Most gum infections start as gingivitis, a mild inflammation you can often reverse at home with consistent oral care. If the infection has progressed deeper into the tissue and bone, you’ll need professional treatment. The key is recognizing which stage you’re dealing with and acting quickly, because gum infections that go untreated can cause permanent damage to the bone supporting your teeth.
Gingivitis vs. Periodontitis: Know What You’re Dealing With
Gum infections fall into two broad categories, and the treatment path depends entirely on which one you have. Gingivitis is the early stage. Your gums bleed when you brush or floss, they look red or puffy, and they may feel tender. At this point, the infection sits in the soft tissue only. There’s no bone loss, and the small gap between your gum and tooth (called a pocket) measures 3 mm or less. Gingivitis is fully reversible.
Periodontitis is what happens when gingivitis goes unchecked. Bacteria work their way deeper, and the pockets around your teeth widen beyond 3 mm. The bone that anchors your teeth starts to break down. At stage I, pockets reach about 4 mm. By stage III, they’re 6 mm or more, and teeth can loosen or shift. Once bone is lost, it doesn’t grow back on its own. That’s why catching a gum infection early matters so much.
What You Can Do at Home Right Now
If your symptoms are mild (some bleeding, minor swelling, no loose teeth), home care can make a real difference. Start with the basics: brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and floss once daily. This sounds simple, but thorough, consistent cleaning removes the bacterial film that drives the infection. Pay attention to the gumline, angling your brush at about 45 degrees so the bristles sweep under the edge of the gum.
A warm saltwater rinse helps reduce swelling and draws fluid away from inflamed tissue. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water, swish for 30 seconds, and spit. If your mouth is very sore, cut the salt to half a teaspoon for the first day or two. You can do this two to three times a day.
Hydrogen peroxide rinses are another option. Use the standard 3% solution sold at drugstores, but dilute it first: mix equal parts peroxide and water to bring it down to 1.5%. Swish gently for about 30 seconds and spit. Don’t swallow it, and don’t use it undiluted, as full-strength peroxide can irritate or damage the soft tissue in your mouth.
Managing Pain and Swelling
Ibuprofen is the best over-the-counter choice for gum infection pain because it reduces both pain and inflammation. For mild pain, 200 to 400 mg every four to six hours is typically enough. If the pain is moderate, the American Dental Association recommends stepping up to 400 to 600 mg every six hours for the first 24 hours, then dropping to 400 mg as needed. For stronger pain, combining ibuprofen (400 to 600 mg) with acetaminophen (500 mg) every six hours provides better relief than either one alone. Take ibuprofen with food to protect your stomach.
Applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheek, 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off, can also bring down swelling in the short term. Avoid very hot or very cold foods if your gums are sensitive, and stay away from alcohol-based mouthwashes, which can irritate inflamed tissue.
Professional Treatments Your Dentist May Recommend
If home care doesn’t improve things within a week or two, or if you have signs of periodontitis (deep aching, receding gums, pockets of pus, loose teeth), you need professional treatment.
The first-line procedure is scaling and root planing, sometimes called a deep cleaning. Your dentist or hygienist uses instruments to scrape away hardened plaque (tarite) from below the gumline, then smooths the root surfaces so your gums can reattach. It’s done under local anesthesia, and depending on how many areas are affected, it may take one or two visits. Most people feel sore for a few days afterward but notice significant improvement within a couple of weeks.
Your dentist may prescribe a chlorhexidine mouth rinse to use after the procedure. This is a powerful antiseptic that kills bacteria conventional rinses can’t touch. The standard recommendation is to use it for up to four weeks. Beyond that, it tends to stain teeth brown, so it’s a short-term tool, not a long-term habit.
For more advanced infections, antibiotics may be added on top of the deep cleaning. The most common combination is amoxicillin paired with metronidazole, taken for seven to fourteen days. These aren’t prescribed for every case. Antibiotics work best as a supplement to the mechanical cleaning, not as a replacement for it. Your dentist will decide based on the severity of your infection and how your body responds to initial treatment.
When Surgery Becomes Necessary
In advanced periodontitis, scaling and root planing alone may not be enough. Flap surgery involves lifting the gum tissue back so the dentist can clean the roots more thoroughly and reshape damaged bone. Recovery typically takes one to two weeks, and you’ll eat soft foods during that time. Bone grafts or tissue grafts are sometimes used alongside flap surgery to rebuild what’s been lost, though these procedures are reserved for the most severe cases.
Why Gum Infections Shouldn’t Be Ignored
An untreated gum infection doesn’t just threaten your teeth. The bacteria and chronic inflammation in your mouth can affect the rest of your body. Periodontitis has a two-way relationship with diabetes: the infection makes blood sugar harder to control, and poorly controlled blood sugar makes gum disease worse. Inflammation from gum disease is also linked to heart disease. Bacteria from infected gums can be inhaled into the lungs, contributing to respiratory infections like pneumonia. There’s even evidence that gum disease bacteria can travel to the brain and may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
None of this means a little gum bleeding will give you a heart attack. But it does mean that chronic, untreated gum infection is a genuine health risk beyond your mouth, especially if you already have other conditions.
Preventing Reinfection
Once you’ve gotten a gum infection under control, the goal is making sure it doesn’t come back. The bacteria that cause gum disease are always present in your mouth. What keeps them in check is regular removal of the sticky film they live in.
Brush for two full minutes, twice a day. Most people brush for about 45 seconds without realizing it, so timing yourself can help. Floss daily, even if your gums bleed at first. That bleeding usually stops within a week or two as the tissue heals. An electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor can be a worthwhile investment if you tend to brush too hard or too briefly.
Get professional cleanings on the schedule your dentist recommends. For people with a history of gum disease, that’s often every three to four months rather than the standard six. Smoking is the single biggest modifiable risk factor for gum disease. It reduces blood flow to the gums, masks early warning signs like bleeding, and slows healing after treatment. If you smoke, quitting will do more for your gum health than any rinse or supplement.