What should I do for red, swollen, and painful gums?
Disease description:
The child’s gums are red and swollen, protruding up to two centimeters above the normal gum line, causing severe pain that prevents sleep. What can be done for red, swollen, and painful gums?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Medication and root canal therapy. You should promptly visit the dental department of a hospital for examination and diagnosis to determine the underlying cause, followed by appropriate treatment. For inflammation, infection, or “excess heat” (a traditional Chinese medicine concept), medications such as artificial bezoar and metronidazole capsules may be used, along with watermelon frost spray applied topically to the swollen gingiva to reduce swelling and relieve pain. If the condition is caused by apical periodontitis, root canal therapy may be required. In cases where residual tooth roots remain, they should be extracted after resolution of the inflammation, followed by prosthetic restoration (e.g., denture or bridge placement).
