14 Simple Home Remedies To Treat Swollen Gums
Do you have swollen gums? Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? If so, you suffer from ‘gingival swelling’ or “gingivitis/periodontitis” in medical terminology.
You probably often go through a lot of discomfort and pain that makes daily life difficult for you. Eating meals or even drinking slightly cool water sends shudders down your spine because of the swelling in your gums.
You want to help ward off the swelling and the discomfort? Well, the good news is you can alleviate a lot of your symptoms at home, with DIY remedies.
Note: Gum disease is not curable/treatable at home. If you have periodontitis, they need professional intervention to treat it.
Let us firstly understand the causes of the swelling and what are the usual symptoms seen. We shall then delve into the remedies in detail. Keep reading!
Table Of Contents
What Causes Swollen Gums?
Swollen gums are commonly caused by –
- Plaque and tartar in your mouth can lead to gum swelling (Gingivitis)
- When the gingival infection progresses, gum swelling is sustained in the mouth (Periodontitis)
- Viral or fungal infections
- Irritation due to dental fixtures
- Pregnancy
- Allergies and sensitivity to dental products or food
- Gum injury (1, 2)
Symptoms For Swollen Gums
Some of the common symptoms that come with this condition include –
Here are 14 of the most effective home remedies to give you relief from swollen gums. Let’s have a look!
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Swollen Gums
- Salt Water
- Clove Oil
- Ginger
- Baking Soda
- Lemon Juice
- Essential Oils
- Lawsonia Inermis Leaves
- Castor Seed Oil
- Babul Tree Bark
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Turmeric
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Vanilla Extract
- Epsom Salt
1. Salt Water
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon salt
- A glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
Add the salt to a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with it.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this in the morning and at night, and also after meals.
Why This Works
Salt water is one of the most commonly used remedies for oral problems. It neutralizes the mouth’s pH and soothes the inflamed gums (3). It also helps to alleviate the swelling with its anti-inflammatory properties (4).
Caution
You should remember that the relief will only be temporary with this remedy.
[ Read: Home Remedies For Bleeding Gums ]
2. Clove Oil
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
2-3 drops of clove oil
What You Have To Do
- Apply clove oil on the swollen gums and massage very gently.
- Leave it on.
You can also use clove oil mixed with black pepper to decrease inflammation and pain. Experts also recommend chewing on cloves to get relief.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply every few hours.
Why This Works
Clove oil is another age-old home remedy that is often used to treat swollen gums. The swelling in your gums can be reduced with this essential oil as it treats the infection with its antimicrobial properties. It is also an analgesic and will provide relief from any pain you might be experiencing in your gums (5).
3. Ginger
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- A small piece of ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
What You Have To Do
- Crush and mash the ginger and add the salt to it to get a coarse paste.
- Rub this paste on the swollen parts of your gum and leave it on for 10-12 minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with normal water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 2-3 times in a day.
Why This Works
Ginger possesses anti-inflammatory properties and contains antioxidants that will reduce the swelling in your gums (6).
4. Baking Soda
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- A pinch of turmeric
What You Have To Do
- All you need to do is, mix baking soda with turmeric powder and massage your gums with the mixture.
- Rinse your mouth with clean water.
Using baking soda to brush your teeth can also treat swollen gums.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every morning and every evening.
Why This Works
Many people who suffer from swollen gums use baking soda as a home remedy to treat it. Being an antiseptic and antibacterial, baking soda treats the infection causing the swelling. It also reduces the inflammation of your gums and soothes the tender skin (7, 8).
[ Read: Home Remedies For Gingivitis ]
5. Lemon Juice
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- A glass of warm water
- 1-2 drops rose flower essence (optional)
What You Have To Do
Mix the lemon juice with water and gargle with this.
How Often You Should Do This
Gargle twice every day until you get relief.
Why This Works
Lemon contains antimicrobial compounds that will kill the microbes causing the infection and the resultant swelling in your gums. It also balances the pH in your mouth (9).
6. Essential Oils
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 2 drops chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops tea tree essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- A glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
- Add the essential oils to a glass of water and rinse your mouth with it for 2-3 minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with clean water after this.
Adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your toothpaste when you brush your teeth can also have a positive effect on swollen gums.
How Often You Should Do This
Use this mouthwash twice a day.
Why This Works
Oils of chamomile, tea tree and peppermint can do wonders in relieving the pain of swollen gums. Tea tree and peppermint oils are strong antimicrobial agents, and the chamomile oil soothes the inflamed gums. It reduces the swelling and pain (10, 11, 12).
7. Lawsonia Inermis Leaves
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- Few Lawsonia inermis (henna) leaves
- A glass of water
What You Have To Do
- Boil the leaves in water for about 15 minutes.
- Use this to gargle to get relief from swollen gum pain.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this two times a day.
Why This Works
Commonly called as henna, these leaves are antibiotic in nature and will help to eliminate the harmful bacteria from the mouth (13).
8. Castor Seed Oil
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 camphor tablet
- Few drops castor seed oil
What You Have To Do
- Crush the camphor tablet and make a paste by mixing castor seed oil with it.
- Gently rub the paste on the affected areas of your gum.
- Leave it on for 2-3 minutes and then rinse your mouth with warm water to remove all the camphor.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once every day.
Why This Works
This remedy will provide relief from the swelling gums. Camphor is an analgesic and will get rid of the pain, while castor oil exerts anti-inflammatory effects on the swelling (14, 15).
9. Babul Tree Bark
You Will Need
- 1-inch piece of Babul tree bark
- A glass of water
What You Have To Do
- Boil the tree bark in water for 5-7 minutes.
- Use this as mouthwash.
How Often You Should Do This
Rinse your mouth with this 3-4 times a day.
Why This Works
This is a remedy for swollen gums that has been used for many years. Ayurveda recommended chewing the Babul (or babool) bark to keep your teeth clean and healthy. This is because babul bark has antimicrobial compounds that can kill the common bacteria present in our mouth (16). Using this remedy will give you relief from the inflammation that comes with swollen gums.
10. Aloe Vera Gel
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
An aloe leaf
What You Have To Do
- Extract the gel present inside the leaf and apply on the gums.
- Leave it on for as long as possible and then rinse your mouth.
You can also use the gel to gargle for effective treatment of swollen gums.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply aloe gel twice a day.
Why This Works
The gel extracted from this wonder plant has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It heals the swelling and tenderness in your gums and kills the harmful bacteria (17).
11. Turmeric
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard oil
What You Have To Do
- Make a paste with the above ingredients and apply on the swollen gums.
- Leave this on for 10-12 minutes.
- Rinse out the turmeric paste with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a day.
Why This Works
Turmeric is a strong antimicrobial agent and is useful in reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process (18).
12. Apple Cider Vinegar
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- A glass of water
What You Have To Do
Mix the vinegar with water and use this to rinse your mouth.
How Often You Should Do This
Rinse with ACV 2-3 times in a day.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar contains mild acids that bring back the pH balance in your mouth, and this reduces the infection and the swelling in your gums (19, 20).
13. Vanilla Extract
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
1-2 drops vanilla extract
What You Have To Do
- Using a clean finger (or a Q-tip), apply vanilla extract on the affected gum.
- Leave it on.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply twice a day.
Why This Works
Vanilla extract is an antiseptic and an analgesic that is often used to relieve pain in the gums and tooth (21).
14. Epsom Salt
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon Epsom salt
- A glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
Mix the Epsom salt in water and gargle with this.
How Often You Should Do This
Gargle with this every morning and at night, before going to bed.
Why This Works
Epsom salt in warm water soothes the swollen gums and alleviates the inflammation and pain. It is also an antibacterial agent that can treat the infection causing the problem (22).
Caution
Be careful not to ingest the Epsom salt water.
Natural remedies are one way to treat swollen gums. With simple ingredients you have right at home, you can not only treat the painful symptoms but also get a relief from the same.
But please understand that home remedies can only alleviate some of the symptoms of gum disease. When bacteria and buildup are underneath the gums, you need professional intervention. Home remedies can sure be used as an adjunctive measure to help combat gum disease, but they are not curative.
Do you have more home remedies for swollen gums? Let us know in the comments section below.
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