What to do if your gums are swollen: what to rinse with, how to remove the swelling

• Physiological causes of gum swelling
• Pathological causes
• The gums are swollen and painful
• The gum is swollen and bleeding
• Flux with pus
• When you need to see a doctor urgently
• How to relieve pain
• How to treat swollen gums
• Rinse recipes

Bad teeth are not always the reason for going to the dentist; often patients come with gum pathologies. The reason for treatment is serious tissue damage with inflammation and suppuration. You should not try to treat them yourself - in order to avoid the development of disease due to gum tumors, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible to prescribe adequate therapy.

Causes of gum swelling

Physiological

Normal gums are pink, painless and of normal size. But sometimes they swell for natural reasons:

• during teething - in children and adults (wisdom teeth);
• after tooth extraction—slight swelling and redness of the gums is observed for up to 3 days;
• after injury - damage to the soft tissues of the gums leads to their swelling for some time while integrity is restored;
• during pregnancy - under the influence of hormones and due to the redistribution of blood in the body, gums may swell in women carrying a child;
• injury from dental structures - veneers, braces and fillings, if installed incorrectly, come into contact with gum tissue, causing damage to them.

There is no need to panic if the gums of a child aged 1 to 7 years are swollen. At this time, baby or permanent teeth erupt, which may cause swelling and redness in this area. Sometimes small balls appear - cysts. They are safe and in most cases go away on their own over time. If the cyst interferes with tooth eruption, it is surgically removed in dentistry in 1 session. The procedure is performed under anesthesia and does not cause any discomfort.

Pathological

In most cases, gum swelling occurs due to inflammation. Pathological reasons:

• periodontitis - local inflammation above or below the tooth;
• periodontitis - inflammation of periodontal tissues;
• gingivitis - inflammation of the gums;
• periodontal abscess - suppuration localized at the edge of the tooth;
• stomatitis - ulcers that appear on the soft tissues of the oral cavity;
• secondary infection against the background of immunodeficiency - with HIV or hepatitis, even opportunistic microorganisms can cause oral diseases;
• atypical sore throat - spreads to the gums, the main symptom is that it is painful for a person to swallow;
• Vitamin deficiency C - a lack of vitamin affects the gum tissues, causing them to swell.

Swelling of the gums due to an allergic reaction is also considered pathological. It can develop from an injection of an analgesic during dental treatment or from any irritant to which a person is sensitive.

Other provocateurs

In addition to diseases and pathological changes that cause swelling of the cheek from the tooth, there are a number of other causes.

If an infection enters the patient’s body, medications that have an antibacterial effect should be taken. Thanks to this, you will get rid of the main cause, that is, infection, and the consequence - swelling. With inflammation of the lymph nodes in children, this situation often occurs.

The presence of a sebaceous gland cyst provokes changes in the facial part. In this case, surgical intervention will be required.

The cause is identified as neurological diseases. In addition to swelling of the cheek, the patient may suffer from congestion in the ear canal and discomfort in the throat area. To find out the reasons, you need to consult a neurologist.

A similar situation occurs with injuries or bruises. You can reduce the size of swelling by using a cold compress.

With a pathological change in the condition of the internal organs, swelling of the cheek is observed. To find out the reasons, you should consult your doctor.

It is important to know what to do if your cheek is swollen. Here are some tips to help reduce unpleasant symptoms:

1. Often, after you have a wisdom tooth pulled out, you may experience swelling. To get rid of this, you should rinse your mouth with chamomile or sage. Chlorhexidine is perfect for these purposes.
2. A fairly effective remedy is a saline (soda) solution. Rinsing with these products relieves pain and produces an antiseptic effect.
3. While a wisdom tooth is coming out, it is worth using the help of special ointments and creams. Their use helps to minimize unpleasant symptoms.
4. If your cheek is swollen after a wisdom tooth has been pulled out, you should use Kalanchoe or aloe juice. To do this, soak a cotton pad in the medicine, then apply it to the painful area.
5. This manifestation is also possible with an insect bite. In this case, a decoction of chamomile, combined with aloe, helps.

Experts advise taking vitamin complexes daily to help improve the protective function of the immune system. It is better to reconsider your diet, in particular this concerns reducing the consumption of sweets. You can perform a light gum massage for preventive purposes.

By following basic rules of personal hygiene and regularly visiting the dentist, you will prevent complications and the development of pathological conditions.

Dental disease and its treatment is an unpleasant phenomenon that many adult men and women try to avoid or delay until an emergency. But the most dangerous thing about far-fetched fear is that while a person waits for the disease to become unbearable, destruction of teeth and gums occurs, which in the initial stages could be treated with fairly simple, almost painless and inexpensive methods. In this article we will talk about gumboil, how to get rid of it, and how to help the patient at home.

Swelling of the gums with acute pain

When the gums are not only swollen, but also very painful, this may be a symptom of a serious pathology of the oral cavity. Most often, such complaints are accompanied by periodontitis. This is an inflammation of the soft tissues that support the tooth. Other symptoms of periodontitis include:

• increased body temperature;
• suppuration in the area of ​​​​swelling;
• lack of temperature sensitivity of the tooth, as well as a reaction to sweets.

If swelling in the gums is accompanied by fever, it may be periodontitis. This is due to the fact that the factors in the development of pathology are most often related to infection.

Causes of periodontitis:

• transition of the inflammatory process from the throat or sinuses to the gums;
• penetration of microbes through the dental canal into the periodontium;
• advanced caries;
• poor-quality dental treatment, due to which irritating substances entered the periodontium;
• trauma to the periodontium or the tooth located next to it.

In rare cases, periodontitis develops as a consequence of an immunological reaction, that is, an allergy.

Normal sensations after surgery

Any implantation operation is a great stress for the body. At first, the body tries to reject the foreign element, so the following symptoms are normal:

• pain in the place where the new tooth is installed;
• redness of the gums around the implant;
• swelling of the gums or even the cheeks;
• temperature.

As we already said, in a week all that will remain is unpleasant memories. But a healthy process is very important:

• contact an experienced specialist for the operation;
• choose a good implant system with which the risk of complications will be minimal;
• Take proper care of your gums and teeth after surgery and follow your doctor’s instructions.

On a note. The first few years after implantation, you should visit the dentist more often - at least once every six months. Remember that complications can appear after 3-4 years - due to poor quality care, infections, mechanical damage. The doctor will help you prevent them, adjust your dental care, and carry out cleaning, if necessary.

If your gums bleed due to inflammation

Bleeding gums, associated with their swelling, is characteristic of periodontitis and gingivitis. In this case, the tooth does not hurt and does not cause discomfort. The difference between these diseases is that gingivitis occurs primarily. And if this condition is repeated more than once, it is already periodontitis - a pathology with a chronic course. Other symptoms of the disease include:

• bright red gum color with a bluish tint;
• pain at the site of swelling or throughout the jaw;
• swelling of the gums partially covers the tooth.

But the main distinguishing feature of periodontitis is bleeding gums. There are several reasons for this condition:

• diabetes mellitus in the stage of decompensation;
• the presence of systemic inflammatory pathologies;
• ARVI and acute respiratory infections;
• Tartar deposits;
• injuries of soft tissues of the oral cavity, occurring with complications;
• long-term treatment with glucocorticoids;

An x-ray is taken to confirm the diagnosis. It shows a noticeable reduction in the interdental septa, and less often, exposure of the tooth root.

Preventive measures

To prevent gums from moving away from the tooth, you need to follow simple recommendations:

• brush your teeth twice a day;
• use a properly selected brush and paste;
• visit the dentist in a timely manner;
• prevent tartar from forming;
• no smoking;
• eat more solid foods;
• Healthy food.

At the first sign of a recession, you should see a doctor. Then the disease can be stopped very quickly.

When gums are inflamed and even your cheeks hurt

Sometimes the gums not only swell, but a new growth becomes noticeable on it. It is often pale in color due to the presence of pus inside. This is what a periodontal abscess looks like:

• the surface of the neoplasm is elastic and tense;
• swollen tissue around the abscess;
• the palate and cheek swell;
• sometimes the general body temperature rises, more often local;
• swollen tissues of bright red color;
• fluid movement is felt inside the abscess.

This disease is often called "flux". It has a rather characteristic picture. An abscess develops due to lack of treatment for periodontitis: suppuration appears that cannot come out. “Flux” is accompanied by very severe pain and swelling.

Treatment of an abscess is carried out only surgically and in a hospital setting. Attempts to cure flux at home with lotions or self-opening can result in phlegmon, sepsis and, in rare cases, even death. In the best case scenario, the patient will receive major surgery with pus removed through large incisions in the face instead of a small hole in the gum. Therefore, you should not delay visiting the dentist.

Surgical techniques

In advanced situations, plaque removal alone is not enough. Then there may be a need for open or closed curettage. It is indicated if the gums are very severely detached from the dental neck and the bone structure is changed.

The dentist-surgeon treats the lesion with an antiseptic, makes a small incision and removes purulent deposits and affected tissue . Then the gum is sutured. All manipulations are performed under local anesthesia. This means that the patient is conscious and can communicate with the doctor, but does not feel pain.

For a speedy recovery after curettage, antibiotics and mouth rinsing with an anti-inflammatory solution are prescribed. If the pain after surgery is very severe, the patient can use painkillers.

Reason to see a doctor

If you were able to independently determine the cause of the gum swelling (an erupting tooth is visible, an injury is obvious, a tooth was recently removed, etc.) and it does not require the intervention of a doctor, you do not need to go to the clinic. But if the inflamed gum hurts for more than 3 days and there is no improvement in the condition, you should still consult a doctor.

If you have gum inflammation, you need to urgently go to the hospital in several cases:

• there was an unpleasant odor from the mouth and pus was found;
• not only the gums are swollen, but also the cheek;
• when you tilt your head to the painful side, you feel heaviness;
• there is a high temperature;
• swollen tissues are very different in color from healthy ones (white and yellow tumors indicate suppuration, and bluish and burgundy shades indicate blood stagnation);
• the pain seems to pulsate and is not relieved by analgesics.

Even in the absence of these symptoms, but if the cause of gum swelling is unknown, it is worth visiting a specialist. This will help avoid dangerous complications, as well as quickly alleviate the condition, relieve or reduce pain.

Content:

1. Causes
2. How does pathology manifest itself?
3. How is the treatment carried out?
4. Surgical techniques
5. Additional treatments
6. Preventive measures

If the gums have become detached from a wisdom tooth or any other unit, you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible.
When the soft tissues subside, the neck remains unprotected and exposed. It is not covered with a thick layer of enamel, so it immediately begins to react sharply to temperature changes. The situation is aggravated by the fact that food debris gets into the formed periodontal pocket. They accumulate there and serve as an ideal breeding ground for pathogens. If such a pocket is not cleaned in a timely manner, it will increase in size. Then it will come to edentia.

First aid for swollen gums

Under no circumstances should a heating pad be applied to an inflamed gum! This is dangerous due to the rapid spread of infection and the development of complications.

To “live until the morning” when you can go to the doctor, you can take several actions that can alleviate the condition:

• apply cold to the sore side - this will constrict the blood vessels and temporarily relieve the fever;
• take an analgesic - but only while you sleep at night; in the morning you need to come to the doctor without pain relief, so as not to erase the picture of the disease;
• drink an antipyretic - if a high temperature prevents you from falling asleep, you can bring it down, but don’t forget to mention it in the morning at the doctor’s office;
• rinse your mouth with an antiseptic - this will slightly slow down the spread of inflammation;
• use a spray with lidocaine on the painful area - this will temporarily relieve the pain.

All of the above measures can only be used as temporary measures. Only a doctor can prescribe adequate treatment after an in-person examination.

What can you do before visiting the clinic?

Our dentists' recommendations will help you temporarily reduce discomfort.

• Wet a terry towel with cold water and apply it to the swollen cheek for 10-15 minutes. This compress will reduce pain and swelling.
• Do not heat the sore spot under any circumstances. Do not sleep on this side, do not tie it with a scarf, or apply a heating pad. Is it dangerous!
• Take a small dose of pain reliever. If it doesn't help, drink again after a few hours.
• Regular rinsing with warm infusions of sage, elecampane or valerian helps a lot.
• If your temperature rises, you can take an antipyretic. The medicine didn’t help, but the swelling and fever are increasing? Call an ambulance immediately!

How to treat swollen gums

Treatment of inflamed gums begins with identifying the cause of the disease. To do this, an X-ray of the jaw and an examination of the oral cavity are performed.

Further tactics depend on the established diagnosis. If surgical intervention is necessary (opening an abscess, removing a cyst), it is performed immediately. The patient is anesthetized in the dentist's chair, and then all necessary manipulations are performed.

After surgical treatment, maintenance drug therapy is prescribed. It allows you to avoid the development of complications. Most often, the patient is prescribed rinsing with an antiseptic solution and taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Antibiotics are sometimes recommended to prevent bacterial complications. They should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor, and exactly the drug that is indicated in the prescription. This is important to achieve a guaranteed positive effect.

Some drugs do not combine with each other. Therefore, uncontrolled use of medications can harm the patient himself. If you choose the wrong antibiotic, the bacteria will not only not die, but will also develop resistance to the drug. Then it will take a long time to select a suitable remedy, which will complicate the patient’s life - it will no longer be possible to quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

Rinse recipes

The patient's attending physician should prescribe rinses. They are not allowed for all diseases. After surgical treatment, rinsing too hard can cause the suture to come apart. An infection or food particles will get into an open wound, which will cause new inflammation and suppuration.

It is impossible to completely cure swollen gums with rinses. But they are advised to be combined with drug treatments to alleviate the condition and enhance the effect of the drugs.

1. Decoctions of medicinal herbs: chamomile, calendula, lemon balm, sage, St. John's wort. Some components can cause allergies, so you need to be careful with them. However, they have a mild anti-inflammatory effect and can help relieve swelling and reduce inflammation.
2. Propolis tincture - dilute it with warm water and rinse your mouth 2 times a day. The product helps against ENT diseases (sore throat and sinusitis), which often develop into inflammation of the gums.
3. Soda and salt - add 1 teaspoon of each powder to a glass of warm water and stir. The product has a wound healing effect and helps stop bleeding gums.

In addition to rinsing, lubricating the area of ​​inflammation with tea tree or fir oil is also effective. They have an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effect. However, they should not be applied to the site of suppuration. It is also worth considering the risk of plant allergies.

There are many reasons for gum swelling, not all of them are obvious. Only a doctor after diagnosis can figure out what caused the inflammation. Independent attempts to cure the disease often lead to serious complications, so you should not expect that the swelling on the gums will go away on its own. It is better to visit a doctor and make sure there are no risks or get competent and timely treatment.

Main stages of treatment

Since it is not always possible to determine the exact cause of the disease, treatment methods can affect different levels of the body:

1. General strengthening therapy. Aimed at strengthening the body's defenses, replenishing the supply of important vitamins (C and P), normalizing the psycho-emotional state, and restoring metabolic processes.
2. Local therapy includes relieving inflammation, cleaning the oral cavity from plaque and tartar. For this purpose, mouth rinses with antiseptics and special anti-inflammatory gels are prescribed.
3. Surgical treatment involves incision and emptying of periodontal pockets, excision of granulation tissue, and removal of highly mobile teeth.
4. Orthopedic methods are used to stabilize teeth with special splints or dentures.

Based on the clinical picture and advanced stage of the disease, as well as diagnostic data, the doctor prescribes several treatment methods. The treatment regimen necessarily includes professional cleaning of the oral cavity and local anti-inflammatory therapy.

Minimizing complications

Gum inflammation after implantation depends on many factors. One of the most important is the poor quality of implants. Therefore, you should be careful about their choice. After your doctor gives you options, make sure the implant meets the following requirements:

• the titanium from which it is made has a high degree of purity;
• the design has both micro-thread and macro-thread;
• the implant and abutment are fixed with a conical connection (this is not necessary, but such a connection is considered the most reliable today);
• your future tooth comes with a long, or better yet, lifetime warranty - this is not only a pleasant addition, but also a sign that the manufacturer is confident in its product;
• choose products from companies that have been on the market for a long time and are known to specialists; consult an independent dentist about this.

Do not skimp on the system, as in the future, a bad implant can lead to serious complications, which will be much more expensive to eliminate. Of course, even with high-quality products, the body will try to fight, but nothing serious will most likely await you.

Clinical researches

Repeated clinical studies have proven the high effectiveness of Asept products. It has been clinically proven that the two-component mouth rinse ASEPTA ACTIVE more effectively combats the causes of inflammation and bleeding compared to single-component rinses - it reduces inflammation by 41% and reduces bleeding gums by 43%.

Sources:

1. Clinical and laboratory assessment of the influence of domestic therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste based on plant extracts on the condition of the oral cavity in patients with simple marginal gingivitis. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Elovikova T.M.1, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor Ermishina E.Yu. 2, Doctor of Technical Sciences Associate Professor Belokonova N.A. 2 Department of Therapeutic Dentistry USMU1, Department of General Chemistry USMU2
2. The effectiveness of the use of Asept “adhesive balm” and Asept “gel with propolis” in the treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis and gingivitis in the acute stage (Municipal Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk, Kaminskaya T. M. Head of the therapeutic department Kaminskaya Tatyana Mikhailovna MUZ City Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk
3. Study of the clinical effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic agents of the Asepta line in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases (A.I. Grudyanov, I.Yu. Aleksandrovskaya, V.Yu. Korzunina) A.I. GRUDYANOV, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department I.Yu. ALEXANDROVSKAYA, Ph.D. V.Yu. KORZUNINA, asp. Department of Periodontology, Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rosmedtekhnologii, Moscow
4. The role of anti-inflammatory rinse in the treatment of periodontal diseases (L.Yu. Orekhova, A.A. Leontyev, S.B. Ulitovsky) L.Yu. OREKHOVA, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department; A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist; S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry of St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I. P. Pavlova