Dental braces help adjust the alignment of teeth by moving them into the correct positions over time. They are pretty effective in treating different orthodontic conditions, such as crooked teeth and jaw misalignment. However, braces can cause symptoms such as pain and swelling in the gums, especially when they are new. Swollen gums with braces could signify a number of conditions and should be examined by a dentist. We will talk about it in this blog!
Causes of Swollen Gums
Your gums feel puffy and tender when you have braces due to many reasons. Firstly, swollen gums are not rare with braces, as the movement of teeth requires pressure that can cause changes in your jaw bone and gums.
If you have poor oral hygiene, food debris and dental plaque might stick to your braces. This allows bacteria to grow and cause inflammation in the gums. Moreover, patients with underlying conditions, such as diabetes, are also prone to swollen gums.
Gingival hyperplasia is also a condition that causes swollen gums with braces, and it is a result of overgrown gum tissue around your teeth. Generally, the overgrowth of gum tissue around your teeth goes away 6 to 8 weeks after removing braces.
Swollen gums are also a symptom of gum disease, which starts with plaque buildup on your teeth. This advances into an infection that turns into gum disease. Good oral hygiene can help prevent gum disease, but braces might make it a little challenging to thoroughly clean your teeth.
How to Get Rid of Swollen Gums with Braces
If you have swollen gums with braces, there are multiple ways to get rid of them. Here are some options to reduce gum swelling when you have braces:
- Dental Treatment: Your orthodontist or dentist will examine your gums to determine the reason why they are swollen. If it is due to gum disease, talk to a periodontist, and they might recommend deep teeth cleaning. Sometimes, severe gingival hyperplasia can cause swollen gums that do not respond to at-home treatment; in that case, the dental expert might remove the irritated gum tissue.
- Saltwater Rinses: Your dentist might recommend lukewarm salt water rinses to alleviate your swollen gums. You can rinse your gums with saltwater, swish it around your mouth, and spit it out several times a day. Ask your dentist for instructions on how to make the proper saltwater rinse!
- Diligent Dental Care: If you stick to proper dental care, you can reduce inflammation of your gums. Make sure you floss after meals to remove the trapped food particles and plaque that irritate your gums. You can opt for water floss if your gums are too tender to handle regular floss. Moreover, make sure you brush your teeth regularly to prevent dental health concerns, such as swollen gums, which can make your braces journey painful.
Wrapping Up
If you have swollen gums with braces, it could be because your mouth is adjusting to the appliance, and the pressure from moving teeth inflamed your gums. However, there are other causes behind inflamed gums! So, visit a dental specialist or your orthodontist to get to the bottom of the problem.
Bay Colony Dental and Orthodontics is here to provide comfortable and quality dental services. You can contact our experts at (281) 337-9000.