Gums hurt at the back of teeth

The painful area may be the attached gum, the loose tissue over a partly erupted wisdom tooth, or the gum pocket beside a molar. Plaque, calculus, food impaction, decay, a cracked tooth, and a dental abscess can produce similar soreness but require different treatment.

Rinse gently with warm salt water, brush the area with a soft toothbrush, and clean between the teeth without forcing an object under the gum. Avoid placing aspirin or concentrated chemicals on the tissue, and arrange an examination if the pain persists or returns.

Seek prompt care for facial swelling, pus, fever, limited mouth opening, or pain that makes sleep or eating difficult. Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, needs emergency medical attention.

Ask whether the soreness is in the gum or comes from the molar beneath it. Ask if an X-ray is needed to assess a wisdom tooth, decay, bone loss, or infection, and which cleaning or treatment will remove the cause.