22 November 2022

Why is My Gum Swollen Around One Tooth?

It might be because there’s some food debris under your gums. The food debris will irritate the area and cause inflammation. Therefore, removing the food debris by brushing or flossing can make your gum look normal again. 

However, the inflammation might still persist for days. This could be an early form of gum disease where the build-up of bacteria around your gumline is continuously irritating the gums (and thereby causing inflammation). You should go to the dentist as soon as possible before the gum disease gets worse (and might cause tooth loss or make you undergo an expensive surgery). 

Other causes of swollen gums 

Aside from food debris and gum disease, other potential causes of swollen gums are: 

  • Infection (viral or fungal) 
  • Malnutrition (e.g. lack of vitamin B complex and C) 
  • Side effect of medications (might be caused by blood pressure medications and others) 
  • Sensitivity to toothpaste or mouthwash (might be too harsh) 
  • Poorly fitting dentures 

There could be a wide range of causes. To be sure, it’s good to go to the dentist for you to know the real cause (and finally experience relief because the remedy might just be quick, easy and simple). 

Preventing swollen gums 

Practicing good oral hygiene can prevent most cases of swollen gums. This will be effective in removing the food debris and prevent gum irritation and inflammation in the first place. Also, practicing good oral hygiene will somehow slow down the build-up of bacteria and plaque. This will slow down or limit the damage they’re bringing to your teeth and gums. 

It’s also important to have your teeth undergo professional cleaning once every six months. This way, the dentist can remove the plaque and give your teeth and gums some rest from the continuous attack of millions of bacteria. Although bacteria are always present in our mouths, regular professional cleaning and dental appointments can keep the bacteria at bay and prevent them from causing severe damage.