Swollen Gums – What Are The Causes?

There may be a few different reasons that you could find yourself suffering from swollen gums. It is important that if you do find yourself with this condition that you do something about it in order to avoid serious dental problems or pain.

Gums puff up when edema, which is a kind of fluid, fills up in the soft gum tissue. This does not tend to be an isolated thing, but is rather caused by an underlying condition and may be accompanied by redness of the gums, pain, sores, ulcers, and bleeding.

The most common cause of swollen gums is poor oral health, which in time leads to a bacterial infection known as gingivitis or mild gum disease. When you develop this condition there may be many different symptoms that you experience including swollen gums.

If you seek out treatment early on, then you are able to reverse the condition and restore gum health without suffering any long-lasting problems. But, if you do not, then you may experience permanent problems such as tooth loss.

The amount of swelling and pain that accompanies conditions such as gum disease can vary according to whether the infection is above or below the gum line. Gingivitis is the mild form of the condition and swelling and pain are usually minimal. Periodontitis is advanced gum disease and with this condition the infection has usually spread under the gum line leading to more acute pain and more swelling.

Other Causes Of Gum Swelling

Gum disease is not the only cause of swollen gums however, it can also be caused by plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that is formed when saliva mixes with bacteria in your mouth and it can really irritate your gums.

It is essential that you are following a reliable home oral health routine that includes brushing, flossing and using a mouthwash. This three-step process helps to remove plaque and bacteria before they can begin to cause gum disease and other oral health problems.

If your teeth are out of alignment, then this can also encourage gums to swell as pressure may be placed on certain areas of the mouth more than others. Having dentures, plates or braces that are ill-fitting can also irritate the gums and cause swelling to occur.

Women may be more likely to complain about swollen gums in varying degrees from time to time since hormonal changes can weaken gums. Women should be particularly careful of their gum health during menopause, puberty and pregnancy.

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You’ve been doing so well with your diet. You’ve changed your portion sizes, you’ve been working out, and you’re trying your best to lose weight. Planning your meals, using recipes, and looking for tips to cut down on fat, sugar, and salt didn’t come naturally to you at first, but now you’re a pro. Still, it’s almost impossible to never eat out again. Eating is more than nourishment; it’s social and pleasurable. You want to share this experience with others. Does this mean you have to blow all the hard work you’ve been doing? No way! You just need to plan out your dining experience before you head out the door. You might have less control over what you are eating when someone else is preparing your meal, but having a plan to make the healthiest selections can keep you satisfied and happy. Here are some helpful tips for planning your dining out experience.

1. Make a calorie budget. You know how many calories you want to be eating daily, so depending on where you live and where you are eating, the calories may be listed on the menu or on a pamphlet you can request. Once you know the calories in each meal or dish, you can choose the lower calorie options. If this calorie information is not available to you, look for foods that are grilled and veggie side dishes that are steamed instead of fried or sautéed. Try to avoid foods that have the descriptors “breaded”, “battered”, or “fried”. Avoid creamy sauces that are loaded with calories and saturated fat, especially since they can really blow your calorie budget. Restaurants never seem to mind customers asking for sauces, syrups, or dressings on the side. This allows you to limit the amount of sauce you use. You can also ask your server to limit the amount of butter, oil, and salt that is used in cooking. Most restaurants are very accommodating to dietary needs and can easily modify dishes.
2. Watch your portions. Keep in mind that portion sizes are very large at restaurants, and it’s okay not to finish all the food on your plate (regardless of what your parents may have told you). A great tip to help control your portion sizes from the beginning? Ask for a to-go box before your meal comes so that you can cut the meal size in half as soon as you receive the plate. Doggy bags save you from calorie overload and provide you lunch for the next day! It may also be a good idea to have a small, healthy snack before you go out to eat. This way you won’t feel starved when you get to the restaurant and over order or overeat. If you do feel like you need an appetizer, clear soups or small side salads, with dressing on the side, can be a great lower calorie option and keep you from eating the entire bread basket.
3. Limit the liquids. Everyone’s favorite: alcoholic beverages. As delicious as these concoctions can be, they can also easily and quickly add a few hundred calories to your meal. If you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight, it’s best to skip alcoholic drinks all together. If you would really like to have a drink, it’s good to limit to one drink and to choose lower calorie drinks such as light beers, dry wines, and drinks made with low-calorie mixers like club soda. Or, have your drink on the rocks. Sweet mixers, syrups, sodas, and juices are packed with unnecessary calories and sugar.
4. Avoid buffets. Remember the phrase, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach”? Ordering off the menu and having a designated portion delivered to you controls the volume of food that you have on your plate. It’s so hard to decipher when you’re adding a large volume of food to those huge buffet plates.
5. My favorite tip is to enjoy the company you’re with. Eating with a group of people helps to slow down the speed at which you eat as you have conversations with your company and more thoroughly enjoy the entire experience of dining out. Occasionally we might consume more with a group if they are eating/drinking more than we normally would alone, but don’t feel pressured to eat more than you want or order extra servings or drinks just because others do. Great eating companions will respect and support your healthy lifestyle and may even be inspired by you!

Light from Tablets Can Affect Melatonin and Delay Sleep. Image: rpi.edu

I would argue that sleep is one of the most important things to me. Not that I am lazy or need a lot of sleep. I know that the amount of sleep I get directly affects my mental and physical health. I will do nearly anything to ensure I get enough sleep or to improve the quality of my sleep.

New research shows that I need to stop looking at my phone or my laptop late in the evening. The bright light emitted from these devices can suppress melatonin – a hormone that helps control sleep and wake cycles. This can wreak havoc on your sleep.

A new study from the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shows that a two-hour exposure to electronic devices with self-luminous backlit displays causes melatonin suppression, which might lead to delayed bedtimes, especially in teens.

The study tested the effects of self-luminous tablets on melatonin suppression. The study monitored 13 individuals who used self-luminous tablets to read, play games, and watch movies.

“Our study shows that a two-hour exposure to light from self-luminous electronic displays can suppress melatonin by about 22 percent. Stimulating the human circadian system to this level may affect sleep in those using the devices prior to bedtime,” said Mariana Figueiro, associate professor at Rensselaer.

The findings of this study may influence manufacturers to develop “circadian-friendly” devices that could either increase or decrease circadian stimulation depending on the time of day (The study was funded by Sharp Laboratories of America). Until that day, consider creating an electronic curfew and start spending all of those nighttime hours with a book instead of staring at your tablet or your phone.

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Garmin has a new GPS-enabled watch designed for runners called the Forerunner 10. The easly-to-use, lightweight running watch is designed to allow runners to simply push a button and start running. The timepiece will let you see how far and how fast you’ve gone along with some nifty advanced features and social/motivational functions.

• The timer screen shows your time and distance. You can also see your calories and pace.
• The Virtual Pacer feature compares your current running pace to a target you set.
• The Forerunner 10 lets you know when you achieve a personal record, like your fastest mile or longest run.

Garmin Connect

The watch will also allow you to upload your data to Garmin Connect to view your run on a map, get more detail on each mile, and share it with friends. It highlights your personal records and shows you detail like average pace and elevation.

Read more on the Garmin website or buy it here. It comes in three colors and is currently priced at $129.99.

Researchers used participant data from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study and any linked Medicare claims to determine any association between midlife fitness and the development of nonfatal chronic conditions in older age. The study monitored the fitness levels of men and women older than 65 and enrolled in Medicare. Fitness was measured via a standard treadmill test. The researchers looked at whether the patients developed certain kinds of chronic disease.

“In this cohort of healthy middle-aged adults, fitness was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing chronic disease outcomes during 26 years of follow-up. These findings suggest that higher midlife fitness may be associated with the compression of morbidity in older age.”

It is common knowledge that fit people live longer. This study may show that fit people live better as well.

Withings Health Companion

Withings has come out with a new (and free) health and fitness iOS app, called Withings Health Companion that will provide you with some powerful and comprehensive reporting about your body and the current state of your health.

The Withings Health Companion is the simple way to take care of yourself and stay healthy. It’s free to download and is designed for anyone who wants to lose a few pounds, exercise more, keep an eye on their blood pressure, or sleep better.

Withings is known for a line of personal health devices including Wi-Fi Body Scales and a Blood Pressure Monitor. The devices enable you to monitor and track your health over time.

Take a tour of the application or download it from itunes. An Android version is expected at a later date.

FDA Neti Pot Warning

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding the risk of infection tied to the improper use of neti pots and other similar nasal-rinsing devices.

The concern is the source of water that is used with Neti Pots. Tap water that is not filtered, treated, or processed in specific ways is not safe for use as a nasal rinse. Tap water can contain organisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, including amoebas, that can stay alive in nasal passages and cause potentially serious infections.

FDA has determined that some manufacturer instructions provide misleading or contradictory information, or lack any guidelines. Improper use of neti pots may have caused two deaths in 2011 in Louisiana from a rare brain infection that the state health department linked to tap water contaminated with an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.

Neti Pots are used to rinse the nasal passages with a saline (salt-based) solution. These devices have become a popular treatment for congested sinuses, colds and allergies, and other related issues.

The FDA has Provided the Following Questions and Answers as a Guide:

What types of water are safe to use in nasal rinsing devices?

• Distilled or sterile water, which you can buy in stores. The label will state “distilled” or “sterile.”
• Boiled and cooled tap water—boiled for 3-5 minutes, then cooled until it is lukewarm. Previously boiled water can be stored in a clean, closed container for use within 24 hours.
• Water passed through a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller, which traps potentially infectious organisms. CDC has information on selecting these filters, which you can buy from some hardware and discount stores, or online.

How do I use and care for my device?

• Wash and dry hands.
• Check that the device is clean and completely dry.
• Use the appropriate water as recommended above to prepare the saline rinse, either with the prepared mixture supplied with the device, or one you make yourself.
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
• Wash the device with distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled tap water, and then dry the inside with a paper towel or let it air dry between uses.

Are nasal rinsing devices safe for children?

Some children are diagnosed with nasal allergies as early as age 2, Osborne says, and could use nasal rinsing devices at that time, if a pediatrician recommends it. However, he adds that very young children might not tolerate the procedure as easily as would older children or adults.

What are some negative effects to watch out for when using nasal rinsing devices?

Talk to your health care provider to determine if nasal rinsing will be safe or effective for your condition. If symptoms are not relieved or worsen after nasal rinsing, then return to your health care provider, especially if you had any of these symptoms while using the nasal rinse:

• fever
• nosebleed
• headaches

Many of us use Neti Pots to help control and prevent sinus problems and to get some relief from the pain and pressure of congestion (myself included). Don’t use tap water and property clean your devices.

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The newly approved standards, made possible by Bluetooth v4.0 low energy technology, will enable companies to build the next generation of Bluetooth devices for the running and cycling markets.

Companies can now implement Bluetooth Smart sensors to instantaneously transmit data such as running cadence, stride length, total distance, or cycling speed, distance, and pedal cadence to Bluetooth enabled devices like smart phones, sports watches, and cycling computers.

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Gympact is a service where you make a ‘pact’ to exercise on certain days of the week. If you miss a workout you must pay the monetary penalty you set for yourself. The penalty money from non-exercisers is then divvied up amongst those who did exercise.

RunKeeper is an app that uses social media to pressure you into improving the quality of your fitness. The RunKeeper app turns your phone into a “personal trainer” to track your runs, walks, bike rides, hikes, ski runs, and more using the GPS in your phone.

The following RunKeeper activities can be tracked on GymPact:

• All runs, walks or bike rides tracked by RunKeeper’s GPS
• Minimum 1/2 miles distance
• Minimum of 30 minutes of activity in which your pace is above 2 miles per hour (but slower than driving!).
• Maximum 3 hours long

RunKeeper now enhanced with GymPact will provide that additional monetary incentive to get you moving. Exercise or pay the price – in more ways than one.

Pills with ingestible chips are being developed to track whether a patient is taking their medicine on time. The high-tech pills contain a sensor which communicates with a skin patch worn on the patient’s torso.

About the size of a grain of salt, the sensor has no battery or antenna and is activated when it gets wet from stomach juices.

That completes a circuit between coatings of copper and magnesium on either side, generating a tiny electric voltage for a few minutes.

The skin patch records the digital message, along with the patient’s heart rate, body angle and activity, and sends the data to a bluetooth-enabled device such as a phone or computer.

The data is then uploaded to a computer network for viewing by patients, caregivers and physicians.

The technology, developed by Proteus Digital Health, can prompt patients to take their medicine and even recommend they exercise if they have been too sedentary. This is a big leap from the low-tech pill organizers which many people have relied on for years.

Eventually the pills may be developed for anything from the common cold to diabetes or cancer. This could prove to be very beneficial to those with complicated medicine routines such as diabetes or heart conditions.

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