Red Gums
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Inflamed gums
Gum pain
Sore gums
Gum swollen around one tooth
Red gums
Swollen gums in back of mouth
Sensitive gums
Spitting blood when brushing teeth
Red gums around one tooth
Blood when brushing teeth but no pain
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.
Hypophosphatasia (HPP)
Hypophosphatasia is a rare genetic disorder that affects bone and tooth mineralization, leading to skeletal and dental abnormalities.
- 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.
- Osteomalacia / Rickets
- Secondary Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are your gums red?
- Do you have gum problems?
- How has gum abnormalities changed since it started?
- How long have you had gum abnormalities?
- Are there any lumps on your gums?
Reviewed By:
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 (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.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Reddening of the gums
- Redness in the gums
- My gums are red
- Gum redness
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
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