What to Do if Your Gums Are Swollen While Wearing Braces

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Applying braces in Hollywood over your teeth can make them more challenging to clean. This can lead to bacterial buildup around the brackets leading to gingivitis. When your gums are swollen, red, and painful, you should not ignore them. Let your orthodontist know about it right away to stop the infection from getting worse. Without treatment, gingivitis will continue to destroy the soft tissues in your mouth and may even damage the bone that supports your teeth.

woman shows braces in Hollywood

How to Deal With Swollen Gums During Orthodontic Treatment

What Can Cause Gum Infection?

The leading cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, plaque and bacteria will build up and cause inflammation. You will notice that your gums will start receding and form tiny pockets between your teeth and gum tissues during the early stages.

These pockets provide more space for bacteria to accumulate. You may also notice that your gums will start to bleed easily, feel painful, and look swollen and red. At this point, seeking treatment is paramount.

What to Do When Your Gums are Swollen During Treatment?

The best thing you can do is let your orthodontist know about it. Your orthodontist will treat the infection and monitor your gums with each appointment. You will also receive instructions on the proper way to brush and floss your teeth while wearing braces. Some patients are advised to brush more often until the infection clears up. However, gentle brushing is ideal because if you brush too hard, you might cause more damage to your gums.

patient looks up while dentist checks her braces in Hollywood

Do You Need More Tips on Brushing With Braces in Hollywood?

AT TLC Dental, our expert dental team will share tips on how to maintain good oral health while on orthodontic treatment. Our dental office uses the latest techniques and technology to give you the best smile possible. Contact us today for a reservation.

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