Salt water and swollen gums

Salt water rinsing can temporarily soothe irritated gum tissue, but it does not remove trapped plaque, drain an abscess, or treat persistent swelling.

Gingiva can swell from plaque-related inflammation, food trapped beside a tooth, trauma, an erupting tooth, or infection around the root. Location, bleeding, tenderness, and tooth condition help distinguish these causes.

Dissolve salt in warm water, rinse gently, and spit it out. Continue gentle brushing and interdental cleaning, and do not put aspirin or concentrated salt directly on the gum.

Arrange care if swelling persists, returns, bleeds, causes tooth pain, pus, bad taste, or fever.

Ask whether the swelling is in the gum margin, around the root, or beside an erupting tooth, and whether cleaning, drainage, filling, root canal, or extraction is needed.