon. But if you are on medication or anything that makes the gums overgrow then they are probably growing back. But if not they are probably just swollen and should come down soon. Just do what they told you to do like rinses and stuff and it should be fine.

33. QUESTION:
    I have swollen gums, and need help getting rid of them?
    I have been using a waterpik, and the dentist told me the other day I need to start flossing with my waterpik because my gums were beginning to swell. The flossing has made it it worse. Does anyone have any suggestions for helping to calm my gums?

    • ANSWER:
      You have swollen gums because you have gingivitis and the only way to reverse this is by brushing AND flossing… flossing does not make anything worse. You experience bleeding because of the infection and inflammation or else you may improperly flossing and be cutting into your gums, make sure to see-saw through your teeth instead of forcing the floss straight down and then curve the floss like a ‘C’ around each side with an up and down motion! Also start using an antimircrobial rinse.

34. QUESTION:
    Are swollen gums going to affect my braces?
    I’m getting my braces off next week. I have noticed my gums have been swollen for awhile even though I brush and have been flossing. They go pretty far down my teeth and I was worried they would be in between my teeth and pushing them apart. Will my braces not work because the gums pushed my teeth apart? I asked someone on the phone at my orthodontist and they said the retainer will fix it after my gums go back to normal if I keep flossing.

    • ANSWER:

35. QUESTION:
    What can i do to cure my swollen gums?
    My gums have been swollen for a few months. My teeth are small to begin with, but now my gums make them seem really small. I REALLY don’t want to have to get my gums scraped off,it sounds really painful. Anything but that would be good.By the way, i have braces

    • ANSWER:
      Ok sorry didn’t read the ? fully ‘-_-. Your probably allergic to the metal my sister was and so was I. After you get them off the swelling will probably start going down almost as soon as you get them off. Your orthodontist will most likely not tell you (or at lest he didn’t tell us) but if this is the case i’m afraid there nothing you can do until they come off but it doesn’t affect your teeth. Braces all ready make them seem smaller and when the swelling goes down that will also help. When I had them I thought my teeth where the smallest in the world, after they where off and swelling went down everyone always tells me I have a HUGE smile! I wish you luck

36. QUESTION:
    6 months Pregnant w/ Braces and dont know what to do about my swollen gums?
    I’m 6 mos pregnant, I’ve had braces for 5 months, only the bottom row hurts. I can deal with it, its just annoying, is there anything I can do to stop the irritation and reduce the swelling. My orthodontist told me to continue flossing, but my gums are still swollen.

    • ANSWER:
      swoosh salt water too… it know it tastes terrible but it helps

37. QUESTION:
    My gums are swollen due to a cold is it normal for me to have blood clots in my gums?
    I have had swollen gums since wednesday and am on an antibiotic to treat a throat infection
    this morning i brushed my teeth thoroughly and started to notice that i had blood that would not rinse off i also tried rinsing with hydrogen peroxide,
    is this normal or do i need to be worried?

    • ANSWER:
      it may not be on top but under the skin.
      I have never heard of someone haveing swollen gums due to a cold.
      You may want to call your doctor tomorrow and mention it.
      A blood clot in your gums would look like a bruise because that is what a bruise is. Clotted blood below the skin and it would then NOT rinse off.

38. QUESTION:
    What should I do to help stop swollen gums?
    I don’t know what to do my gums are very swollen. Someone please help me.

    No mean comments

    • ANSWER:
      It isn’t the tastiest, but swishing with warm salt water helps relieve some of the swelling.

      A regular rinse of Listerine will help it heal up and help it from flaring up again.

39. QUESTION:
    essix retainer, do swollen gums during the impressions affect the fit?
    When I had my impressions done for my essix retainer by gums were really swollen. So now the swelling is down and I have big spaces between my gum line and my retainer. I asked my ortho after getting it done if that would cause problems with keeping the teeth…well retained. He said it should be okay. The word SHOULD kind of worries me.
    Do swollen gums during the impressions affect the fit of the essix retainer?

    • ANSWER:
      Swollen gums would not alter the effectiveness of the retainers; just the comfort. As long as your retainers are comfortable and stay in place without trouble, you are fine. If not, request new ones.

40. QUESTION:
    what is the best and fastest way to make swollen gums go down?
    i have braces with wires for a little over a year now and my gums are really swollen..when i brush they bleed…i went to my ortho and she told me to brush around and under the wires but it just dont seem to work…i really need help and fast…can anyone tell me the best way to make my gums go down and what is the fastest way…i need them to go down in about a month…please help me…

    • ANSWER:
      try swishing your mouth several times a day with either Listerine mouth wash or the Crest pro active mouthwash.

      The Crest brand doesn’t burn like listerine does but they both will work on the swelling.

41. QUESTION:
    How can I quickly relieve pain of swollen gums ?
    My mom just cooked me a big meal, and i’m really hungry but it hurts really bad to eat. Right behind my left tooth, my gum is swollen and hurts really badly. How do I get rid of that fast ?

    • ANSWER:

42. QUESTION:
    Can you have swollen gums from flossing?
    I just went to the orthodontist yesterday..because Im getting braces in a few days.
    They checked my teeth, and didn’t see any swelling..

    But this morning, I noticed a tiny bit of my gum in swollen, near the lining where you floss. It doesn’t hurt or anything, just a tiny bit tender if you touch it.
    Can you get swollen gums from flossing if you’ve been flossing them a lot more then you usually do?

    • ANSWER:
      flossing is good but not done well is wrong. When you insert the floss in between your teeth, it should be slow & gentle & not fast & jamming. You can jam the food particles into the gum causing periodontitis.

43. QUESTION:
    How can I treat swollen gums?
    I floss every other day, but after I glossed last night, I woke up this morning to find that my gums were slightly swollen in between my teeth. This is a problem because I have a dentist appointment today, and one time I came in with swollen gums and the dentist said I had gingivitis. I know that’s not the case, so how can I reduce the swelling?

    • ANSWER:
      Buy listerine antibacterial mouthwash. If I wake up in the morning and my gums are slightly red after using that they are back to pink.

44. QUESTION:
    I have swollen gums and cheek due to a temporary crown i had yesterday, is it infected?
    i had a root canal done a month ago and now i yesterday i went back to get the crown put in. the dentist said it wouldn’t hurt after it was all done, but yesterday it began hurting and today i woke up with my gums swollen and red and my cheek a bit swollen too. i was just wondering if this will go away in a few days or if i should go back to the dentist and have it checked out.

    • ANSWER:
      This is far from normal and you need to see your dentist today. I hope the root canal isn’t failing. Good luck.

45. QUESTION:
    How can I get rid of my swollen gums due to my braces?
    My gums are really swollen because of my braces. I got my braces in June and I feel really self consious about it. Help Me!!!!

    • ANSWER:
      Use mouthwash and call the dentist. Also, use sensodine toothpaste and brush most often but softly and carefully.

46. QUESTION:
    How do I Treat my irritated/swollen gums?
    Part of my Gums are a little Swollen and a Little irritated. How do i treat this and make my gums return to normal?

    • ANSWER:
      Sorry Bri, but Medium toothbrushes are not approved by the ADA (american dental association) Always use a soft brush at a 45 degree angle IN to your gums. This removes plaque at the gumlines where the bacteria in plaque causes inflamation, (swelling, pain, and often bleeding when brushing) You must also use dental floss daily to remove the plaque between you teeth as there is NO TOOTHBRUSH IN THE WORLD that can clean between your teeth (do not believe the advertising please!)
      If you do not get a handle on the inflamation, gum disease is often the result. It is painless and only in it’s very advanced stages is really noticed by most people. This is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.
      Gum disease has also been shown by several different studies to have a link to heart disease, diabetes, among other things…so don’t delay
      Go to your dentist, or find a reputable one (please try and stay away from the “clinic” type places) Referrals from satisfied patients are your best bet. Be sure there is a Registered Dental Hygienist providing your preventive care.
      Have your teeth cleaned, it is very important to your overall health. Follow through with the Hygienist’s instructions for home care.
      good luck.

47. QUESTION:
    is it normal to have swollen gums after braces?
    i just got my braces off, and my gums are slightly swollen. is this normal? my dentist says as long as i have good dental hygeine, it will go back to normal. is this true?

    • ANSWER:
      It’s completly normal. If you take good care of your teeth, as you say, you’ll be fine, and the swelling will go down. Make sure you don’t brush too hard. When you’re in ortho, the brackets, can make it more difficult to brush along the gum line, and then after you have them removed, you are gaining more access to them, and they are problably not used to it. Another idea might be, that your gums were irritated from the handpiece when the Dr. removed the excess cement after removing the brackets. Continue to brush, floss and rinse, and you will be great.

48. QUESTION:
    How long do swollen gums take to heal?
    Yesterday i went to the dentist as my gums have been really sowllen and they have been bleeding during brushing. During my visit, i had my teeth cleaned and polished and my dentist prescribed me mouthwash and told me to brush often and to use floss which i have been doing since. I was just wondering if anyone who has been in the same situation can tell me how long it will take on average for the swelling to go down and for my gums to return to normal?

    • ANSWER:

49. QUESTION:
    Have noticed some swollen gums above some upper teeth?
    Noticed for about a week that some gums above two upper teeth are swollen. Dont really notice it until a brush teeth in that area and it hurts a little. There is no pain unless brush teeth in that area. Is there any reason should be worried? And when should go to the dentist?

    • ANSWER:

50. QUESTION:
    How to shrink swollen gums that are around your wisdom tooh?
    I have this swollen gum on my wisdom tooth and I can’t really bite down properly, I don’t want some pain relievers, I want the swollen gums to be down. Will gargling water with salt work? or any other ideas? and also how long will the swelling be gone if I just leave it
    oh yeah, it’s really swollen that I have to eat softer food which sucks but I really wanna eat meat. I cant bite down completely, the gums is really swollen and I really wanna the swelling to be down because I engage in boxing and I dun want my mouth to be open all the time and get my teeth knocked out!

    • ANSWER:
      Your gums are infected. This is a normal occurrence with wisdom teeth.

      Brush that area very well (After you eat and at least twice a day). It will bleed and that is a good thing. The area may also hurt while brushing, but please do it anyway. I promise this will begin to reduce the inflammation within a few days. After or before brushing floss between the 2nd and 3rd molar. The area will bleed, but this is a good thing. DO NOT rinse with peroxide or mouth wash! Peroxide will burn the gum tissue and so will the mouthwash. Instead, rinse with a solution of warm water and salt. Salt water rinses help fight infection by decreasing bacterial content with out damaging the tissue.

      This is not a cure and will only be a temporary solution. The infection will come back. That is a guarantee. The ultimate solution is to remove the tooth. Until you are ready to visit your dentist my suggestion will work.

      If you choose to deal with the inflammation it is possible for it to subside on its own, but it will return. On the other hand..it may not heal on its own and then you are looking at other issues such as decay, bone loss or worse. The infection could make it to your blood stream…in this case you are looking at not only dental treatment, but medical issues as well.

      I don’t want to scare you. The chances are slim of this happening, but it is possible.

      I hope you feel better! Take some ibuprofen for inflammation as well.

      One more thing! This is an infection…DO NOT apply an ice pack to the area. This will trap the infection . If anything…apply heat.