1. Brush the gums with slow, gentle and circular movements. As it is stated above, swelling of the gums can be due to plaque build-up on the teeth. The best thing to do is to clean the plaques and preventing the gum diseases by brushing and flossing regularly. Teeth must be brushed at least twice a day, once in the morning, once in the evening. If it is possible, brushing after meals is important for preventing the bacteria from reproducing.
2. Rinse your mouth with pure water or saline water. Saline water rinse is one of the oldest and one of the most effective methods of reducing the swelling of the gums. Salt works as an antibacterial agent and it relieves the inflammation of the gums by cleaning the bacteria on the gums.
3. Use hot and cold compresses. Hot and cold compress provides easy and immediate help for the sores and swellings on the gums. While the cold compress effectively reduces the swelling, hot compress relieves the pain. While doing the cold and hot compress, applying them directly on the gums can negatively affect the gums. For this reason, apply them on the cheeks.
4. Avoid substances that can irritate the gums. Especially when the gums are swollen and aching, alcohol and cigarettes make it worse. In addition to these, harsh mouth washes can make the swelling worse. For this reason, it will be beneficial to stop using these products for a while.
5. Sleep adequately and avoid stress. Tiredness causes swelling of the face and the gums. For this reason, it is important to sleep at least 7-8 hours during the night. Stress causes inflammation by releasing a chemical called “cortisol”. So, the stress must be kept under control and it must be avoided as much as possible.
6. If you are smoking, quit it. As it is stated before, smoking irritates the gum and increases the risk of getting gum diseases. Try reducing or quitting smoking to improve your both overall health condition and gum health.
7. For teeth cleaning and examination, visit your dentist regularly. Swollen gums are usually a sign of more serious dental conditions such as plaque buildup, germs or teeth decay. For this reason, if your gums are constantly swollen, make an appointment with a dentist. The underlying cause of the swelling, the general state of the teeth and gums will be revealed by an examination. Even if you are not experiencing any problems, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year.