Gum pain can occur for several reasons. Luckily, many home remedies can offer gum pain relief quickly. After reading the article, if you need help with any gum problems or other oral issues, please visit a periodontist.
What causes gum pain?
Many factors can cause gum pain. It could be an isolated case and will go away after home treatment, and in other times, it may also be a sign of a more serious oral issue that needs to be treated.
Pain in the gums may be caused by brushing too hard, canker sores in the mouth or the wearing of braces. Hormonal changes, especially in women, may also stand to cause gum pain. However, more severe causes of gum pain may include periodontitis, thrush or gingivitis.
Gum pain relief
There are many home remedies you can try to alleviate your pain. You can try these if you have gum pain and cannot get to a dentist right away.
Compress
Use a hot or cold compress to relieve pain and swelling if you are experiencing any. Soak a towel in warm water or put some ice cubes inside the towel and press the cloth against the part of your mouth where the gum pain is. Do not put the towel directly on your gums.
Saltwater rinse
Salt has properties that can alleviate pain and reduce swelling. Do a salt water rinse by putting a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. Do not use boiling water for this so as not to risk scalding your gums. Swish the saltwater in your mouth, especially in the affected area.
Teabags
Tea is also known to be able to help with oral pain. Take a tea bag and soak it in hot water. Then take the tea bag and put it in your mouth against the part of your gums that is experiencing pain.
Over-the-counter medicines
Oral anesthetic gels and other types of pain killers are an effective way to cure your gum pain. However, if you are hesitant to use medication for pain, you can try the other home remedies listed above first before turning to store-bought drugs.
When to see a dentist
Gum pain is usually isolated and goes away with treatment. If your gum pain goes away with the pain relief methods, there is likely no other underlying cause. However, if the pain recurs, there may be a more severe cause to your gum pain.
If the pain in your gums is intense, persistent, is accompanied by other symptoms and if it interferes with normal activities like sleeping or eating, there is a chance that the cause of the pain of your gum pain is more dangerous.
Your dentist will be able to determine the cause of your gum pain and advise you on the right treatment that should be done to get rid of it. Once the root cause has been treated, the gum pain you are experiencing will also go away.