Gum pain is hard to ignore. And if you just try to grin and bear it, it’s your smile that will really start to suffer. Sore, swollen gums can give your mouth a puffy, red appearance and even cause tooth loss.
Here’s the good news: with a few easy changes, you can make your gum pain and swelling a thing of the past.
What Causes Sore Gums?
Gingivitis (Gum Disease)
Gingivitis is the most common cause of sore, swollen gums and bleeding gums. People develop gingivitis from poor oral hygiene. It starts with plaque that’s left to build up on the teeth.
Plaque eventually hardens into tartar, causing gum inflammation and gum pain. Tartar can only be removed with professional dental cleanings.
If you’ve taken your dentist off speed dial, it’s time to get back on regular appointments to save yourself time, money and gum pain!
Dental Procedures
Fortunately, if your gum pain stems from a dental procedure or oral surgery, time will heal those wounds. But … why suffer from gum pain longer than you have to?
You can speed up the healing process of your sore gums with this dental gel, made with healing Aloe vera, zinc and folic acid. This dentist-recommended dental gel is great for burns and canker sores too!
Pregnancy
Ah, those glorious pregnancy hormones. They do more than give you crazy cravings and make you cry while watching sappy commercials. They can also mess with your mouth and make you more susceptible to bacteria growth, inflammation and gum swelling.
Burns or Food Abrasions
It’s easy to leap without caution when staring at our favorite foods. (Piping hot pizza, we’re talking to you!) Food and drink burns and mouth abrasions from hard foods like chips can all bring on sore bleeding gums.
Stress
As you’re probably aware, stress can do strange things to the body … like give you mouth sores and swollen gums. Stress also weakens the immune system, making it harder for sore gums to heal.
Poor Nutrition
Vitamins play a key role in repairing your teeth and gums. If you tend to choose processed foods over whole foods loaded with nutrients like vitamins B and C, the result is often gum swelling.
How to Reduce Swelling & Relieve Sore Gums
1. Practice Good Oral Care at Home
It may sound simple, but if it really were, everyone would already be doing it! Make a commitment to brush and floss at least twice a day, particularly after meals.
This will remove the plaque that can lead to gingivitis. Also, be gentle! Using too much muscle when brushing can cause gum pain.
Mouthwash is a great way to fight bacteria growth and gingivitis, but you’ll want to use an alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid stinging your sore gums. Here’s a mouthwash we love that’s alcohol-free, fights dry mouth, and soothes sensitive gums.
2. Compresses
- Sore gums: apply a warm compress over your face to help soothe your gum pain.
- Swollen gums: apply a cold compress to reduce gum swelling.
3. Warm Salt Water Rinse
Dilute 1 teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water. Swish for 30 seconds and spit. This will soothe your sore gums after oral surgery or if you’re suffering from gingivitis.
4. Get More Calcium, Vitamin C & Folic Acid
Your whole body will thank you when you fuel it with gum-friendly nutrition, particularly calcium, vitamin C and folic acid. Check out these lists to choose your favorite (or “OK, I’ll give it a try”) foods. Many of these foods make multiple lists, so you can save time and money when meal planning.
Best Sources of Calcium
- Milk
- Kale
- Yogurt
- Broccoli
- Sardines
- Watercress
- Cheese
- Almonds
- Edamame
- Bok Choy
Best Sources of Vitamin C
- Oranges
- Red peppers
- Kale
- Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Strawberries
- Grapefruit
- Guava
- Kiwi
- Green peppers
Best Sources of Folic Acid
- Spinach
- Sunflower Seeds
- Beets
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Beans
- Romaine lettuce
- Peanuts
- Lentils
Want even more easy home remedies to treat your sore, swollen gums? Check them out here.
