What to do about gum pain: Home remedies and tips
Gum pain can be a real hassle, especially if it’s getting in the way of your day-to-day comfort.
But, gum pain is often very easy to treat, even at home – though it’s also a common sign of something more serious going on in your mouth.
So, what can you do about gum pain, how do you treat it, and can you do anything at home to prevent it coming back?
In this article:
Everything you need to know about gum pain
Let’s start with the why: What causes gum pain?
If you’re looking for a simple answer, unfortunately you won’t quite find that here. Gum pain can be a symptom of quite a few different ailments – mostly related to oral health. You may need a dentist to help you confirm the specific cause of your own pain.
Broadly speaking, the better your oral health the less likely you are to experience gum pain, and vice versa. This may not help you right now if you’re already experiencing pain, but it can be good news for the future – some changes to your habits could prevent the pain from coming back again. See below for more preventative care advice.
Now let’s dig into some of the common causes – do any of these look familiar to you?
Common causes of gum pain
Gingivitis: Gingivitis, aka gum disease, can cause symptoms such as inflammation, bleeding, swelling and tooth damage – all of which can also lead to gum pain.
Periodontal disease: Periodontal disease is a more serious gum disease, which can contribute to more damaging symptoms such as receding gums, abscesses and risk of tooth loss.
Bacterial infection: Bacterial infection in the mouth may lead to gum pain (among other symptoms). Some of the common causes of infection include tooth abscesses, cracked or diseased teeth, untreated injury, and more.
Poor oral hygiene: Poor brushing and flossing habits can contribute to bacterial growth in the mouth, in turn increasing the risk of gum disease.
Harsh technique: Brushing or flossing too hard, improperly using any other kind of dental health tool, and being a bit rough with your dentures, may damage your gums – causing aches and pains.
Mouth ulcers: Ulcers in the mouth are typically breaks in the skin which form painful craters on your gums.
Certain viruses and diseases: Certain viruses and medical conditions can lead to problems in the mouth, such as oral thrush, herpes, autoimmune diseases and so forth.
Oral cancer: Gum pain is one symptom of oral cancer, alongside sores, swelling, jaw pain and numbness.
Vitamin deficiency: Deficiency in certain vitamins, such as vitamin C, can lead to other medical problems, of which gum pain is a potential symptom.
Allergies: Your gum pain could be a sign of a simple allergy, either to certain food or dental products. If you find your gum pain comes on quickly and then goes away after a couple of hours, that could tell you it’s an allergic reaction. You’ll need to figure out what’s causing the issue and eliminate it to test, although your doctor or dentist can also help.
Hormonal changes: Pain, swelling and sensitivity in the gums can all be symptoms of hormonal changes. Puberty is one such known cause, in addition to menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
Side effects of medication: Gingivitis is a risk of certain medication, birth control being one example. If you’re on medication, it may pay to check the listed side effects and consult with your GP.
Tobacco use: Tobacco use has long been associated with increased risk of gum disease. In fact, the CDC states that smokers are twice as likely to get gum disease as non-smokers.
Will gum pain get better on its own?
This depends very much on the cause of the pain. Something like an allergic reaction or damage from using floss too harshly may get better with a smidgen of time, but most of the causes that we listed above are signs of broader problems.
Leaving your gum pain alone could increase the risk that your symptoms will progress into something worse. For example, gum disease could spread from your gums to your jawbone – which will likely be far more painful.
Additionally, the American Academy of Periodontology notes that gum disease is linked with a number of other conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer and respiratory issues.
When to see a dentist about your gum pain
Generally, a good rule of thumb is that if your symptoms persist or get worse, it’s time to visit the dentist.
Other symptoms to watch out for include:
Bleeding
Swelling
Receding gums (i.e. the gum line is pulling away from your teeth)
Pain when you chew
Loose teeth
Abnormal teeth sensitivity
Chronic bad breath.
If you note any of these extras on top of your gum pain, and especially if it all persists for a few days up to a week, it’s better safe than sorry – off to the dentist!
Treating your gum pain at home
Gum pain home remedy need-to-knows
Home remedies aren’t a substitute for good medical care
We’re going to list a few common home remedies below, but keep in mind that these aren’t magic cures – if at any point, even when using home remedies, your symptoms get worse, or they persist up to a week, you’re better off visiting a medical professional.
It’s not always easy to see how gum pain is a sign of a greater problem when we’re self-diagnosing. Visiting your dentist will allow them to check on your wider oral health, talk to you about your symptoms, and help you build an effective treatment plan.
Not all remedies are equally effective
Just because a home remedy is common doesn’t mean it’s going to be effective, or that it’s clinically proven to be of any use.
We’ve tried to list below some common home remedies with a clinical backing of at least some degree. You may find they don’t all work for you like they’ve worked for other people. Again, if at any point you get worried for your health or your symptoms don’t go away (or get worse), you’re generally better off going to the dentist.
Common home remedies for gum pain
1. Salt water rinse
Salt water rinsing is a very common home remedy for oral health issues, including swelling, infection and healing of injuries. Dentists around the world recommend rinsing your mouth with salt to help keep inflammation down and fight bacteria.
It’s pretty easy to make a salt water rinse, and to use it. Generally you’d mix about a teaspoon of salt per cup of water, then swish some of that mixture around your mouth about twice a day.
2. Cold or hot compress
Gum pain can be soothed with a hot or cold compress, depending on what’s causing your gum pain.
Feeling swollen, hot, angry, inflamed? Try a cold compress. Wrap an ice pack in a cloth and press it to the outside of your face near the sore bit. Hold it here for 10 to 20 minutes or so, or just five minutes if the pain isn’t too bad. You can repeat this process two to three times a day.
Feeling achy and sore, stiff, but not inflamed? You could try a hot compress instead, which you might find soothing on an aching gum. Repeat the same process as with a cold compress, only this time you can place a cloth in hot water (not boiling – it should be warm, but tolerable!) before putting it against the outside of your face.
In the case of both hot and cold compresses, don’t place them directly against your gums.
3. Over-the-counter medication
Some over-the-counter medication may provide a bit of comfort while your gum pain (or related issue) is healing.
For example, people sometimes find nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NASIDs) to be helpful – ibuprofen being an example here.
Some topical gels are also available at most pharmacies, like numbing gels (also called oral anaesthetic gels).
If you’re not sure about anything, talk to your pharmacist before making a purchase. Or, better yet, seek the advice of your dentist, who may be able to get you a more relevant prescription instead.
4. Natural remedies
We know that some of you will generally prefer natural health remedies to over-the-counter medicines. So, are there any clinically backed natural home poultices you can apply to your gums?
Note: Again, we’ll remind you here that home remedies aren’t a cure-all, and you’re usually better off talking to your dentist if you’re worried – they can work with you on a personalised treatment plan that’ll work for your mouth.
Clove oil: The main ingredient in clove oil – eugenol – may have some use in offering temporary pain relief, as suggested here. That said, the US government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that there isn’t enough reliable evidence to say clove oil is an effective natural medicine.
Peppermint oil: Some users suggest that peppermint oil provides a cooling sensation to angry, inflamed gums – the menthol activating the body’s cold receptors. Studies are mixed on its effectiveness, and more research is needed – DrugBank states it is not an approved medicine. It may simulate a cooling effect and offer some antimicrobial properties (source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4).
Teabags: The tannins in certain types of tea (i.e. black and green tea) may have antiinflammatory properties, and some people do use teabags to help treat inflammation. Some research suggests there may indeed be a benefit to teabags in this way, but more research is required (source 1, source 2).
Hydration: Staying hydrated can go far to helping your body recover from a variety of issues, including gum problems. Staying hydrated can help your mouth produce saliva – its natural defence system – as well as rinse your mouth of food debris, sugar or acid.
Preventing gum pain in future
Prevention is generally the best medicine, so what steps can you take to try to ensure your gum pain doesn’t come back?
1. Maintain good oral health
As you’ll have seen above, a lot of the common causes of gum pain are related to oral health. Problems like gum disease can have a lot of extra, uncomfortable complications, and one of the best ways to fight gum disease is to not get it in the first place.
Good oral health habits go far to keeping bacteria and other issues at bay. Even better, these habits are easy to get into and don’t take very much time or effort.
Habits to consider include:
Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day, making sure to get not just the fronts but also the backs, gumline and chewing surfaces.
Use a toothpaste which contains fluoride.
Floss regularly, about once a day.
Try to quit smoking, if that’s an issue in your household.
Moderate your acid and sugar intake (i.e. fizzy drinks and alcohol). And if you do consume acidic or highly sugary treats, consider rinsing your mouth with water afterwards.
Learn more: How to clean your gums and keep them healthy
2. Visit the dentist regularly
Regular dental visits aren’t just about getting treatment for specific issues. In fact, it often pays to go early rather than wait for problems to crop up –- at least annually (though you may wish to visit twice annually if you are a smoker, have gotten pregnant, or have another condition which can affect your mouth).
By going to your dentist more often, they will be able to monitor the health of your mouth and spot problems as they appear - not after they’ve already begun to do damage.
Not only will this help you stay on top of oral health concerns (and reduce the chance you’ll experience gum pain), it can ultimately bring your dental costs down by avoiding the need for more serious treatments.
Need an appointment? Book now
If you’re in the Whangārei area or surrounds and need a dentist appointment, we’re here for you.
Book time with our friendly expert team by calling us on 09 430 0707, booking online, or popping in to see us on Maunu Road.