How to Treat Gum Pain

Written by Liz Seegert, Kristen Fischer
Medically Reviewed by Robert Brennan, DDS on March 25, 2025
12 min read

Many things can cause your gums to hurt, but not all of them need a trip to the dentist.

Sore gums can be a sign that you brush your teeth too hard or that your braces or dentures are irritating your gums. Hormone changes related to your period, pregnancy, or menopause can also lead to swollen, painful gums.

A more serious medical condition, such as gum disease, can also cause pain and bleeding. About 2 in 5 people have some form of gum disease. 

Sometimes, things you can do at home can provide gum pain relief. It can also help you know whether you need help from your dentist or other health care professional.

There are many reasons why your gum or gums might hurt. But sometimes, gum problems don’t cause pain right away. The reasons can range from very minor to very serious, such as:

Gum disease. The first signs of gum disease (also called periodontitis) are bleeding, swelling, and redness. They usually happen when you don’t brush or floss your teeth well or often enough. You might not feel pain during the early stage called gingivitis.

If you don’t do a better job brushing and flossing, your gum disease could worsen. Over time, your gums might start to pull away from your teeth, creating little pockets. Tiny pieces of food can get stuck in them, causing infection. This can cause the teeth to loosen or the bone holding them in place to break down, which leads to tooth loss. You may or may not feel any pain at this point.

Canker sores. These can appear anywhere in your mouth, including your gums. They’re not contagious. They usually show up as red splotches in your mouth, but they can have a white coating, too. 

Canker sores tend to go away on their own within a week or two. To ease pain in the meantime, avoid spicy, salty, and acidic foods. You can also use home remedies or try an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment, such as a numbing gel or coating agent. If your canker sore is larger than half an inch, doesn’t heal after a couple of weeks, or interferes with eating and drinking, see your doctor or dentist. 

Tobacco. If you smoke or use “smokeless” products such as chewing tobacco, dip, or snuff, you’re more likely to have gum disease.

Because smokeless tobacco is placed between the cheek and gum, it can cause more harm to your mouth than cigarettes. Your gums can pull away from your teeth, and sores could form inside your mouth and on your gums. It could also lead to oral cancer.

Hormonal changes. Hormones can affect your gums at different times in your life. During puberty, more blood flows to your gums, and they may feel swollen, tender, or painful. 

You may notice pain during your menstrual periods. When you’re pregnant, your hormone levels rise and can affect your gums. Talk to your doctor if you notice that your gums bleed or hurt. Once you hit menopause, your hormone levels change again. Your gums could bleed, change colors, burn, or hurt.

Abscessed tooth. When you have an infection at the root of your tooth, it forms a pus pocket, or abscess. These don’t always hurt, but many do. Some abscessed teeth also cause the gums to swell. If your gums hurt or are swollen, see your dentist. You may need a root canal to treat an abscessed tooth.

Oral cancer. This can start on your tongue, inner cheek, tonsils, or gums. You or your dentist may see the cancer, because it looks like a sore in your mouth that just won’t heal. It might not be painful at first. But keep an eye on it as well as any sores in your mouth or on your gums. Go to the dentist if they don’t heal in a couple of weeks.

Dental procedures. Common dental procedures such as cleanings, fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions can make your gums feel swollen or tender for a few hours or days following a dental visit. This is normal and is usually treated at home. If pain continues or worsens, call your dentist or specialist for advice. 

You can take some steps at home for gum pain relief. But dental experts suggest you call your dentist or gum specialists if your sore gums don’t improve after a few days. 

Salt water rinse

Add a pinch of salt to a 6- to 8-ounce glass of warm water; swirl it around your mouth for 30 seconds and spit. The warm salt water can lower swelling and help ease any pain. 

Hot compress

Hot compresses are often suggested to ease muscle pain or swelling around the jaw, especially after dental surgery. But the warmth can help your entire mouth feel better. Make sure the compress is not so hot that it’s uncomfortable. Apply for 20 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes before reapplying if needed. But don’t use heat if your gums are bleeding, says Maria Sokolina, DDS, a dentist in private practice in New York City. “That is going to open the blood vessels and increase the bleeding.”

Cold compresses

Cold compresses can provide gum pain relief if you have sore, tender, or bleeding gums. They can be especially soothing after dental procedures such as deep cleaning, scaling, or root planing. The cold helps shrink blood vessels, lower swelling, and lessen any bleeding. Your dentist or specialist may give you a cold pack to take home, but you can easily make it on your own with some ice cubes and a cloth or linen bag. Place it on your gum or cheek for 20 minutes, followed by 20 minutes off before reapplying.

Clove oil 

Clove oil is a natural remedy that can numb painful gums and provide temporary relief. It can also help kill bacteria and lower swelling. Place a few drops on a cotton ball or cotton swab and apply to the affected area. Don’t use clove oil treatment at home for more than a few days. Call your dentist if your pain and swelling don’t get better.

Turmeric

This herb contains curcumin, a natural ingredient that can help kill bacteria, ease swelling, and provide gum pain relief. You can buy turmeric in the grocery store. Mix it with a little water to form a paste, apply to the sore part of your gum for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with cool water. 

Honey

Honey naturally contains peroxide, which can help get rid of harmful bacteria, lower swelling, and heal your gums. Honey can also ease pain from canker sores or other sores on your tongue or gums. Massage a few drops of plain honey or a paste of honey and baking soda onto your gums after brushing your teeth for gum pain relief. Research shows that Manuka honey is somewhat better at fighting bacteria and easing swelling than some other types of honey. Another product made by bees, called royal jelly, can  also help to fight bacteria and lower swelling.

There are many over-the-counter options for treating your gum pain.

OTC gum pain relief

You can try an OTC pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for gum pain relief, but experts suggest you call your dentist right away if the pain gets worse.

Ibuprofen or low-dose aspirin. Ibuprofen and aspirin are anti-inflammatory, which means they can help ease swelling and pain. Your dentist might also suggest using one of these medications to help manage conditions such as periodontal disease. But don’t use them for a long time without your dentist’s supervision. In some cases, they can actually make bleeding worse. So, if you notice any changes, tell your dentist right away.

Topical gels. You can get temporary gum pain relief by using oral gels, but don’t use them for more than a few days. Use only as directed. These products contain benzocaine, a kind of numbing medication. Apply a little bit to the swollen or painful part of your gum with your finger or a cotton swab.

Oral numbing liquids. These products also contain benzocaine. They are made to help ease gum pain from conditions such as canker sores. 

Numbing gels and liquids can cause side effects in some people or interfere with some medications. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using these.

Mouthwashes. Some mouthwashes contain alcohol, which can numb your gums and make you feel better for a while. But as alcohol also kills the “good” bacteria in your mouth, try a natural, alcohol-free rinse instead.  “We want to keep the good bacteria in the mouth,” Sokolina says. Herbal rinses are also an option. They contain ingredients such as turmeric that can provide gum pain relief.

You can also look for alcohol-free mouthwashes containing lidocaine or benzocaine, to ease your sore gums. Some mouthwash ingredients can cause side effects if you take certain medications. Always check with your dentist or pharmacist before using any OTC product.

Prescription medications for gum pain

Your dentist may prescribe certain medications to help with your symptoms.

Antibiotics. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics, either as a pill you take several times a day or as a gel applied directly to your gums, after a deep cleaning or other procedure. This will help stop any infection that might be causing your sore gums. Be sure to let your dentist know if you are allergic to any antibiotics and about any other medication you are taking to avoid possible side effects. 

Prescription painkillers. Your gums might be swollen and sore after getting a tooth removed or other dental surgery. Your dentist might prescribe a strong painkiller to help with pain. But don’t use this medication for general gum pain, especially without talking to your dentist or specialist first. The American Dental Association suggests using OTC pain relievers such as ibuprofen, with or without acetaminophen, as the best way to make gum pain better.

Topical steroids. Your dentist or specialist may prescribe a steroid ointment or solution in certain situations. This medication helps ease pain and swelling, especially if you have certain kinds of oral problems. You will use a custom-made plastic tray that fits over your teeth and gums and holds the steroid treatment. The tray should be in your mouth for about 15 minutes before rinsing. 

Numbing solutions

Your dentist might prescribe a numbing solution, such as lidocaine, to provide gum pain relief. Lidocaine and similar products work by blocking nerve signals. A thick solution of lidocaine is used to treat sores inside the mouth, during dental procedures to numb the gums, and to numb the mouth and throat before a surgery or medical procedure. Some people are extra sensitive to this medication. Let your dentist know about any side effects such as dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, or headaches, or if your heart beats too fast or too slow.

Mouthwashes 

A daily oral rinse that contains ingredients to keep your mouth cleaner and lower bacteria may be another treatment option that your dentist recommends. These are called antiseptic rinses and germicides. You will probably need to use this once or twice a day, after brushing your teeth. They are only prescribed for certain types of gum conditions, so don’t use them for other reasons before checking with your dentist. 

Some additional simple home remedies you can try for achy gums include:

  • Using toothbrushes with soft or extra-soft bristles.
  • Using an electric toothbrush to avoid putting too much pressure on your gums.
  • Using OTC painkillers, such as acetaminophen, as the label directs.

If your gums hurt and you have a white coating on your tongue or cheeks, you could have an infection called thrush. It’s a type of yeast infection. Eating yogurt with live cultures can help. But see a doctor or dentist if it doesn’t clear up.

“Most of these things, including some of the prescription mouth rinses, are used to manage times when oral hygiene may be ill-advised or difficult, but these are short-term fixes,” says Mia Geisinger, DDS,  president of the American Academy of Periodontology and a professor at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry.

Gum disease is a bacterial infection, and one form is called periodontitis. It can cause your gums to swell or bleed. If it’s not treated, you could end up losing one or more teeth, damaging the bone around the infection, or developing other health problems. It’s important to follow good oral hygiene to keep gum infections from returning. Your dentist may suggest visiting a specialist, called a periodontist, if your infection is moderate or severe.

Deep cleaning. Your dentist or specialist will do a procedure called scaling and root planing that cleans below your gumline. You may have to get this done several times to make sure all of the damaged gum is treated.

Medication. You may take antibiotics to help kill bacteria causing the infection.

Better oral hygiene. Your dentist or hygienist will go over the tools and products you use to clean your teeth and tell you how to use them properly.

Surgery. A periodontist may perform surgery to clean and repair deep under your gum or fix weak or damaged parts of the bone holding your teeth.

If your gums hurt or bleed for more than a few days, see your dentist to get checked for signs of gum disease or infection. 

Although gum pain can come with certain dental procedures, your gums should feel better after two or three days. If not, let your dentist know right away, as you might have an infection. Untreated gum infections can cause painful abscesses and lead to tooth loss.

You should also see your dentist if you have ongoing gum pain or any of these symptoms:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Red, swollen gums
  • Gums that pull back from your teeth
  • Dentures that don’t fit right anymore
  • Pain when you chew
  • Loose teeth
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Gums that are discolored, especially if they’re bluish or black

Gum disease has also been linked to heart disease, respiratory disease, some cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease, so it’s very important to take care of your mouth at the first sign of problems.

To try and prevent gum disease, brush, floss, and get your teeth cleaned regularly. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. You should get your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. 

 

 

 

Sore gums can be caused by many different factors. The pain can be a sign that you brush your teeth too hard, your braces or dentures are irritating your gums, or you’re experiencing hormonal changes. A more serious medical condition, such as gum disease, can also cause pain and bleeding. Sometimes, things you can do at home, such as trying turmeric, clove oil, or honey, can provide gum pain relief and lower swelling from sore gums. See your dentist or a gum specialist as soon as possible if bleeding, swelling, or gum pain lasts more than a few days, as this could be a sign of an infection or gum disease.

Can brushing too hard cause gum pain?

Brushing too hard can lead to swollen, bleeding, and painful gums. Many dentists now suggest using an electric toothbrush, which applies a light, even pressure for about two minutes.

How long does gum pain last?

Depending on what is causing the problem, your gum pain could disappear quickly or last for days. If you’re still in pain after 48-72 hours, see your dentist or hygienist as soon as possible to diagnose the issue.

How to get quick throbbing gum pain relief at home?

OTC ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or oral gels can help you feel better by reducing swelling and soreness. You can also try a home remedy such as clove oil, which has some numbing properties. Talk to your doctor first before trying home or OTC remedies that may cause numbing.

How to relieve gum pain from flossing

“If your gums bleed when you’re flossing, something is wrong,” Geisinger says. You may bleed a little if you’re new to flossing, but it should stop after a few days. Use a warm saltwater rinse or herbal mouthwash to soothe the sore area.

What is the fastest way to heal swollen gums?

While gum pain relief may depend on what’s causing your discomfort, cold compresses or homeopathic remedies, such as warm saltwater rinses, clove oil, turmeric, or honey, should make you feel better almost right away. Ibuprofen or aspirin can make your gums less swollen.