Your smile is an important part of you; not only is it your most prominent feature and a huge asset when it comes to navigating social situations, but it’s also an important contributor to your overall health. That said, if you’ve recently noticed that your gums have become swollen, you might not be sure if it’s a big enough deal to warrant a trip to your dentist’s office. Here are some of the potential causes of swollen gums and how the issue can be handled.

It can be alarming to look into the bathroom mirror and notice a bump on your gums! You might feel like panicking, but you shouldn’t stress out; the issue is much more common than you probably realize and can result from a wide variety of things. That said, it’s still in your best interest to contact your dentist promptly so that you can get to the bottom of what’s caused the issue and commit to treatment if necessary. Here are some of the common causes for bumps appearing on your gums, along with some signs for when you should see your emergency dentist about it.