4 Home Remedies to Soothe Sore Gums

Sore and swollen gums are a very common occurrence, and when a flare-up happens, we get it, it can be pretty darn frustrating. But we’re here to tell you – don’t worry! We have some easy, natural home remedies to help soothe sore gums that will hopefully ease your discomfort and prevent a possible infection from spreading. 

What does it mean to have sore gums?

Sore gums are your body’s first line of defense, so this uncomfortable sensation is actually a sign that your immune cells are working hard to fight off invading bacteria in order to prevent the infection from spreading. 

When bacteria enter the gum tissue, your immune system recognizes the pathogenic bacteria as foreign and triggers a response to eliminate the invading bacteria. This results in your gums becoming sore and swollen. 

Most people don’t tend to pay too much attention to sore gums, especially if it is not that severe. However, sore gums could be an indicator of early gum disease so it’s important to take action straight away to stop a potential infection from progressing into anything more serious. 

Possible causes of sore gums

There are many reasons why your gums feel sore and tender. You could be brushing or flossing too hard or not brushing and flossing enough. Or you could have an infection or even a vitamin K deficiency. And if you’re a woman, sore gums could indicate hormonal changes. 

But it is most likely that your sore gums are an indicator of one of the two stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis

This term literally means inflammation of the gums and is the beginning stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is commonly caused by plaque or bacteria accumulating on the gumline. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to more serious forms of gum disease such as periodontitis.

Periodontitis

This is a more serious type of gum disease meaning the destruction of gum tissue, which often includes cells that connect your teeth to your gums. If allowed to progress, it eventually leads to loss of teeth.

Other causes for sore gums

Canker sores

Also known as mouth ulcers, canker sores can be painful. Though the cause for canker sores is unknown, it is thought that they are a result of an underlying bacterial or viral infection. They tend to go away on their own but if they persist for more than 2 weeks consult your doctor or dentist. 

Tobacco

If you smoke or use chewing tobacco, then you’re likely to be more prone to gum disease and sore gums. This is because smoking weakens your immune system’s fighting cells, making it harder to prevent infection.

Diet

If your diet is devoid of important vitamins and minerals, then it is likely that your immune system is not strong enough to fight off infection. Vitamin K, vitamin C, and calcium are essential for minimizing the risk of gum disease.  

Stress

Stress raises the levels of cortisol in your body, which increases inflammation in the body and therefore the risk of gum disease and sore gums. Read our article ‘The Fascinating Link Between Stress and Oral Health’ for more information about this.

Lack of oral hygiene

Not brushing or flossing your teeth frequently enough may increase your risk of gum disease so be sure to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. And remember to schedule in those bi-annual professional cleanings!

Home remedies to soothe sore gums

Sea salt water rinse

As we’ve mentioned in many of our articles before, sea salt absolutely rocks when it comes to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Sea salt is a natural antiseptic and disinfectant, which makes it an excellent home remedy for soothing sore gums. Sea salt is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and is very effective at drawing out harmful pathogens present in your gum tissues. 

To use a salt rinse to soothe sore gums, mix a teaspoon of sea salt into a cup of warm water until dissolved. Swish around your mouth for about 30 seconds and spit.

Herbal tea bags

Herbal tea bags are a great way to soothe sore gums. Green tea is especially helpful because of the disease-fighting flavonoid catechin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The catechin in green tea also has the power to strengthen gum tissues.  Other anti-inflammatory herbs such as ginger and chamomile are also beneficial.

To use a teabag to soothe sore gums, brew a tea bag in boiling water for 5 minutes, wait to cool and then place on the painful gum area for at least 5 minutes. 

Various herbs and spices

There are a few wonderful herbs and spices that can be turned into home remedies to soothe sore gums. Our article ‘6 herbs and spices that your teeth & gums love’ list the best herbs for your teeth and gums, each with their own amazing gum healing properties. See below for a brief breakdown of our chosen herbs and spices to help soothe sore gums.
Clove is analgesic, antiseptic, antifungal and antimicrobial
Turmeric is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory
Garlic is antiseptic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory
Holy basil has excellent antimicrobial and astringent properties
Neem is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic
Cinnamon is antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and slightly anesthetic

To use a herb to soothe sore gums, mix a powdered herb of your choice with some warm water to form a paste. Then place directly onto your gums and leave there until the pain subsides, then rinse.

GOOD-GUMS all-natural tooth & gum powder

Our all-natural tooth and gum powder is packed full of 100% natural ingredients that help significantly to soothe sore gums. And in our opinion, it’s by far the best natural remedy for sore gums.

 Good-Gums all-natural tooth and gum powder is cleansing (baking soda and salt), acid-neutralizing (baking soda), antiseptic (cranberry and peppermint), soothing (peppermint and myrrh), nutrient-rich for cell growth (vitamin C) and highly absorbent (citrus bioflavonoids). These ingredients have been specifically selected to help with the break down of plaque and provide critical minerals essential for building strong tooth enamel and keeping your gums healthy.

The ingredients we use are 100% pure and have undergone many screening procedures to ensure the absolute best quality for you and your gums. We jam-pack so many vitamins and minerals into this little nature-friendly bottle that you can actually feel your gums absorbing the goodness with every use. 

Good-Gums (with its 5 different herbs, 2 minerals, and vitamin C) is itself an excellent topical application for sore gums.  If you click the link – how to use Good-Gums, and scroll down to the headers LOCALIZED HEALING and MANUAL MASSAGE, we explain the best ways to use Good-Gums for sore gums.

Click here to try our herbal formula and get your gums back in tip-top shape. 

Remember, what’s good for your gums, is good for you!

Unsure if Good-Gums can help? Try our 60-second survey to find out...