Your braces can affect a lot of things inside your mouth—while they’re working to move your teeth, it’s possible that they cause other things to happen, such as your gums to swell up! Continue reading below to learn about a few reasons why gums can sometimes become swollen due to braces, along with a few ways that you can address the issue so that you can comfortably navigate your orthodontic journey.
Why Do Braces Cause Swollen Gums?
It’s not uncommon for patients to experience swollen gums while wearing their braces. Swollen gums are sometimes a bodily reaction to the new brackets and wires, so giving your mouth a few days to adapt can help. But if it persists, it’s usually due to one of these reasons:
- Poor oral hygiene – If you aren’t diligent about brushing, especially after eating, food debris and bacteria can remain trapped in your braces and trigger oral health issues, such as gum disease or gingival hyperplasia, the overgrowth of gum tissue.
- Tooth movement – The pressure applied by braces to move your teeth can cause discomfort and swollen gums, and when the braces are adjusted, this discomfort and swelling might spike for a couple of days.
- Underlying health conditions – Patients with conditions like diabetes are generally more susceptible to symptoms like inflamed and swollen gums; combine this with orthodontics, and the chances increase notably.
How Can I Treat Swollen Gums?
Luckily, the causes for swollen gums due to braces are easily identifiable and there are many ways to make your treatment process much more comfortable. To put it simply, practicing better oral hygiene can play a huge role in addressing irritated and swollen gums. In its earlier stages, gum disease can be managed this way—and although you might need to brush and floss more often, this is a small price to pay to stave off what can amount to being a serious condition.
You might also need to adjust your brushing techniques and habits to ensure you’re doing it often enough and correctly. Even rinsing with warm salt water a few times a day can make an enormous difference! It’s also worth mentioning that avoiding hard, tough-to-chew foods might make a difference too—which aligns with many of the dietary restrictions imposed by braces anyway.
If your swollen gums cause an overgrowth of gum tissue, your dentist should be able to help address the issue following the completion of your treatment. Swollen gums are an uncomfortable part of having braces, but it’s a small price to pay for the improved smile that’s on the horizon!
About the Practice
Our team here at Super Braces of Lawrence is thrilled to provide families in the Lawrence, MA community with an unrivaled level of orthodontic care! We offer a wide range of orthodontic services for kids of all ages, as well as adults, including traditional metal braces, clear braces, Invisalign and more. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to arrange a visit for yourself or your child, contact us online or by phone today! Telephone: (978) 794-0000.