Yesterday I was eating tortilla chips and the edge of one lodged into my gum or just poked it really really hard. Could a piece be stuck in there? The are swelled up almost immediately. Whn I woke up this morning there was even more swelling. What I find strange is tht there is an area not affected by the chip directly tht is extremely swollen. Could my gums just be extremly bothered? Or is this serious? I took an inflammatory last night ang gargled the area with salt water.
Hello, I read your inquiry. You have done two important steps that I would recommend to my patients. Floss the area well and consider using an interdental cleaner or water pic (irrigation). Maintain good daily dental hygiene. You may still need to dislodge some food debris. Continue to rinse vigorously. Continue with anti-inflammatory medication as needed. The trauma of an injury from something hard could cause the inflammatory reaction. If the area does not feel better in two days, schedule a visit with your dentist to evaluate the area. You may disturb the tissue trying to clean it out and feel some soreness. The concern is an infection and need of prescription medication. I am concerned if the swelling continues to increase. If swelling or pain increase, do not delay scheduling a visit. Make sure to be on schedule for your routine dental exam and cleaning. It is possible that you have an underlying cause such as a tooth infection or periodontal disease. You may have been unaware, and this episode has Chat Doctor.  Thank you for your inquiry. I hope with my suggestions your discomfort will resolve ANF you feel better soon.