12 Reasons Your Gums Hurt and How to Find Relief

Sore, tender gums can be distracting, to say the least, and it can even be difficult to eat or drink normally when you've got gum pain.

Luckily, most types of gum pain resolve on their own with a little time, while others can benefit from over-the-counter treatments and home care. But regardless of what you think might be causing your pain, don't dismiss or ignore your symptoms — especially if they don't improve or get worse.

"The oral cavity is the gateway to the rest of the body, so oral health can affect general health and vice versa," says Gary Goldman, DDS, Chief Dental Officer and Faculty Chair at the DC Institute based in Toronto.

Here's how to figure out what might be making your gums hurt, plus the steps to take at home (and with the help of your dentist or periodontist) to feel better.

Poor flossing habits can result in painful, tender gums for a few different reasons, says Sheila Samaddar, DDS, FACD, president of the District of Columbia Academy of General Dentistry and national spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.

One common culprit? Flossing too aggressively. "You could be putting too much pressure on the gums when cleaning," she says. Brushing your teeth too harshly could also irritate the surrounding gums.

You also might not be flossing ‌enough‌, says Jeff Rappaport, DDS, Chief Dental Advisor at quip. If you notice your gums are bleeding after flossing and you haven't been flossing regularly, you likely have some plaque buildup, he explains.

If your gums hurt in one spot, it's possible you've injured the gum tissue. Chewing crunchy foods can sometimes cause this to happen, Dr. Samaddar says, as can a food particle from a hard or dense food that's become lodged in your teeth.

Another possibility? "Buildup that was never flossed or brushed out could be adhered to a tooth in the adjacent spot and be allowing more debris to attach," she says.

Also called mouth ulcers, these small sores look white or gray with a red border, according to the ADA. Canker sores generally appear on the inside of the lips, cheeks or tongue, but it's also possible to develop them on your gums.

It's not unusual for gums to hurt after a dental cleaning. During a cleaning, the soft tissue of your gums needs to be manipulated to access — and get rid of— any debris, Dr. Samaddar says.

You're more likely to experience gum pain if you had a lot of buildup on your teeth or had skipped or delayed a checkup. "A thorough cleaning can cause inflammation if there is plaque buildup," Dr. Rappaport explains.

During a tooth extraction — which means having a tooth removed, usually because of crowding, trauma or disease, according to the ADA — your dentist needs to gently manipulate the gums to access the tooth for removal. "It's common to have some tenderness after," says Dr. Samaddar.

Your whole body can feel sore and achy when you're sick, and it's certainly possible for those symptoms to extend to your gums, Dr. Rappaport says. That's especially true with the common cold or certain types of upper-respiratory tract infections.

"Any mucus draining from your sinuses can secrete into your mouth, which can cause some irritation and inflammation," he explains.

Swollen sinuses from a sinus infection can result in sore upper teeth, too, which you might feel in your gums.

If you're very congested, you may also be breathing through your mouth, which can dry the gums, Dr. Samaddar says. "If you are having a hard time breathing, the jaw is moving around to try and find the best position to get air," which can contribute to pain, she adds.

Changes in hormone levels — such as those that occur during puberty, pregnancy and before and after menopause — have been linked to effects on periodontal health, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

You might notice gums that are swollen, red and feel tender during times of hormonal change.

Also called tooth decay or caries, cavities are damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth, per Mayo Clinic. Typical symptoms include tooth pain or sensitivity, pain when eating or drinking, staining on the surface of the tooth or visible holes or pits. But some people can experience cavity pain in their gums.

"Sometimes cavities can cause pain in one specific tooth that radiates down to the gums in that area," explains Dr. Rappaport.

In addition to getting stuck in your teeth and gums, it's also possible for certain foods to irritate this area, experts say. A common one is very hot foods — think: pizza — which can burn the roof of the mouth or nearby gums, contributing to pain while the area heals.

Highly acidic foods (think: citrus fruits or tomatoes) can also irritate the gums for some people, Dr. Samaddar says. "If the gums are irritated already for any reason, certain foods that are dense, crunchy, spicy or acidic could cause tenderness," she explains.

As many as two-thirds of adults who are allergic to birch tree pollen, a common seasonal allergen, have oral allergy syndrome (OAS), according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

People with OAS may experience itchiness or swelling in the mouth, lips, tongue and throat, usually after eating raw fruits or vegetables. Common culprits include peaches, celery, tomatoes, melons, bananas, cucumber and zucchini.

As many as 47 percent of adults ages 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In its earliest stages, gum disease is called gingivitis and is characterized by swollen, red or bleeding gums.

More advanced periodontal disease, called periodontitis, can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth and even lead to tooth loss.

Certain health conditions have been linked to gum disease or pain, including diabetes, some respiratory diseases and heart disease, according to the AAP. Smoking can also up your risk.

It's very possible your gum pain will improve on its own with a little time and TLC, especially if your symptoms were caused by a short-term issue such as a canker sore or cold.

But the following are signs that your gum pain may be more serious and should be evaluated ASAP by a dentist, according to the experts we spoke to:

• Redness
• Bleeding
• Pus
• Swelling
• Tooth sensitivity and unusual bad breath
  
• Tenderness that doesn't improve with regular brushing or flossing
• A bad taste associated with certain areas in the mouth

Bottom line? "The best way to prevent issues with your mouth is to brush and floss regularly, which is minimum brushing twice a day and flossing once a day," says Dr. Samaddar. "Seeing your dentist at least twice a year can save on discomfort in your mouth and in your wallet so simple issues don't escalate."