While feeling around your mouth, you may discover that an area near a single tooth is swollen. This bulge near the tooth is likely the result of gum disease. This is not an uncommon condition, with half of Americans having swollen gums at some point. While it is likely that only your doctor can treat this condition in the long-term, there are some treatments you can use for temporary relief.
You May Eventually Need A Root Canal
If you are suffering from gum disease and the condition is not treated, this can eventually lead to tooth loss. This results from the gums receding and no longer holding the tooth in certain key areas. You may also have an abscessed tooth. This can lead to bacteria forming inside your tooth and can also infect the gums. You will either need a root canal or you may even need the tooth extracted depending on the severity of the disease.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Taking anti-inflammatory medications can help alleviate the swollen gums temporarily. It can also reduce pain, which is often the result of the swelling. Also, the swelling can cause damage to your gums and teeth if you do not treat it.
Cold Foods
Cold foods can sometimes alleviate pain caused by swelling. The coldness may be soothing for the gums, but if your teeth have become more sensitive, the coldness may actually cause more pain as it affects your nerves. This is especially true if the swelling is the result of an abscessed tooth.
Numbing Agents
Tooth numbing agents such as Benzocaine are able to temporarily alleviate the pain caused by gum disease. This should only be applied during situations when the pain caused by gum disease is very severe. Applying the Benzocain too frequently will cause it to no longer be effective. The numbness that is caused by the medication can also make it more difficult to eat or talk.
Sensitivity Toothpaste
If your tooth is very sensitive as a result of the condition, you may want to switch to a toothpaste that is designed for those who have sensitive teeth. This will cause your teeth to experience less pain when exposed to heat or cold. However, these treatments are only temporary solutions. In the end, you will need to treat the root cause so that your teeth and gums can be saved and so that you will no longer experience severe pain.
Share1 March 2017
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
