How to reduce swelling in children's gums

Children are prone to gum swelling and pain during the teething process. If it is not caused by a disease, parents can help their children reduce pain through oral medication. However, if periodontal swelling, gingival swelling and pain, or gingival pus discharge is caused by tooth decay or other diseases, the child should be taken to the hospital's dental department for diagnosis and treatment in time to avoid delaying the best treatment period.

Causes

The main causes of swollen and painful gums include gingival abscess, periodontal abscess, wisdom tooth pericoronitis or apical periodontitis, etc. The most common disease is caused by periodontal abscess, and wisdom tooth pericoronitis is more common in young people. Patients often have chronic inflammation of the gums or periodontal tissues. When the body's resistance is reduced, the weather is dry, they eat spicy food, or suffer from systemic diseases such as diabetes, the original chronic inflammation will cause an acute attack and symptoms of swollen and painful gums will appear.

Clinical manifestations

The gums are dark red or dark red, swollen and enlarged, with rounded gingival margins and spherical gingival papillae. The tissue is soft and bleeds easily on probing, and there may also be purulent secretions. In severe cases, the attached gingiva may become edematous, the stippling may disappear, the surface may become shiny, the gingival margin may have erosion or granulation hyperplasia, and pus may overflow from the gingival pockets. Acute periodontal abscess occurs suddenly, with the gums becoming red, swollen and shiny. An oval or hemispherical swelling forms on the affected gums. When immature, the gums are tense and painful, and there is a sense of fluctuation after maturity. The affected teeth have a "floating feeling" due to periodontal ligament edema, are painful upon percussion, and are obviously loose. In the late stage of abscess, pus is localized, the surface of the abscess is soft, and pus overflow can be seen on examination. There may be local lymphadenopathy or a slight increase in white blood cells. The abscess may rupture and disappear on its own.

If the body's resistance is reduced, single or multiple gingival abscesses may occur, especially in the gingival papilla area. If the acute attack of chronic periodontitis causes periodontal swelling and pain, it may be accompanied by loose teeth. If the gingival swelling and pain is caused by acute apical periodontitis, caries, hidden cracks, etc. may be found, and there may be a feeling of teeth popping out. Patients with swollen and painful gums often experience bleeding gums, conscious swelling of the gums, bad breath, etc.

Diagnosis Differential examination diagnosis

(A) Acute periodontal abscess

1. A shiny swelling suddenly appears on the gums. The swollen area is tender and fluctuating, and there is purulent secretion.

2. Have relevant medical history.

3. The teeth are sensitive to percussion or loose, and may be accompanied by pulpal symptoms.

4. There may be local lymphadenopathy.

(ii) Pericoronitis of wisdom teeth

1. Use a probe to check for the presence of unerupted or impacted wisdom tooth crowns, red and swollen gums, and bleeding or pus discharge on probing.

2. X-ray examination may show that the impacted tooth has not fully erupted; in the X-ray films of chronic pericoronitis, the presence of periodontal bone shadows (pathological bone pockets) may sometimes be found.

(III) Gingival abscess

1. The gingival papilla and gingival margin are deep red or dark red, swollen and hypertrophic, the gingival margin is rounded and blunt, the gingival papilla is spherical, and the attached gingiva is usually not involved.

2. Periodontal examination showed no periodontal pockets and X-rays showed no alveolar bone absorption.

3. There are usually obvious irritants such as food impaction or foreign matter piercing the gums.

(IV) Acute apical periodontitis

1. Check the affected tooth for caries or non-caries diseases, pulp inactivity, percussion pain (+)~(++), looseness I°, and vertical looseness may be more obvious.

2. Spontaneous bloating and biting pain, may be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as low fever and fatigue.

3. The mucosa in the apical area is swollen and hemispherical, with obvious fluctuation during palpation.