Got Gum Problems?

Remedies for relieving gum pain.

If you're hurting and you want relief right now, you can walk into any drugstore and buy a tube of gel containing the topical anesthetic benzocaine. Or try a gargle or a soothing gum massage as described below. But your real war is with plaque. Control the plaque with regular visits to the dentist and dedicated brushing (use a soft-bristled brush and pay special attention to your gum line) and flossing and you should be able to give gum problems the brush-off.

Play by the Numbers
To soothe gum pain and reduce swelling, swish for 30 seconds with salt water (one teaspoon mixed into a glass of warm water).

Alternatively, rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide diluted 50:50 with warm water. Like salt, hydrogen peroxide dulls the pain and helps kill bacteria.

Place a wet tea bag against the painful area. Tea contains tannic acid, a powerful astringent that shrinks swollen tissues and helps stanch bleeding. Think of it as a styptic pencil for your gums. If bleeding and inflammation persist, fold the bag in half and bite down on it.

Apply an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) to your cheek near the painful area. Ice helps reduce swelling, and the cold acts as a local anesthetic.

Dab your gums with a paste made of baking soda and water. Baking soda kills germs and helps neutralize the acids they secrete. Don't go overboard, though; too much baking soda can damage tender gum tissue.

Rub for Relief
What do you do for sore muscles? Massage them! And your gums benefit from massage too. Just grip them between your thumb and index finger, and give a series of gentle squeezes. That helps boost circulation to painful, irritated tissue, helping gums heal faster.

To enhance the soothing effect of a gum massage, try doing what practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine recommend: Massage your gums with coconut oil.

Another way to massage your gums is with a soft wooden dental stimulator, which you can pick up at any drugstore. Insert it between two teeth, point the tip so it's at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, circle gently for a few seconds, then move on to the next two teeth.

Buy a Water-Pik or another "oral irrigator," and use water pressure to clean and massage your teeth and gums where your toothbrush cannot reach. A time-tested wound healer, calendula may help sore gums by reducing inflammation. Simply rub the tincture directly onto the gums.

Rinse and Gargle
Twice a day, gargle with a mouth rinse containing the B vitamin folic acid. Studies have shown that swishing twice a day with an over-the-counter folic acid solution helps with bleeding gums.

Rinsing your mouth with chamomile tea is said to be highly effective against gingivitis. Simply pour a cup of hot water over 3 teaspoons of the herb, steep for 10 minutes, then strain and cool. Mix up a large quantity and store it in the refrigerator.

Store-bought mouthwash can also help heal your gums. Choose a brand that contains cetylpyridinium chloride or domiphen bromide. These ingredients have shown significant plaque-reducing ability.

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