Red Gums
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Reviewed By:

Luri Lee, DMD

Luri Lee, DMD (Dentistry)

Dr. Luri Lee graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology. She then continued her education at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. During her time in dental school, Dr. Lee was the recipient of the Spencer N. Frankl Scholarship for her strong academic performance and active participation in the school and community. Following dental school, Dr. Lee stayed at Boston University to complete a one year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program. In 2020 Dr. Lee was recognized among the “10 Under Ten” by the Massachusetts Dental Society for her contributions to the dental community and her volunteer work in Panama. Dr. Lee is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and is a member of the American Dental Association, Massachusetts Dental Society and Academy of General Dentistry.

Yoshinori Abe, MD

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.

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Content updated on Mar 7, 2024

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  • Reddening of the gums

  • Redness in the gums

  • My gums are red

  • Gum redness

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About the Symptom

Gingivitis, a minor form of gum disease, is the most common cause of red, swollen gums. Gingivitis is generally caused by poor oral hygiene. Infrequent brushing and flossing causes bacteria and plaque to build up around the gums, which causes irritation, resulting in a swollen, red appearance. Red gums can also be due to medications, allergies and underlying medical conditions.

Possible Causes

Generally, Red gums can be related to:

  • Dental caries

    Dental caries occur when the hard outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, gets destroyed, sometimes forming small holes or cavitations. Common causes include eating and drinking sugary foods, frequent snacking, dry mouth and poor oral hygiene.

  • Immunodeficiency syndrome

    This is a group of disorders affecting the immune system, reducing the body's ability to defend itself from infections and other diseases. A person can be born with such a condition (congenital) or acquire it (acquired). The severity and impact on the immune system can vary widely depending on the cause. Congenital conditions are usually due to inherited gene mutations, while acquired conditions can be caused by drugs, infections, long-term conditions and treatments, or other environmental factors.

  • Primary immunodeficiency syndrome

    PIDDs (primary immune deficiency diseases) are rare inherited disorders that affect the immune system. People with PIDDs may be vulnerable to chronic, severe infections because their immune systems aren't functioning properly.

  • Rickets Vitamin D deficiency

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

  • Are your gums red?

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References

  • Chapple, Iain L.C., et al. “Periodontal Health and Gingival Diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: Consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the classification of Periodontal and peri‐implant diseases and conditions.” Journal of Periodontology, vol. 89, no. S1, 21 June 2018, pp. S74–S84, https://doi.org/10.1002/jper.17-0719.

    https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/JPER.17-0719

Reviewed By:

Luri Lee, DMD

Luri Lee, DMD (Dentistry)

Dr. Luri Lee graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology. She then continued her education at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. During her time in dental school, Dr. Lee was the recipient of the Spencer N. Frankl Scholarship for her strong academic performance and active participation in the school and community. Following dental school, Dr. Lee stayed at Boston University to complete a one year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program. In 2020 Dr. Lee was recognized among the “10 Under Ten” by the Massachusetts Dental Society for her contributions to the dental community and her volunteer work in Panama. Dr. Lee is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and is a member of the American Dental Association, Massachusetts Dental Society and Academy of General Dentistry.

Yoshinori Abe, MD

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.

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