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Aram David/Demand Media

Gum pain can strike without warning, often when you least expect it. The pain is a signal to inform you that something is not right within your mouth. The fastest and, conveniently, the most effective solution for ridding gum pain temporarily and sometimes even permanently is a saltwater rinse. The best part about this formula is that it combines two readily available components so you can ease the pain quickly.

Preparation

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Aram David/Demand Media

When you are struck with gum pain, it can be pretty severe. It may arrive out of nowhere or be triggered by something you ate. In either case, you want to remember to think clearly as you prepare the saltwater rinse to avoid making the pain worse. You will need to use a clean cup. A dirty container or one with particles in it may make your symptoms worse. If you have an abscess that is causing the discomfort, certain left-over fluids can accelerate irritation or particles can become lodged into the crevice and really send your pain through the roof.

Ensuring that you selected the salt instead of sugar is another precaution you must take. Although it sounds like a silly mistake, gum pain can be so intense that you do not think as clearly as normal. If your gum pain is caused by a cavity at the gum line and you are unaware of the source, a sugar rinse can send a shockwave of pain upon contact with the cavity.

Saltwater Rinse

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Aram David/Demand Media

An important concept to remember when you prepare a saltwater rinse is to use warm water. Cold water is not as effective for two reasons: it aggravates sensitive teeth and it does not dissolve the salt. You might not realize that your teeth are sensitive but, if you flood them with extremely cold water without knowing, you will experience significant discomfort. This will also happen if the source of your gum pain is from a cavity. Because cavities are a breakdown in part of the tooth’s surface, the tooth’s nerve is more susceptible to aggravations.

Another benefit of the warm water is that it melts the salt crystals. This allows the soothing properties of the salt to consume the water and reach small crevices within the mouth such as an abscess. The salt will drain the abscess and eliminate some of the pain.