Braces can cause swelling and pain in the gums. This happens when braces are new or being adjusted or due to a dental condition, such as gingivitis. In this article, we’ll go over how to get rid of swollen gums caused by braces and some prevention techniques.
Causes
Your gums may feel tender with braces due to the following reasons, such as:
- Food debris and dental plaque stick easier to your braces. This results in bacterial growth on these plaques that induce inflammation of the gum (gingivitis).
- Minor teeth movement also induce a small about of inflammation around your teeth.
- Ones with an underlying health condition like diabetes or obesity are more prone to inflamed gums.
Home remedies
Here are a few home remedies to get rid of swollen gums with braces:
- Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help soothe tender gums.
- Avoid eating hard-to-chew foods with swollen gums
- Taking anti-inflammatory medicine that reduces swelling and pain can help.
- Flossing between your teeth also helps to reduce inflammation of your gum.
Treatments
If gingivitis is the reason behind your swollen gums, seeing your dentist for regular cleanings will help you stay dedicated to at-home dental care.
If your gums appear to be growing over your teeth and are very painful or swollen, see your dentist or orthodontist.
Prevention
It is hard to avoid gum swelling with braces. However, proper oral hygiene can make your gums less prone to severe swelling.
Braces can make teeth cleaning very difficult. However, maintaining proper dental hygiene is vital for reducing gum swelling. Therefore:
- Brush your teeth that has a soft brush head.
- Use an antibacterial mouth rinse after brushing.
- Use a floss threader that makes it easier to clean between teeth and under the gumline.
Also, avoid eating foods that can get trapped in your braces easily. These include:
- corn on the cob
- steak
- popcorn
- hard candy
If the swelling persists and is affecting your daily routine, go see your dentist. Schedule an appointment with Brookshire Smile Dental. Call us at 281-934-1010.