Gingival Enlargement

Gingival enlargement is evaluated as a symptom of gum diseases and gingivitis. However, gingival enlargement can also originate from vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes, or different health problems. The methods to be applied in the treatment of gingival enlargement vary according to the cause of the enlargement. Specialist Dentist Emin Serhat Arıkan, serving patients in Adana, explained for you what gingival enlargement is and how it is treated.

What Is Gingival Enlargement?

Gums are a soft tissue responsible for surrounding the teeth and holding them in place. Protecting against gum diseases that can create damage in gums and cause tooth and bone losses carries great importance in terms of both oral and dental health and general health status.

Gums are a pink-colored tissue located just above and below the teeth. One of the important ailments we encounter in gums, which we can define as soft tissues responsible for protecting tooth roots, is gingival enlargement. Enlargement occurring in the gums is evaluated as a sign (symptom) of a gum disease. Complaints such as pain or inflammation in the gums may also be experienced. Enlargement complaints occurring in gums are often temporary. However, albeit rarely, permanent gingival enlargements can be encountered.

When enlargement is observed in the gum, gums may take on a red or purple color due to increased blood flow. Enlarged gums may appear shiny and smooth. Bleeding complaints often accompany gingival enlargements.

What Are the Causes of Gingival Enlargement?

Gingival enlargement may occur as a result of different diseases or disorders occurring in the gums. Gingival enlargement, usually caused by dental problems, can sometimes occur as a result of different diseases. If we need to list the elements causing gingival enlargement:

• Foreign object or food residue stuck in the gum
• Dental abscess
• Gingivitis
• Periodontitis
• Trench mouth
• Gingivostomatitis
• Ill-fitting prostheses
• Orthodontic treatments
• Dental infections
• Fractures occurring in tooth roots
• Tooth decay
• Medications used
• Vitamin B deficiency
• Fungal infections
• Viral infections similar to Herpes or HIV
• Vitamin C deficiency
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Smoking
• Hormone level changes occurring during puberty, menopause, and pregnancy
• And conditions like leukemia can result in gingival enlargement.

What Are the Symptoms of Gingival Enlargement?

Enlargement occurring in gums manifests itself along with some symptoms. The symptoms caused by gingival enlargement are as follows:

• Swelling of gums and enlargement in this way
• Gums bleeding easily
• The tissue taking on a shiny, red color at points where the gum enlarges
• Pains
• Bad breath
• Plaque accumulation

Enlargement experienced in gums often occurs in the front region of the mouth. Sometimes gingival enlargement can also be encountered in the region between teeth and cheeks.

How Is Gingival Enlargement Diagnosed?

The moment you observe symptoms resulting from gingival enlargement, you must definitely apply to an oral and dental health specialist and have the necessary examinations and tests done for diagnosis. The methods used while diagnosing gingival enlargement vary according to the severity of the symptoms shown by the patient and the cause of gingival enlargement.

Generally, a comprehensive mouth, tooth, and gum examination is sufficient for making the diagnosis of gingival enlargement. However, sometimes the application of some additional tests may be required. The methods used in the diagnosis of gingival enlargement are as follows:

Physical Examination – Your dentist checks your mouth and teeth. Causes underlying gingival enlargement can be detected with a physical examination. Your dentist determines whether the enlargement in your gums is a side effect of a medication used or whether it originates from hormonal reasons. They carry out treatment planning accordingly.

Pathological Examination – To understand whether the cause of the enlargement occurring in the gums is associated with cancer, a tissue sample can be taken from the gum, and a biopsy examination can be performed.

Blood Tests – Your physician may resort to blood tests to detect the cause underlying the enlargement in the gums.

Findings obtained from the physical examination performed and diagnostic methods used are evaluated comprehensively. In this way, the causes of gingival enlargement can be detected. The diagnosis becomes finalized in this way. Following the making of a definitive diagnosis regarding gingival enlargement, treatment planning is carried out and applied according to the severity of the problem and the effects it causes.

How Is Gingival Enlargement Treated?

The path to be followed in the treatment of gingival enlargement cases is shaped according to the cause underlying the problem. If the cause of gingival enlargement is gum diseases, first, the gum disease needs to be treated. Steps to be applied in such situations are as follows:

Periodontal Cleaning and Scaling – This treatment method, aiming at the cleaning of irritating substances leading to plaque and inflammation, can be applied in three-month periods to prevent enlargement in gums.

Removal of Diseased Tissue with Laser or Scalpel – Tissue in the region where the gum shows enlargement can be removed using laser technologies and a scalpel. The application of this surgical intervention may be required especially for excessively enlarged gums.

Apart from this, it is possible to heal enlargements in gums with methods such as antibiotic treatment. Along with this, applications such as brushing teeth more frequently, curettage, use of dental floss, and bone surgery are also used within the scope of preventive treatment applications.

How Does Gingival Enlargement Go Away?

Appropriate and correct treatment applications must be performed for enlarged gums to be restored to their former healthy state. Some gingival enlargement cases may show spontaneous recovery. Gingival enlargements occurring due to food residues stuck in gums and similar different reasons may return to their normal state following the removal of the residues or objects in question. However, in gingival enlargements occurring due to any dental disease, primarily the tooth and gum disease must be treated. Early diagnosis of gum diseases carries critical importance for the treatment to result successfully. Gum diseases intervened early and taken under treatment ensure the protection of oral and dental health in the long run.

Is Gum Enlargement Normal After Braces Are Fitted?

In patients fitted with braces during orthodontic treatment, it is quite difficult to brush teeth properly and use dental floss. This leads to the accumulation of dental plaques under the braces on teeth that are not brushed correctly. As a result of this, redness, swelling, enlargement, and bleeding start to be observed in the gums. To prevent these negative pictures, brushing teeth every day and not neglecting the use of dental floss is necessary. In transparent plaque orthodontic treatments, ensuring oral and dental hygiene is technically easier.  

How Is Gingival Enlargement Cured at Home?

There are some steps you can apply at home against enlargements occurring in gums. You can reduce the severity of enlargement in gums with these measures. Brushing your teeth regularly every day, using antiseptic mouthwashes, and using dental floss provide significant protection against gum problems. Along with this, you can gargle with warm salt water several times a day. You can apply a cold compress to alleviate gingival enlargement and inflammation in gums. All these measures can help alleviate the severity of gingival enlargement. However, if the problem has reached advanced levels that cannot be eliminated with these measures, applying to a specialist dentist may become mandatory.