Swollen oral mucosa

Definition

A swollen oral mucosa manifests itself in a thickening of the affected mucosa. This thickening is often accompanied by redness, burning and itching. This unpleasant symptom often occurs in the context of stomatitis, i.e. inflammation of the oral mucosa.

The cheek mucous membrane is often affected, but the tongue can also be affected, for example by allergies. The person affected finds this extremely unpleasant. In worse cases, breathing difficulties can occur.

Causes

Triggers for a swollen oral mucosa are numerous. This symptom occurs most frequently in stomatitis. Mechanical irritation, bacteria or poor oral hygiene are responsible for this type of inflammation.

Various drugs are also suspected of causing swelling in the mouth area. This is accompanied by an altered production of mucus/saliva. An allergic reaction triggered by grass or pollen can also lead to a swollen oral mucosa.

If the allergic reaction is more severe, the mucous membranes of those affected can swell so much within a very short time that breathing can be impeded. In addition, there are some diseases that are associated with swelling in the mouth. These include asthma, inflammation, mumps, or bronchitis.

But also more dangerous diseases such as tumors make the gums or cheek mucous membrane swell. Often the doctor can identify these changes by their color and shape. Malignant (malignant) tumors cannot be moved against their background, have an unusual shape and usually a changed color. You should have this clarified by your family dentist and, if necessary, have a small biopsy (tissue removal) performed so that the correct diagnosis can be made.

Menopause

Declining hormone levels and hormone fluctuations can also be felt in the mouth and on the teeth. A frequently described symptom is hormonal gingivitis, i.e. inflamed and swollen gums. An initially swollen gum is susceptible to bacteria.

Over time, the gums redden and start bleeding when brushing. The bleeding often means that less brushing is done in these areas. However, this is precisely what is wrong.

Here too, one should proceed thoroughly to contain the inflammation again. Since the interdental spaces are particularly at risk, thorough brushing should be done here. Without adequate oral hygiene, periodontal disease can develop, which can be accompanied by tooth loss.