When your gums swell up, feel tender, or start covering parts of your teeth, you might be dealing with gingival hyperplasia, an abnormal growth of gum tissue that isn’t caused by infection or poor hygiene alone. Also known as gum overgrowth, it’s not just a cosmetic issue—it can make brushing hard, trap food, and lead to real dental problems if ignored. This isn’t something that just happens randomly. It’s often triggered by medications you’re already taking—like those for seizures, high blood pressure, or after an organ transplant.
Think about it: if you’re on phenytoin, an anticonvulsant used to control seizures, your gums might start growing because the drug changes how your gum cells behave. Same goes for calcium channel blockers, like amlodipine or nifedipine, used for high blood pressure. Even cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant taken after transplants, can cause this reaction. These aren’t rare side effects—they’re well-documented, and they show up in up to 50% of people on long-term doses. The good news? It’s not your fault. You didn’t brush too hard or skip flossing. Your body’s just reacting to the medicine.
But here’s the catch: if you stop your meds because of swollen gums, you could be risking something worse—like a seizure, a heart attack, or organ rejection. So the goal isn’t to quit the drug. It’s to manage the side effect. Regular dental cleanings, better brushing techniques with a soft brush, and sometimes switching to a different medication can make a huge difference. Your dentist and doctor need to talk to each other—because this isn’t just a dental problem. It’s a medication side effect that needs a team solution.
You’ll find posts here that dig into how these drugs connect to gum changes, what alternatives exist, and how people have handled this without giving up their treatment. Whether you’re on one of these meds, know someone who is, or just noticed your gums looking different, this collection gives you real, no-fluff answers—not just warnings, but practical steps you can take.
Phenytoin can cause painful gum overgrowth, but with proper brushing, flossing, regular dental cleanings, and diet changes, you can prevent or reverse it. Learn how to protect your teeth while staying on this essential medication.
