(Helpful Tip) Treatment methods when gums are swollen

Hello?

 

Recently, many patients have been experiencing swollen gums and difficulty.

In dentistry, in such cases

Remove food debris with dental floss.

After removing plaque and tartar through scaling

If you also disinfect with disinfectant

Most of you will get better.

If you add a Minocycline-based gum medication here, it will heal very quickly.

However, this article was written for those who find it difficult to visit the dentist for various reasons.

 

When your gums are swollen

There can be various causes of inflammation. If the causes are different, the treatment methods should also differ.

I will list only the main causes.

 

Acute/Chronic due to gum disease

 

More than 70% of patients visiting due to swollen gums are caused by inflammation from periodontitis or gingivitis. Gum disease is a bacterial disease.

If brushing is not done well or oral hygiene is not properly maintained, bacteria will proliferate by feeding on food debris and plaque.

 

These bacteria cause inflammation in the gums, leading to swelling. Therefore, the solution is to eliminate their habitat and clean thoroughly. After that, it would be even better to reduce the inflammation.

 

- Coping methods

 

1. It is best to visit the dentist to mechanically remove food debris, plaque, and tartar.

 

2. Instead of not brushing your teeth because your gums are swollen

It is good to brush your teeth thoroughly in every corner.

When the gums become swollen, they bleed, and when bleeding occurs, many people become afraid and avoid brushing the bleeding area.

The area where bleeding occurs makes it difficult to brush properly, leading to the accumulation of food debris and a vicious cycle of worsening inflammation.

You said you are bleeding, so you should not avoid brushing your teeth and should brush more diligently.

Of course, you shouldn't cause a wound to your gums.

 

3. It is even better to use interdental brushes or dental floss to clean between your teeth.

Using interdental brushes or dental floss to clean between your teeth is even better.

The cause of gingivitis/periodontitis is bacteria, so eliminating habitats where bacteria can live helps improve oral health.

 

Since brushing alone makes it difficult to completely remove food debris and plaque from the mouth, try developing the habit of using dental floss and interdental brushes to keep the spaces between your teeth clean.

Gargling helps.

 

 

There is a good mouthwash called 'Hexamedine' that can be purchased at pharmacies. It is not sold at regular convenience stores or supermarkets. You can rinse with the Hexamedine mouthwash about 1-2 times a day. Hexamedine helps prevent bacterial growth and is effective in reducing gum inflammation. However, there are some precautions. Long-term use (more than 2 weeks) of Hexamedine can affect beneficial bacteria in the mouth and may cause staining inside the mouth.

Listerine mouthwash is also helpful. It has the ability to effectively suppress bacteria that cause periodontal disease. You can easily find Listerine mouthwash at pharmacies or supermarkets.

 

5. Which medication should I take? Tylenol vs. Ibuprofen

 

As I mentioned earlier, the swollen gums are due to inflammation. Taking an anti-inflammatory painkiller that can reduce inflammation will help. Over-the-counter Tylenol is a pain reliever and fever reducer. However, it may not be effective enough to reduce inflammation. To see an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces inflammation, you need to take NSAID-type medications. The most common example is ibuprofen. Aspirin is also one of the NSAID-type medications.

 

Tuxen, Geborin, and EasyN all belong to the NSAID category of medications. If you ask for "ibuprofen painkiller" at the pharmacy, they will find and give it to you quickly.

 

Sometimes, you may ask, "What happens if I take a medicine like Insadol?" However, over-the-counter gum medicines like Insadol or Igtan do not significantly help with immediate gum inflammation. If your gums are sore, just taking such gum medicines is similar to only taking vitamins when you have a cold or flu. It would be more helpful to rinse with the mouthwash I mentioned earlier and take anti-inflammatory painkillers. Next time, I will also talk about Insadol if the opportunity arises.

Gum swelling caused by nerve inflammation of the tooth

 

Inside the innermost part of the tooth, there are nerves and blood vessels. Therefore, when you eat cold foods or develop cavities, a tingling sensation or sensitivity occurs. If inflammation develops in these nerves, it causes inflammation at the root area. Inflammation at the root can gradually progress and sometimes break through the gum. In such cases, it is often accompanied by white pus.

 

Swelling caused by nerve inflammation is not usually very painful. However, if the underlying tooth is not treated, the gums often swell and then subside repeatedly. When under stress or in poor condition, it is common for the swelling to reappear like a pimple.

 

In this case, we recommend visiting the dentist to receive treatment for the affected tooth.

 

Swelling of the gums caused by a crack in the tooth

 

Teeth are one of the human tissues that undergo many external changes. Chewing hard foods every day and experiencing hot foods followed by cold foods cause a lot of stress. When this fatigue accumulates in the teeth, cracks can occur in the teeth. And if these cracks are present near the roots, they can cause inflammation in the gums.

 

It is not easy to determine whether the cause of swollen gums is due to a cracked tooth. You should visit a dentist. While some cases can be distinguished through X-rays and clinical examinations, there are often cases where the problem is only identified after extracting the tooth. If the swelling persists for a long time without subsiding, it is recommended that you visit a dental clinic for an accurate diagnosis.

 

Since the causes and solutions for swollen gums are detailed in periodontal textbooks, I have only summarized them briefly.

 

Summary

 

Gum disease is a bacterial disease.

 

Removing plaque that bacteria can live on is essential for fundamental treatment.

 

Simply taking medication may lead to symptoms recurring quickly.

It may cause you to miss the optimal time for treatment.

 

Stay healthy!

 

*The photo was taken directly with the CashDoc app.*