What does this mean?
Colour and texture are the two most readable signs a gum gives. Redness means increased blood flow, swelling means fluid in the tissue. Together they point to bacterial inflammation underneath.
Whether the swelling is general or limited to one tooth matters. Widespread redness usually comes from plaque. Swelling confined to one spot, tense and painful, can be an abscess and does not tolerate waiting.
The same appearance can come from three problems at different depths. What separates them is how widespread the swelling is and what the pain feels like.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Clean twice a day with a soft brush, angled 45 degrees to the gum margin
- A warm salt-water rinse gives temporary relief but does not remove the cause
- Avoid alcohol-based rinses; they dry the mouth and make things harder long term
- Tense, throbbing swelling confined around a single tooth
- Swelling spreading into the cheek or face
- Fever alongside the swelling
- Difficulty opening the mouth or swallowing
Frequently asked questions
- If the swelling goes down on its own, is the problem over?
- No. With an abscess the swelling can drop because the pus has drained; as long as the source is untouched it comes back.
- Why is only one area of my gum red?
- There may be a surface that is not being cleaned there, an overhanging filling edge or a cracked tooth. A local cause should be looked for.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.