Keeping your mouth happy and healthy will go a long way towards ensuring you can still enjoy your favorite foods, snacks, and drinks. But when your gums are sore, swollen, or bleeding, anything that touches the gums or any mouth ulcers that might crop up can be excruciatingly painful. Let’s have a closer look at what you should and shouldn’t do if you have swollen gums.
Why Gums Swell
There could be several reasons why you have swollen gums. Perhaps you’re allergic to something that you’ve eaten recently. Either that or you aren’t doing a good enough job following a dental and oral healthcare routine. Then there are less-obvious problems that have nothing to do with your habits. For example, it could be caused by the medications you are taking. You might also experience this symptom after you’ve tried a new toothpaste or mouthwash and you are allergic to one of the ingredients. After all, there could be gluten in your toothpaste! Eat more fruits and vegetables! A vitamin C deficiency could be contributing to your swollen gums and the pain that comes with them. Also, step up your efforts to brush and floss. This way, you can fend off the adverse effects of gingivitis.
What to Do Next
Finding relief is easier than you might think. Changing your habits is one of the easiest ways to start feeling better. This means that you need to dedicate yourself to a routine of switching out worn-out toothbrushes, brushing multiple times a day, and using floss and mouthwash. Eat more fruits and veggies while cutting out caffeine and sugary drinks. Try rinsing with salt water to ease the pain associated with inflamed gums. If all else fails, it’s time to see your dentist.
What You Should Avoid
We also have some advice about what you should avoid doing! Stop using alcohol-based mouthwashes and switch back to using toothpaste that didn’t bother your mouth. For that matter, avoid using alcohol and tobacco products. Lastly, don’t ignore it in the hopes that the problem will resolve itself. If anything, it is more likely to get worse instead!
KEEP YOUR MOUTH HAPPY WITH ANNAPOLIS DENTAL CARE!
Whether it’s a regular check-up you need or a tooth extracted, Annapolis Dental Care has the expertise and compassion to work with you on improving your oral health. Your comfort and health are our top priorities, and so we go above and beyond to make our patients happy and give them the highest quality care. To set up an appointment today, please give us a call at 410-571-5014 or visit us online. For more oral health tips for you and your family follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! We are always looking for new patients, so if you live in Arnold, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, MD, come on down!