How To Deal With Excessive Gum Swelling With Braces?

If you or your kid is new to wearing braces, there is a possibility that you may experience swollen gums. With braces, there are more surfaces to clean around and additional spots for plaque to hide. That is why excessive gum swelling with braces may happen, especially if you have poor oral hygiene habits. Furthermore, gum swelling may be from a bacterial infection that can affect other surrounding organs, like your eyes. If that happens, an eye doctor can help address your condition. For more health information, keep reading to know more about swollen gums and other orthodontic treatments.

Swollen Gums With Braces

Orthodontic treatment, such as dental braces, is a popular procedure to straighten your teeth and improve your smile. However, sometimes this treatment can make your gums swell.

In any case, here are the different reasons your gums may feel tender while you wear braces.

Gum Disease

Any time you notice bleeding or inflamed gums, it is usually because of gum disease. This kind of symptom is commonly the earliest stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. Most orthodontic patients typically experience this due to the additional appliances in their mouths.

If you have gum disease, your gums seem puffy, red and bleed easily. When you touch them, they are often tender. In advanced conditions, the gums may really be enlarged to such an extent they appear to develop over and around your braces.

To manage gingivitis, practice good oral hygiene habits. It is also better to cooperate with your dentist to know the proper tools to clean your teeth and around braces effectively. You may even need to think about more regular dental cleanings while your orthodontic treatment is in progress.

Teeth Movement

At times, once your teeth get moved, the soft tissues around them can get pushed together a little bit. That condition can make the gums in one area look swollen or puffy. Though this is normal, make sure that your gums are not red or actually inflamed. gum swelling with braces

Teeth movement will typically cause what resembles swollen gums between several teeth. Without a doubt, it will be one or two certain areas, due to those teeth being united together and kind of squishing the tissues between them.

Furthermore, clean the region thoroughly every day, as the excess tissue might accumulate more plaque. Usually, your body will react after some time, and the tissue will find a balance regarding where it should be. Suppose that it does not. Then, talk to your dentist about some gum recontouring.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can often result in gingivitis-like symptoms, particularly during menstruation or pregnancy. As hormone levels fluctuate, the gum tissues may begin to feel tender, puffy, or look swollen. Fortunately, these changes are temporary and only affect a small percentage of women.

Hormone-induced inflamed gums tend to be generally familiar during pregnancy or your monthly cycle. In some instances, gum swelling among women is awful to such an extent that it makes large, bulbous-type growths called pregnancy tumors. The symptoms of this condition illustrate traditional gingivitis and usually disappear when you give birth. Additionally, be aware that you may notice swollen or bleeding gums around braces or other appliances if you are in orthodontic treatment.

Good oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings are essential even if you are pregnant. If the pregnancy tumors meddle with your diet, talk to your dentist about having them removed. Otherwise, it is usually ideal to simply let time run its course. Just make sure not to decrease your oral hygiene habits and excuse the condition as hormone-related.

Gingival Hyperplasia

Gingival hyperplasia, also known as gingival enlargement, is an abnormal overgrowth of gum tissue. People with gingival hyperplasia and braces might have what looks like enlarged gums around braces. However, these are healthy tissues, just too much of it.

In addition, some drug prescriptions can cause gummy overgrowth. So, it is important to always let your dentist or orthodontist know your health history, particularly before you get braces. In any case, hyperplastic tissue will not have a similar red appearance or bleed easily as a gum disease does.

Furthermore, do not stop your medication without talking about it with your physician. If you do, it will not reduce the swelling of the gum tissue. Suppose excessive gum tissues interfere with your daily activities or the way you smile. In that case, talk to your dentist about some type of cosmetic gum contouring.

Allergic Reaction

If you have an extreme metal allergy, you may experience hypersensitivity to the materials utilized in braces. Suppose you want to make sure that your body can respond well to the treatment. Even though you are allergic to metallic jewelry, it is very uncommon to have an allergic reaction to braces. However, it is not impossible.

If you have an allergic reaction to metal braces, your gums will often feel tender or swell. Though they may not bleed, they may feel puffy or might even itch.

Typically, extreme metal allergies will require eliminating your stainless-steel orthodontic devices. Then, your dentist or orthodontist will need to replace them with another kind of braces, such as ceramic braces or removable clear aligners.

Preventing Swollen Gums with Braces

Swollen gums with braces are, most of the time, preventable. Brushing and flossing are the best way to prevent any dental issues. It comes down to thoroughly eliminating all plaque build-ups from your gumlines around each section of your mouth. Otherwise, the bacteria in plaque will cause inflammation and bleeding gums.

Brush Your Teeth

Begin with brushing over your braces, between sections, and close to your gumlines. Ensure you are moving toward the bracket and up into the gums. This interaction can take some practice. Orthodontic treatment

At that point, brush between every section with a proper cleaning tool. Rub tenderly against the side of every bracket and close to the papilla. What’s more, remember to brush the opposite side of your section near the tip of your tooth.

Floss Your Teeth

Flossing your teeth and under the gum tissues is another essential part of dental hygiene. Using a strand of floss or floss threader, direct it under the wire between your teeth. Softly bend the floss on each side of the tooth as you rub up and down under the gumlines.

You can likewise consider utilizing a water flosser. With this, you can easily clean your gumlines and clear out areas between your teeth. Some oral irrigators have additional orthodontic tips. In any case, they are incredible for cleaning around enlarged gums with braces.

Treatment For Swollen Gums Pain with Braces

If you have swollen gums, the main concern is that you need to get rid of the source of the infection. Typically, that is practicing your oral hygiene daily to remove excess plaque. Yet, for tenderness or irritation, you can likewise get pain relief by taking over-the-counter pain medication or washing your mouth with warm saltwater.

Eventually, you will notice faster alleviation of swollen gums with braces following a few days of an incredible home care practice. Furthermore, you can consider utilizing an antiseptic mouthwash in addition to your brushing and flossing.

Once you get your braces tightened or after the orthodontist adjusts them, you may likewise encounter discomfort and swelling for up to a week. If swollen gums do not ease up following a week, it is essential to call or inform your dentist.