Should I use hot or cold compress for swollen and painful gums?

If we do not take good care of our teeth in our daily life and do not brush our teeth when we get up early or before going to bed, it will cause great damage to our teeth and cause a series of dental diseases. For example, swollen and painful gums are caused by inflammation of the gums due to unhealthy oral hygiene. Therefore, we must protect the cleanliness of our oral cavity. So if symptoms of swollen and painful gums occur, is it better to apply hot or cold compresses?

1. Causes of swollen and painful gums

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.

A large amount of dental plaque adheres to the tooth surface and tooth gaps, dental tartar and dead corners in the mouth that cannot be cleaned, causing mobile bacteria to invade the gums. Once periodontal pockets are formed under the gums, the capillaries of the gums begin to expand, the blood vessel pressure increases, the gums are in a state of congestion for a long time, and the periodontal pockets are susceptible to external impacts.

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.

2. Should I use hot or cold compresses for swollen and painful gums?

It is better to use hot compress to treat swollen and painful gums, because the dental pulp nerves are sensitive to temperature, especially for teeth with worn teeth and exposed dentin. Cold stimulation can cause toothache, and hot compress is a natural protection for teeth, which can prevent and treat allergic toothache. Tea contains fluoride, and gargling with warm tea regularly can protect teeth, prevent caries, and treat toothache, but it only treats the symptoms and not the root cause.

It is best to eat warm food and avoid eating too sour or sweet food, because teeth are best metabolized in an oral temperature of 35℃-36℃ and a weakly acidic environment with a pH of around 6.8. Eating too cold or too hot food with a large temperature difference, or too sour or sweet stimulating food will cause toothache. This method can temporarily relieve pain.

3. How to prevent swollen and painful gums

(1) Pay attention to oral hygiene and develop a good habit of brushing your teeth in the morning and evening and rinsing your mouth after meals.

(2) If tooth decay is discovered, treat it promptly.

(3) Avoid eating sugar, biscuits or other starchy foods before going to bed.

(4) It is advisable to eat more foods that can clear stomach fire and liver fire, such as pumpkin, watermelon, water chestnut, celery, roca, etc.

(5) Avoid alcohol and hot foods.

(6) A quick temper and being easily angered can cause toothache, so it is best to keep an open mind and a calm mood.

(7) Keep bowel movements smooth and prevent fecal toxins from rising.

(8) Avoid eating hard food, and avoid eating sour, cold, or hot food.