What does it mean when Gums are Puffy?
Swollen gums are a fairly common problem, but it can develop into a serious condition for the health of the mouth. Let's see together what are the reasons that cause swelling of the gums and my simple tips for prevention and treatment.
The gums are important for your health. The gums are made up of a pink mucous membrane that covers the inside of the mouth. The teeth are inserted into the bone and the gums have the role of protection and cover in lining the junction area between the tooth and the bone, it is a mandatory cover, wanting to make an analogy is as if you wanted to use a complete mattress, without the use of the external covering that holds it together.
There are two types of gums: the free gum and the adherent gum, their purpose is to cover and protect both the bone that holds the teeth and the junction of the tooth in the bone.
Free gum
The free gum in addition to covering and protecting also has the function of cushioning the tooth, there are real natural fibers with the function of holding together and cushioning the tooth on the bone, they are those that allow to reduce trauma during chewing. .
Adherent gingiva
The adherent gum is located immediately under the free gum and reaches the mucus gingival line and expands for a few millimeters, it has the role of covering the bone. It stands out because if it should be pink in health, there are still some variations related to the breed.
All the gums in the mouth are characterized by a continuous replacement that allows a part of autonomous healing. When the gums get puffy, they can protrude, bleed and hurt. The gums can become so swollen that they cover the teeth, although this condition is often associated with other causes. Swollen gums appear red instead of their normal pink color.
Causes of puffy gums
When tartar is deposited between the tooth and the gum, it can cause the gum to detach from the tooth and the gingival sulcus, which was previously small (1-2 millimeters), increases in depth and forms a gingival pocket that can reach up to 9 millimeters. Often the gums bleed from the tartar that irritates them but in some cases they can be a symptom of serious diseases.
Here are the ways in which gum problems manifest themselves. The gum can be:
- Swollen gum
- Red gum
- Bleeding gum
- Sore gum
- Gum that gives off a bad smell
- Inflamed gum
- Withdrawn gingiva
If your gums are puffy, it could mean gingivitis, malnutrition, or tooth decay.
Gingivitis is a common condition that causes swelling and redness of the gums due to bacterial infection, usually above the gumline where brushing and flossing do not reach. Malnutrition is a serious condition that affects all systems of the body. Indications of malnutrition can manifest themselves rather quickly in the form of red gums. Tooth decay is another cause of gum swelling. If neglected, what is initially just a sore or sensitive tooth can quickly turn into a more complicated problem.