My gum is swollen and painful
A swollen painful gum may come from plaque, injury, trapped food, or an infection near a tooth and needs care based on its cause.
The short answer
A swollen painful gum is most often managed by cleaning the area and treating its cause, which may be gum inflammation, trapped debris, decay, or an abscess. Do not puncture the swelling or place aspirin on the gum.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
The gum, or gingiva, contains connective tissue and blood vessels around each tooth. Plaque bacteria can inflame its margin, while infection from a tooth root can collect beneath the gum as a tender, localized swelling.
What can you do next?
Rinse gently with warm water, clean between the teeth if this does not worsen pain, and use a soft brush. A dentist may remove calculus, drain an abscess, treat the tooth canal, or remove a tooth that cannot be restored.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek prompt dental care for a lump, pus, bad taste, fever, facial swelling, or pain when biting. Emergency help is needed if swelling affects swallowing, breathing, or the eye.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the swelling begins in the gum or tooth, whether an X-ray is needed, and whether treatment involves periodontal cleaning, drainage, a root canal, or extraction.