Swollen Gum: Possible Causes and What They Mean

You've noticed that your gum is swollen, puffy, or hurts when pressed — and you're already running worst-case scenarios through your head. Often the cause is gum inflammation due to plaque. But there are situations where you shouldn't delay, so let's calmly sort out what might be behind the swelling.

Why the gum swells: the big picture

The gum swells and turns red when it is irritated by an accumulation of microbial plaque on the teeth. Plaque collects at the gum margin if it isn't removed regularly — and that's exactly where inflammation begins. This is what gingivitis looks like: the gums are red, swollen, painful, and bleed. Gingivitis is a mild, reversible form of gum disease; how to manage it is decided by the dentist. If gingivitis is not treated, it can progress to periodontitis: the gum pulls away from the tooth, pockets form that become infected, and the bone, gum, and connective tissue that hold the tooth are destroyed. In the worst cases, teeth are lost.

Swollen gum above or below a tooth: what could be the cause

The doctor looks at exactly where the swelling is located. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums without disruption of the integrity of the dentogingival junction: the tooth stays in place. Periodontitis is another matter, when the gum pulls away from the tooth and a pocket with infection forms beneath it. Gum disease can lead to a dental abscess. If the gum near the farthest tooth at the end of the lower jaw is swollen, that is also a reason to see a dentist. What exactly is happening in your case is determined by the doctor during an examination — they check the condition of the teeth and gums and, if necessary, refer you for additional tests, such as a panoramic dental X-ray.

Swollen gum in a child: what is known and when to see a doctor

In children, the gum swells for the same reasons as in adults — due to plaque. Simple marginal gingivitis is most often found in childhood and is associated with poor oral hygiene, and among the risk factors for gingivitis, the age of 3 to 6 years is cited. Teething in the first year is often associated with discomfort in the gums, but only a doctor can determine the cause of the swelling. If a child's gums are painful and bleed, the child should be shown to a dentist.

What symptoms accompany gum swelling and puffiness

Swelling rarely comes alone. In chronic gingivitis there is almost no pain: the inflammation is sluggish, it is found incidentally during a preventive examination, and is more often noticed by bleeding when brushing and by bad breath. Hyperplastic gingivitis, which is associated with endocrine changes in adolescents, pregnant women, and people with diabetes mellitus, increases the volume of the interdental papillae: the gums become dark red and bluish, pus may be discharged, and false pockets appear. The severity of this form is assessed by how much the gum covers the tooth crown: up to 1/3 — mild, up to 1/2 — moderate, more than 1/2 — severe. A separate story is acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis: with an increase in body temperature, enlargement of regional lymph nodes, and necrosis of the interdental papillae, more often in people aged 17–30 with inadequate hygiene.

• bleeding when brushing teeth and with hard food such as apples;
• redness, swelling, and tenderness of the gum;
• bad breath and an unpleasant taste;
• reduction in gum volume and tooth mobility;
• sores or red spots on the gum.

When gum swelling requires seeing a dentist

For a routine appointment: the gums bleed when brushing or from hard food, are painful and swollen, there is bad breath — or a child's gums are painful and bleed. Preventive check-ups are needed even without complaints: if you haven't seen a dentist for 2 years, and for a child under 18 — for a year. An urgent appointment is booked when the gums are very painful and severely swollen, teeth are loose or falling out, ulcers or red spots have appeared in the mouth, and also if you have felt a lump in the mouth or on the lip.

A swollen gum by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. 103/112 — if the swelling is accompanied by life-threatening signs (for example, difficulty breathing or swallowing, rapidly increasing swelling of the face and neck).

This text is for reference: it helps you understand what can happen, but does not replace a doctor's consultation — the exact answer is given by an examination at the dentist.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer