How to Stop Gum Pain

Gum pain is quite a common occurrence. One of the most common causes is emergence of wisdom tooth. Many of us have experienced gum pain for this reason as the new tooth tries to push itself too hard through the gums. The sensitive tissues of the gum may get injured by harsh brushing or by sharp edges of food particles such as biscuits, popcorn, etc.

It can be a symptom of an underlying gum disease called gingivitis which is characterized by inflamed, tender gums that tend to bleed easily. Periodontitis is a more serious gum disease where pus gets accumulated in the gums and give rise to painful symptoms.

The intensity of the pain often varies from mild to severe. Initially, when the pain is mild to moderate, you can relieve it with the help of some home remedies. They are as follows:

Many a time, food debris trapped in between teeth causes gum pain. If the entrapped food particles are removed with the help of brushing and flossing, then the pain would go down. Use a soft bristled toothbrush that can access the areas that lie between the teeth and a toothpaste suitable for sensitive tooth for brushing.

Make gentle, circular motions with the brush. Avoid any aggressive strokes as it can make the gums more sensitive. It should be followed by flossing as it can remove small particles hidden in difficult-to-reach areas of the gum. Floss should be used with care in order to avoid any kind of injury to the gums.

Cold ice has a numbing effect on the painful gums. Though some people prefer to place a small piece of ice directly on the achy tooth, I would rather advise you not to do so as extreme temperature can aggravate the pain further. Wrap an ice in a small towel and massage it gently over the cheek for a few minutes to reduce the pain and swelling of the gums.

Many of you are aware of the fact that clove oil is an excellent remedy for gum pain. It can be applied on the gums in many different ways. Take one or two drops of the oil on your fingertip and massage it directly on the painful site.

Alternately, you can make it more effective by mixing up a little garlic juice and rock salt with it. Clove oil, pepper powder and rock salt is another great combination that can provide instant relief.

This has a calming effect on the pain. To prepare the saline solution, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Take this solution in your mouth and swish it around thoroughly inside your mouth for 30 seconds and spit it out. Repeat this several times in a day and you may not need any pain relieving medicines.

There are a number of over the counter oral numbing gels available in local pharmacy stores. Topical application of this gel on sore gums can numb the pain for half an hour or so. When the pain is intense, you can use it to get a temporary relief.

If the pain seems to be unbearable, you can take anti-inflammatory medicines that are available over the counter such as acetaminophen for controlling the pain. It is recommended that you talk to your doctor once before taking medicines.

The mentioned remedies should resolve the issue of gum pain within a few days. If it does not or it recurs again and again, then it is likely that there is a major gum problem and you must take an appointment from your dentist. Gum pain should not be neglected as it can cause severe damage to the gum tissues and may even lead to tooth loss in the long run.