BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGums - swollenSwollen gums; Gingival swelling; Bulbous gums; Inflamed gums; Enlarged gumsSwollen gums are abnormally enlarged, bulging, or protruding. Considerations Gum swelling is common. It may involve one or many of the triangle-shaped areas of gum between teeth. These sections are called papillae.Occasionally, the gums swell enough to block the teeth completely. Causes Swollen gums may be caused by:Inflamed gums (gingivitis) GingivitisGingivitis is inflammation of the gums.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection by a virus or fungus Malnutrition Poorly fitting dentures or other dental appliances Pregnancy Sensitivity to toothpaste or mouthwash Scurvy ScurvyScurvy is a disease that occurs when you have a severe lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in your diet. Scurvy causes general weakness, anemia, gum d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Side effect of a medicine Food debris Home Care Eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugary foods and drinks.Avoid foods such as popcorn and chips that can lodge under the gums and cause swelling. 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.If your swollen gums are caused by a reaction to a drug, talk to your health care provider about changing the type of medicine you use. Never stop taking a medicine without first talking to your provider. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if changes to your gums last longer than 2 weeks. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, and gums. You will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:Do your gums bleed? BleedBleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internal)Outside the body (external)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blood le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How long has the problem been going on, and has it changed over time? How often do you brush your teeth and what kind of toothbrush do you use? Do you use any other oral care products? When was the last time you had a professional cleaning? Have there been any changes to your diet? Do you take vitamins? What medicines do you take? Have you changed your oral home care recently, such as type of toothpaste or mouthwash you use? Do you have any other symptoms such as breath odor, sore throat, or pain?Breath odorBreath odor is the scent of the air you breathe out of your mouth. Unpleasant breath odor is commonly called bad breath.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may have blood tests such as a CBC (complete blood count) or blood differential.CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood differentialThe blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your dentist or hygienist will show you how to care for your teeth and gums. Open ReferencesReferencesBall JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Ears, nose, and throat. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 13.Chow AW. Infections of the oral cavity, neck, and head. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 64.Pedigo RA. Oral medicine. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 56.AllVideoImagesTogTooth anatomy - illustration The structure of the tooth includes dentin, pulp and other tissues, blood vessels and nerves imbedded in the bony jaw. Above the gum line, the tooth is protected by the hard enamel covering.Tooth anatomyillustrationSwollen gums - illustration Abnormally enlarged, bulging, protruding, or swollen gums are a possible indication of disease.Swollen gumsillustrationTooth anatomy - illustration The structure of the tooth includes dentin, pulp and other tissues, blood vessels and nerves imbedded in the bony jaw. Above the gum line, the tooth is protected by the hard enamel covering.Tooth anatomyillustrationSwollen gums - illustration Abnormally enlarged, bulging, protruding, or swollen gums are a possible indication of disease.Swollen gumsillustrationSelf Care Aging changes in teeth and gumsRelated Information Review Date: 1/24/2022 Reviewed By: Michael Kapner, DDS, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Norwalk, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Gums - swollenSwollen gums; Gingival swelling; Bulbous gums; Inflamed gums; Enlarged gumsSwollen gums are abnormally enlarged, bulging, or protruding. Considerations Gum swelling is common. It may involve one or many of the triangle-shaped areas of gum between teeth. These sections are called papillae.Occasionally, the gums swell enough to block the teeth completely. Causes Swollen gums may be caused by:Inflamed gums (gingivitis) GingivitisGingivitis is inflammation of the gums.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection by a virus or fungus Malnutrition Poorly fitting dentures or other dental appliances Pregnancy Sensitivity to toothpaste or mouthwash Scurvy ScurvyScurvy is a disease that occurs when you have a severe lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in your diet. Scurvy causes general weakness, anemia, gum d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Side effect of a medicine Food debris Home Care Eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugary foods and drinks.Avoid foods such as popcorn and chips that can lodge under the gums and cause swelling. 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.If your swollen gums are caused by a reaction to a drug, talk to your health care provider about changing the type of medicine you use. Never stop taking a medicine without first talking to your provider. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if changes to your gums last longer than 2 weeks. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, and gums. You will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:Do your gums bleed? BleedBleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internal)Outside the body (external)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blood le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How long has the problem been going on, and has it changed over time? How often do you brush your teeth and what kind of toothbrush do you use? Do you use any other oral care products? When was the last time you had a professional cleaning? Have there been any changes to your diet? Do you take vitamins? What medicines do you take? Have you changed your oral home care recently, such as type of toothpaste or mouthwash you use? Do you have any other symptoms such as breath odor, sore throat, or pain?Breath odorBreath odor is the scent of the air you breathe out of your mouth. Unpleasant breath odor is commonly called bad breath.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may have blood tests such as a CBC (complete blood count) or blood differential.CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood differentialThe blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your dentist or hygienist will show you how to care for your teeth and gums. Open ReferencesReferencesBall JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Ears, nose, and throat. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 13.Chow AW. Infections of the oral cavity, neck, and head. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 64.Pedigo RA. Oral medicine. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 56.