Where the swelling is tells you a lot. Puffiness along the gum line of many teeth, often with a little bleeding when you brush, is usually gingivitis, an early gum inflammation caused by plaque that can be reversed. A swollen lump beside one tooth, especially if it throbs, is more likely to be an infection and needs a dentist sooner.
Most swollen gums fall into the first group and improve once plaque is cleared away and kept away.
Swelling along the gum line: plaque is the usual cause
Plaque is the soft, sticky layer of bacteria that builds up on teeth every day. When it sits along the gum line, the body reacts with inflammation, and the gums turn red, puffy and quick to bleed. This is gingivitis. The Better Health Channel describes it as early gum disease that affects only the surface of the gum and can be reversed, because the deeper tissues and bone have not yet been damaged.
A few things make plaque harder to control or make gums react more strongly:
- crowded or overlapping teeth, braces or the edges of old fillings, which give plaque more places to hide
- food that packs between two teeth at the same spot each meal
- smoking, which can hide bleeding while gum disease continues
- poorly controlled diabetes
- mouth breathing, which dries the front gums
If bleeding is the main thing you notice, our article on bleeding gums when brushing goes into more detail.
Pregnancy and other hormonal changes
Many women find their gums become more tender and bleed more easily during pregnancy. Hormonal changes make the gums react more strongly to the same amount of plaque. Careful cleaning and a dental check during pregnancy help, and our guide to dental care during pregnancy explains what is safe.
Some medicines make gums grow
Gums that look thick, firm and overgrown, rather than soft and puffy, can be a side effect of medication. A 2018 review in Periodontology 2000 (Hughes and Bartold) lists drug-induced gum overgrowth and increased gum bleeding among the recognised effects of prescription medicines on the gums. The medicine groups most often linked to overgrowth include some blood pressure medicines (calcium channel blockers), some anti-seizure medicines and some immunosuppressants.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine because of your gums. Talk to your dentist and your doctor, who can work out together whether an alternative is suitable. Good plaque control often reduces the overgrowth, and some people need further treatment from their dental team.
A lump beside one tooth
Swelling that is limited to one area deserves a closer look. A pimple-like bump on the gum, throbbing pain, a bad taste or pain on biting can mean an abscess, a collection of infection from the tooth or the gum. Salt water may ease it briefly but will not clear it; the source needs treating. Our guide to an abscessed tooth explains the warning signs.
Get urgent care, from a dentist or an emergency department, if the swelling spreads into your face or neck, you have a fever, or you have trouble swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth.
Not every single-spot swelling is an infection. A piece of popcorn husk or seed caught under the gum, or a gum flap over a partly erupted wisdom tooth, can also cause one tender area.
Calming plaque-related swelling at home
For general puffiness along the gum line, the fix is steady, gentle cleaning rather than harsh scrubbing:
- Brush twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, angling the bristles towards the gum line.
- Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes. Expect some bleeding for the first few days; it usually lessens as the gums settle.
- A warm salt water rinse can feel soothing. Our guide to salt water rinses explains how to make one.
- If you smoke, stopping helps your gums in the long term.
If your gums still bleed after 3 to 4 days of good brushing and flossing, or the swelling is not improving, see a dentist or OHT. Plaque that has hardened into tartar cannot be brushed off at home and needs a professional clean.
What happens at a gum check
A dentist or OHT will look at where the swelling is, gently measure the gum pockets around the teeth, and check for tartar, loose teeth or signs of infection. X-rays may be taken to look at the bone. Gingivitis is usually treated with a thorough clean and help with your home routine. If the inflammation has spread deeper and the bone has started to be affected, that is periodontitis, which needs more detailed treatment and closer follow-up. Our article on gum disease in Australia covers that stage.
At Lumi, our oral health therapists, Sabrina Tran and Jennifer Nguyen, focus on prevention and gum health for children, adults and families.
Common questions
Will swollen gums go away on their own?
Plaque-related swelling usually improves once cleaning gets better, but it will not resolve while plaque and tartar stay in place. Persistent or painful swelling needs a check.
Can a new toothbrush or floss make gums swell?
Gums can feel tender for a few days when you start cleaning areas you used to miss. That usually settles. Sharp pain or cuts may mean you are pressing too hard.
Is one swollen spot more worrying than all-over puffiness?
Often yes. A single swollen area, especially with throbbing or a bad taste, is more likely to be an infection or something trapped, and should be seen promptly.
If your gums have been puffy, sore or bleeding, the team at Lumi Dental can help find the cause and get them back on track. See our current deals page or book with a dentist in Melrose Park.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for personal dental advice. For advice about your own gums, please see a dentist.
