Gingival overgrowth, or enlarged gums, can be caused by medications like high blood pressure and antiepileptic drugs, as well as poor hygiene and gum disease. It can cause pain, bleeding, difficulty chewing, and an increased risk of oral infections. Treatment includes regular dental visits, proper home care, and potentially changing medications.
Gingival overgrowth is the enlargement of the gums in the mouth. The condition is usually caused by medications, such as high blood pressure medications or antiepileptic drugs. There may also be a genetic cause for the enlargement. Other risk factors include gum disease and poor hygiene. A person with gum overgrowth may have trouble chewing and keeping their teeth clean, as gum tissue grows between the teeth.
The most common causes of gingival overgrowth are calcium channel blockers, used to treat high blood pressure and phenytoin, and antiepileptic drugs used to treat epilepsy. An immunosuppressant, cyclosporine, can also cause enlargement. In some cases, patients can take both calcium channel blockers and cyclosporine, which further increases the risk of overgrowth. Usually, the overgrowth is noticed about a month after the patient starts the medicine.
When the gums become overgrown, the tissue becomes more fibrous. Usually, the gums are inflamed and red. The most commonly affected area of the gums is the interdental papilla, or tissue between the teeth, especially the papillae between the front teeth.
Gingival overgrowth can be painful and disfiguring. Usually, it causes the gums to bleed and can cause the teeth to loosen. It can also cause serious problems with speaking and eating, as the shape of the bite changes, making chewing difficult. The condition usually also increases the patient’s risk of oral infections and periodontal disease.
As the gums grow on the top or crown of the tooth, brushing and flossing your teeth every day can become difficult. The overgrowth can lead to tooth decay, as a patient cannot clean their teeth properly. Although poor hygiene and periodontal disease can lead to excessive growth, enlarged gums can also cause gum disease.
One way to reduce any dental problems caused by gum overgrowth is to have the patient visit the dentist four times a year, or every three months, for teeth cleaning and plaque removal. At each dental visit, the patient should receive instructions for proper home care. Some patients may find that rinsing with 0.12% chlorhexidine solution also reduces the overgrowth.
If the gingival overgrowth is caused by medication, some patients may need to wean themselves off the medication to reduce the overgrowth. Stopping the drugs may not be effective for patients who have had gum enlargement for a long time. Certain medications, such as antibiotics or antifungal drugs, can reduce the overgrowth. A 2011 study suggested that folic acid treatment may reduce the gingival overgrowth caused by phenytoin.
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