Gum Pain: Causes and Relief

What your gum pain pattern suggests

Common causes of gum pain

Gingivitis

Plaque, the sticky bacterial film on teeth, inflames the gum edge. Gums become red, puffy, tender and bleed when you brush or floss. Gingivitis is reversible within about 2 weeks of thorough daily cleaning. See gum disease.

Brushing or flossing too hard

A hard-bristled brush, scrubbing sideways or snapping floss into the gum causes soreness and can wear the gum back. Use a soft brush in small circles and slide floss gently along each tooth.

Food stuck in the gum

Popcorn husks, seeds and small bones can lodge between tooth and gum, causing sharp, localized pain and swelling. Floss gently and rinse. Pain that persists after the particle is removed may mean an infection has started.

Wisdom teeth

A partly erupted lower wisdom tooth leaves a flap of gum where food and bacteria collect. Inflammation, called pericoronitis, causes pain at the back of the jaw, swelling, a bad taste and sometimes difficulty opening the mouth.

Canker sores

Aphthous ulcers are small, round, painful sores with a white or yellow center and red border. They heal in 7 to 14 days. Triggers include minor injury, stress and certain foods.

Hormonal changes

Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause make gums more sensitive to plaque. Pregnancy gingivitis is common, especially in the second trimester.

Braces, dentures and dental work

New braces, adjusted wires, poorly fitting dentures and recent fillings or cleanings commonly cause temporary soreness.

More serious causes

• Dental abscess: a pocket of pus at a tooth root or in the gum, causing severe throbbing pain, swelling and sometimes a gum boil. It needs drainage and treatment of the tooth. See dental abscess.
• Periodontitis: advanced gum disease that destroys the bone supporting the teeth, causing receding gums, pockets, bad breath and loose teeth. See periodontitis.
• Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis: sudden, very painful gums with gray dead tissue between the teeth, bleeding and foul breath, linked to stress, smoking and poor immunity.
• Viral infections: primary herpes infection in young children causes swollen, bleeding gums, mouth blisters and fever.
• Oral thrush: white patches that wipe off, leaving sore red areas, often after antibiotics or with dentures or inhaled steroids.
• Blood and immune disorders: leukemia can cause swollen, bleeding, painful gums. Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) causes swollen, bleeding gums.
• Oral cancer: a persistent sore, lump, or red or white patch that does not heal, especially in smokers and heavy drinkers.

Gum pain relief at home

• Salt-water rinse: half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Swish for 30 seconds, 2 to 4 times a day.
• Gentle cleaning: keep brushing twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, and clean between teeth once daily. Avoiding a sore area lets plaque build up and makes it worse.
• Cold compress on the cheek for 15 minutes to ease swelling.
• Pain relievers: ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol), following the label dose. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum, because it burns the tissue. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers.
• Numbing gels containing benzocaine can help adults briefly. Do not use them in children under 2.
• Avoid irritants: spicy, acidic, very hot foods, alcohol and tobacco.
• Antiseptic mouthwash such as chlorhexidine for a short period if recommended by your dentist.

When to see a dentist and what they do

See a dentist if pain lasts more than a week, keeps returning, or comes with swelling, pus, loose teeth or a non-healing sore. The dentist will examine the gums, measure pocket depths around teeth, take X-rays to look for abscesses and bone loss, and check wisdom teeth. Treatment may include professional cleaning, deep cleaning below the gumline, draining an abscess, root canal treatment or extraction, antibiotics for spreading infection, and adjustment of dentures or braces.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my gums hurt?

The most common reasons are gum inflammation from plaque (gingivitis), brushing too hard, food stuck in the gum, a wisdom tooth coming through, and canker sores. Throbbing pain with swelling may be an abscess. If pain lasts more than a week, see a dentist.

Why does my gum hurt around one tooth?

Pain around a single tooth is often trapped food, a deep gum pocket, a cracked tooth, or an abscess at the tooth root. A swollen gum, a pimple-like bump or pain when biting suggest infection and need a dentist within a day or two.

How can I relieve gum pain fast?

Rinse with warm salt water, floss gently to remove trapped food, apply a cold compress to the cheek, and take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed. A benzocaine gel can numb the area briefly in adults. These ease pain but do not treat an infection.

Can gum pain be caused by stress?

Indirectly, yes. Stress is linked to canker sores, teeth grinding that strains gums and teeth, poorer oral hygiene, and a higher risk of necrotizing gum infection. Stress can also lower immune defenses against gum disease.

Is gum pain a sign of heart disease?

Gum pain itself is not a heart symptom, though pain from a heart attack can occasionally spread to the jaw. Long-term gum disease is associated with higher heart disease risk, but it has not been shown to cause it directly. Treat gum disease for your mouth's sake.