The good news is that gingivitis can be reversed. Do not stop brushing if your gums are red or puffy. Try to keep brushing with a soft toothbrush, as this will get rid of the bacteria and plaque that are causing the problem.
You can't get rid of it by brushing and flossing — you need a professional dental cleaning to remove it. Because plaque and tartar are filled with bacteria, the longer they stay on your teeth, the more damage they can do.
Immediate treatments for sore or swollen gums
Some home remedies for swollen and sore gums include: Gently flossing and brushing to clean the area. Rinsing mouth with saltwater to get rid of bacteria. Applying warm compresses to reduce gum pain.
Use a fluoride toothpaste. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle where the teeth meet the gums. Press firmly, and gently rock the brush back and forth using small circular movements. Brush chewing surfaces vigorously with short back-and-forth strokes.
Mild cases of gum disease can usually be treated by maintaining a good level of oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. You should also make sure you attend regular dental check-ups.
Swishing the solution of equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide with water around your mouth and spitting can reduce plaque and bleeding of gums. An affordable yet effective way of treating gum infection is swishing a solution of baking soda in water with a pinch of salt.
Avoid things that can irritate your gums such as mouthwashes, alcohol, and tobacco. Change your toothpaste brand and stop using mouthwashes if sensitivity to these dental products is causing your swollen gums. Brush and floss your teeth regularly. See a periodontist or dentist at least every 6 months.
Don't stop your oral hygiene routine: Continue to brush and floss. Don't be fooled if your dental abscess stops hurting: Pain associated with a dental abscess may go away if the tooth root has died. But a dead tooth root doesn't mean the infection is gone. In fact, the infection from a dental abscess can still spread.
Keep Up With Dental Hygiene
Even if it hurts to brush, you need to keep your mouth as clean as possible when infection has already set in. It may be necessary to skip over flossing around the abscessed area, but don't neglect the rest of your teeth.
Continue brushing and flossing even when you're ill (except for when you've just vomited). Your teeth and gums still need cleaning even if it means needing to replace your toothbrush later. What to do: If you're sick, keep your toothbrush separate from others in your household to prevent the spread of illness.
Rinsing with salt water 2-3 times a day can be effective in battling a gum infection. Be careful to not rinse with salt water too often, as this can cause the salt to affect your tooth enamel. Other homemade mouthwash combinations can also be effective, such as lemongrass and oil, aloe vera, and tea tree oil.
The acute phase of gingivitis lasts on average 2-3 days but, starting immediately the antibiotic therapy, it can pass within a week. Clearly the duration of gingivitis varies from case to case and also depends on the treatments implemented. Fortunately, there are many ways to help stop the progression of gum disease.
A periodontal abscess is a pocket of pus in the tissues of the gum. It looks like a small red ball pushing out of the swollen gum. An abscess can occur with serious gum disease (periodontitis), which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth.
In case a person does not treat a dental abscess in its initial stage, then the infection may last anywhere between 5 months to 12 months or even more. Moreover, if no treatment is meted out to the condition, the precious dental pulp will die away and may get another abscess.
The Danger of Untreated Infected Teeth and Gums
If they are not treated, they can last for several months or years. There are two types of dental abscess – one can form under the tooth (periapical) and the other in the supporting gum and bone (periodontal).
They can even cause brain damage, making it necessary to have the infected tooth removed to prevent complications. Removal of the infected tooth doesn't eliminate the infection in your jawbone, requiring antibiotics to eradicate the condition from your mouth.
Saltwater Mouth Rinse
Salt or sodium chloride draws the liquid in cells out of your body when it comes into contact with them. If the liquids are bacterial, they are also drawn out. This helps cleanse the area. This easy and affordable technique is a good way to find temporary relief from your abscess.
Without prompt and proper care, it can spread to local tissues, and with enough time, to the rest of your body. If the abscess doesn't drain, the infection may spread to your surrounding jawbone tissue, gum tissues, the soft tissues inside your cheek, or other areas of your head and neck.
Crunchy apples, carrots, and crisp lettuces are full of minerals and vitamins that support strong, healthy teeth and can calm inflamed gums. Bell peppers are particularly great for gum disease because of their high vitamin C levels.
When gums swell around a single tooth in this way, it usually indicates an infection. This is called an abscessed tooth, and it can be very painful. If left untreated, it is possible for the infection to spread, leading to more serious dental problems.
The destruction of the gums and underlying jawbone can lead to the loss of teeth. The dental consequences of gum infections include bad breath, loose teeth, loss of teeth, inadequate jawbone to hold dental implants in the future, and changes in the appearance of the face.