When a child’s gums appear swollen, it can be a source of worry for parents. Swollen gums often look red or purplish, and can be sensitive to touch, bleeding easily even with light contact. While this condition is common and often resolves without extensive intervention, understanding the various causes helps parents determine when professional dental care is needed.
Common Reasons for Swollen Gums
One of the most frequent reasons for swollen gums in infants and toddlers is teething. As new teeth push through the gum line, the surrounding gum tissue can become inflamed and tender. This natural process can also lead to increased drooling, fussiness, and a desire to chew on objects. The swelling usually subsides once the tooth fully emerges, typically within a few days to a week.
Poor oral hygiene is another common cause of gum swelling in children. When plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, accumulates on tooth surfaces and along the gum line, it can irritate the gums and lead to inflammation. This initial stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can result in gums that are red, tender, and prone to bleeding during brushing or flossing. It is often reversible with improved brushing and flossing habits.
Minor injuries to the mouth can also cause temporary gum swelling. Children’s active lifestyles can lead to bumps, falls, or even injuries from biting down on hard foods. These incidents can cause localized swelling, pain, and sometimes bruising or bleeding in the affected area. Such swelling resolves as the injury heals.
Sometimes, a bluish or translucent fluid-filled sac, called an eruption cyst or eruption hematoma, can appear on the gums just before a tooth emerges. These are benign and painless, forming when fluid or blood collects between the erupting tooth and the gum tissue. Most eruption cysts rupture on their own as the tooth breaks through, with the tissue healing naturally afterward.
Canker sores can cause localized irritation on the gums. These non-contagious sores appear as small, painful white ulcers with a red border. While often harmless and self-resolving within a week or two, they can cause discomfort, especially when eating or drinking.
Less Common and Serious Causes
Severe infections, such as a dental abscess, can cause significant gum swelling. An abscess is a localized collection of pus resulting from a bacterial infection, often originating from untreated tooth decay or a cracked tooth. Symptoms include severe throbbing pain that might spread to the ear, neck, or jaw, along with redness, swelling in the face, a bad taste in the mouth, and sometimes fever. An abscess requires immediate dental attention as the infection can spread if left untreated.
Impacted teeth can also lead to persistent gum swelling and pain. An impacted tooth is one that is unable to fully erupt into its proper position in the mouth, remaining trapped beneath the gums or bone. This can cause localized swelling, redness, and tenderness around the affected area. An impacted tooth can lead to infection or damage to neighboring teeth.
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to gum swelling. For example, a severe lack of vitamin C, known as scurvy, can result in swollen, bleeding gums and even tooth loss. Deficiencies in B vitamins and vitamin D can also impact gum health, making tissues more susceptible to inflammation and slowing healing. Ensuring a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other essential nutrients supports overall gum health.
Certain medications can cause an abnormal overgrowth of gum tissue. These include some anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, and immunosuppressants. This overgrowth can make oral hygiene difficult, increasing the risk of inflammation and plaque buildup.
Rarely, underlying systemic conditions can manifest with gum swelling. Certain blood disorders, autoimmune diseases, or hormonal changes can affect gum health and contribute to inflammation. Persistent or widespread gum swelling without an obvious local cause may warrant further medical investigation.
When to Seek Professional Care and Home Remedies
Parents should seek professional dental care for their child if gum swelling persists for more than a few days, worsens, or is accompanied by severe pain that interferes with eating or sleeping. Other indicators for a dental visit include:
Fever
Fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes
Redness or swelling spreading to other areas of the face
Any unusual lumps or growths on the gums
Bleeding gums that do not stop with gentle pressure also warrant professional evaluation.
For mild cases of swollen gums, several home remedies can provide temporary comfort. Gentle brushing and flossing with a soft-bristled toothbrush can help remove plaque and maintain cleanliness without further irritating the gums. For older children who can reliably spit, rinsing with a warm salt water solution two to three times a day can help reduce bacteria and soothe inflammation.
Applying a cold compress to the outside of the child’s cheek near the swollen area can help reduce swelling and numb discomfort. Cold foods like yogurt or applesauce can also offer soothing relief. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be given at appropriate dosages to manage pain.
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and daily flossing, is a primary preventive measure against gum swelling and other dental issues. Regular dental check-ups are also important for early detection and intervention of any potential problems.