Swollen gum around a tooth? What to do now
Rinse with warm salt water, hold a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, and take pain relief as directed on the packet. Do not squeeze or pop the swelling. A swollen gum with throbbing pain can be an abscess, and that needs same-day care. Call us on 1800 833 844.
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Do this now
- Rinse with warm salt water. Half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish gently and spit. Repeat a few times a day.
- Cold compress, outside the cheek. A wrapped cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time helps with pain and swelling. No heat packs.
- Take pain relief as directed. Follow the packet. Check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines or aren't sure what's safe for you.
- Call 1800 833 844. A gum swelling with throbbing pain can be an abscess. We keep room for urgent visits and aim to see you the same day.
Then call us
We keep room for urgent visits and aim to see you the same day. The first assessment is free.
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Go to a hospital emergency department if
- Swelling is spreading towards your eye or down your neck.
- You have trouble swallowing or breathing.
- You have a fever along with facial swelling.
For anything on this list, hospital comes first. Call 000 if someone is struggling to breathe.
What we'll do when you come in
- We examine the area and take a digital X-ray to find the cause. A swelling like this often starts at the root of the tooth or in the gum beside it.
- If there's an abscess, treatment focuses on draining it and treating the source. That's what brings real relief.
- Antibiotics alone don't fix the cause. They can settle an infection for a while, but the swelling tends to come back unless the source is treated.
- We explain the next step in plain words, with a clear quote first. Depending on the cause, that might be root canal treatment, gum care or removing the tooth.
While you wait
Do
- Keep rinsing with warm salt water a few times a day.
- Keep brushing gently, including near the sore spot, to keep the area clean.
- Drink plenty of water and stick to soft foods.
- Sleep with your head raised if the area throbs at night.
Don't
- Don't squeeze, pop or poke the swelling. That can push infection deeper.
- No heat packs on your face.
- Never put aspirin on the gum. It burns the soft tissue.
- Don't rely on antibiotics alone to fix it. They don't treat the cause.
- Don't drop the visit if the pain eases. The cause is usually still there.
The likely next steps
Quick answers
Is a swollen gum around a tooth an abscess?
It can be. A tender lump with throbbing pain, a bad taste, or a tooth that feels tall when you bite often points to an abscess. It can also be trapped food, gum trouble or a wisdom tooth coming through. An exam and X-ray tell us which, so call and let us look.
Will antibiotics fix it?
Not on their own. Antibiotics can calm an infection for a while, but they don't treat the cause, so the swelling tends to come back. Fixing it usually means draining the infection and treating the tooth or gum that started it.
The swelling burst and I feel better. Am I fine now?
The pressure is gone, but the cause isn't. The infection that built the swelling is usually still there and tends to flare again. Book a visit so we can treat the source before it does.
Can I be seen today?
We aim to see urgent cases the same day. The fastest way to sort it is to call us on 1800 833 844 so we can find you the soonest spot across our clinics.
Locations
Six clinics. Find your closest.
Four across Brisbane. Two on the Gold Coast.
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Don't wait it out. Call us now
Tell us what's happening and we'll find you the soonest spot across our six clinics in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
or call 1800 833 844