pharyngitis + swollen gums

Hello - I'm just recently getting over a bout of pharyngitis(probably viral)  that has lasted a little under a week.  While I'm feeling better, and my throat is feeling better, I've noticed that my upper gums  have gotten a little swollen and are tender when I eat something hard (like an apple).  They also bleed when I brush my teeth.  I can feel (with my tongue) that the triangular parts of my gums between my teeth are swollen.  

My question is - could the swollen gums just be a result of the inflammation in my mouth from the infection?  Or perhaps all the zinc/menthol lozenges I've been sucking on have irritated my gums.  Just an FYI - I'm taking Penicillin prescribed by my PCP in the case that this is bacterial.

Thanks.