The causes of swollen gums are actually very varied.  Sometimes, it comes naturally to some people.  An example would be pregnant women.  Usually, swollen gums or gingivitis attack them during their second or third trimester.  People in their senescence or old age are also common victims due to the fact that their health status is starting to lie low and their resistance against diseases starts to decrease.  Children are also susceptible to swollen gums since they do not have a clear understanding of how to maintain proper oral hygiene.

However, the most common cause of gingivitis is greatly related to the lifestyle of a person.  To be specific, having very poor oral hygiene can be crucial in the existence of swollen gums.  As mentioned previously, swollen gums are caused by bacterial infestation.  The only way that these bacteria would get into our mouth is when we do not properly clean it.  Obviously, people with poor oral hygiene are the ones that do not clean their mouth on a regular basis.  As a result, bacteria would start to populate in the cavity and will slowly attack and destroy the vital parts of your oral cavity.  Thus, your hygiene is greatly and essentially correlated to swollen gums.

Once you catch the disease, the question that would boggle your mind would be how to treat swollen gums.  The best way to do so is what we call as preventive measures.  By doing things or activities that stray us away from bacterial infestation, swollen gums would surely be light years away from us.  Examples of these would be watching what we eat.  Avoid too salty or too spicy foods as they can harm your gums once you exceed your regular intake.  You may need to avoid vices like smoking and drinking as well since they are also damaging to your cavity.

Most importantly, you need to make sure that you clean your mouth regularly and consistently to avoid bacteria from invading your oral cavity.  All of these things require utmost commitment and accountability.  We all know that prevention is better than cure.  So to avoid further and more complicated problems, it would be best to start early as much as possible.  In that way, you will be secured that you are not in danger.

A balanced and nutritious diet is good for your general health and your dental health. Without the right nutrients, your teeth and gums can become more susceptible to decay and gum disease.

Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems. The average Canadian eats the equivalent of 40 kg of sugar each year. Here are a few ways to cut down:

• Try to choose sugar-free snacks – see the snacks listed below.
• Add less sugar to coffee or tea (or use sugar substitutes).
• Avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
• Look for fruit juices and drinks with no added sugar.
• Read lists of ingredients when you’re grocery shopping. Honey, molasses, liquid invert sugar, glucose, and fructose are all types of sugar.
• When you do eat sweets, avoid sticky sweets. They cling to teeth and are harder to brush away. Eat sweets with a meal, not as a snack. The increased flow of saliva during a meal helps to wash away and dilute sugar.
• Carry a travel-size toothbrush and use it after eating sweets. If you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth with water or eat a fibrous fruit or raw vegetables. Or chew a piece of sugarless gum.

Some great-tasting snacks that won’t harm your teeth:

• Plain milk and buttermilk
• Fruit and raw vegetables
• Plain yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese
• Hard boiled or devilled eggs
• Nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• Melba toast
• Salad