Causes of painful gum
Painful gums may be inflamed by plaque, injured by food or brushing, irritated around an erupting tooth, or affected by a tooth or gum infection.
What are the common causes of painful gums?
Painful gums may be inflamed by plaque, injured by food or brushing, irritated around an erupting tooth, or affected by a tooth or gum infection.
How can gum inflammation differ from pain beside one tooth?
Inflamed gingiva can feel sore and bleed, while pain beside one tooth can arise from a periodontal pocket, decay, a cracked tooth, or an abscess. Dentures, braces, burns, ulcers, and clenching can also injure the gum surface.
What can you do to ease painful gums safely?
Rinse gently, remove trapped food with floss, brush with a soft brush, and use only pain medicines that are suitable for you and taken as directed. Do not lance a swelling or place caustic substances on the gum.
Which painful gum symptoms need prompt dental care?
Seek prompt dental care for severe or localized pain, swelling, pus, fever, a bad taste, or a loose tooth. Emergency assessment is needed if infection affects the face, neck, breathing, or swallowing.
Which tissue is causing the pain and what treatment is needed?
Ask which tissue is causing the pain, whether decay or infection is present, and whether treatment involves cleaning, a filling, root canal treatment, drainage, or periodontal care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main cause?
Inflamed gingiva can feel sore and bleed, while pain beside one tooth can arise from a periodontal pocket, decay, a cracked tooth, or an abscess. Dentures, braces, burns, ulcers, and clenching can also injure the gum surface.
What can I do today?
Rinse gently, remove trapped food with floss, brush with a soft brush, and use only pain medicines that are suitable for you and taken as directed. Do not lance a swelling or place caustic substances on the gum.
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Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.