Remedies for Swollen Gums

Swollen gums are often sore and may even be accompanied by some bleeding. This is frequently seen as a sign of periodontal disease, and can result in halitosis, the shifting of your teeth or even tooth loss. Your dentist is the best person to determine the cause of your troubled gums, but there are remedies that may help reduce the gum swelling until your appointment.

• Switch your toothbrush to one that has soft bristles if your current one is firm or medium. This will help to lessen any aggravation to your gums. Avoid brushing too hard, using gentle movements instead.


• Rinse your mouth with a saltwater rinse up to four times daily. To make the rinse, add 1 tbsp. of salt to a glass of lukewarm water and stir to dissolve. Swish the solution for one to two minutes and spit. 


• Take a multivitamin that contains iron, folic acid and vitamin C. Note: Have your physician perform a blood test assessing your iron levels before you begin taking the iron supplement as iron overdose is potentially fatal.


• Pay attention to how you floss your teeth. Aggressive flossing may also cause some swelling, so care should be taken to floss gently.


• Create a rinse of warm water and lemon juice. Heat water to boiling and squeeze in the juice from one lemon. Allow the mixture to cool down so that it is warm before putting it in your mouth. Rinse three times daily.


• Hydrogen peroxide and water is another mouthwash that can be useful in reducing gum swelling. Create a mixture of half water and half hydrogen peroxide and swish it in your mouth for roughly 30 seconds before spitting it out. When using this type of mouth rinse, take care not to swallow the solution. 


• Massaging the swollen gums helps to stimulate circulation and might consequentially reduce swelling. To do so, use a cotton pad to gently massage the gumline, front and back.