Hello doctor, One morning while I was eating at school, my gums behind my front teeth started to get sore. Was it because I scraped the inside of my mouth while I was eating? Or it was because of eating something hot? Anyways it has been three days, and my gums are still sore when I eat. My gums are reddish pink, swollen, and sore. This had happened once before, but it did not last for three days. My mom asked me to gargle with warm salty water, which I have been doing for the past three days. It worked a bit, and some of the swellings have reduced, but my gums are still sore. So what should I do now?
Hello. Well, you have guessed it right. It seems like the most common form of gum swelling by injury from eating either hot foods (typically cheese or soup, etc.) or from eating something hard and sharp. Since a large area is injured, it will take up to a week to heal. If it continues beyond ten days, you can consult a dentist or oral surgeon. Meanwhile, continue warm salt water rinses. I suggest using a Chlorhexidine mouthwash twice daily for two weeks. It has antimicrobial properties, which will limit the chances of infection and help in faster healing. For relief from pain, you can apply an analgesic gel like Mucopain (Benzocaine 20 %) gel, 15 minutes before eating.