Itchy Gums: 6 Causes and How to Get Relief

Why Are My Gums Itchy?

Itchy gums mean something is irritating your gum tissue. Plaque along the gumline is a common cause, and an itch between two teeth may point to plaque or trapped food.

Other causes include allergies, hormonal changes, dry mouth, mouth injury, viral infections, and new teeth coming in. While better brushing and flossing eases plaque-related itching, tartar needs a professional cleaning, and other causes need different treatments.

Itchy gums that come with bleeding, swelling, receding gums, or loose teeth could be a sign of gum disease. See your dentist if your gums have been itchy for 3 or more days.

6 Causes of Itchy Gums

The 6 main causes, along with other symptoms to look out for, are listed below.

1. Plaque and Tartar Buildup

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day. When plaque sits along your gumline, it can irritate the tissue, which can lead to itchy gums. Plaque can harden over time into tartar, a crust-like substance that can only be removed by a professional cleaning.

Plaque buildup can lead to gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. If your itchy gums are between two teeth, there may be plaque or food stuck between them. Flossing between those two teeth may help.

Other symptoms include:

• Teeth that feel fuzzy
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Bad breath

2. Allergies

Allergies to food, medication, and pollen can cause your gums to itch. One pollen-linked food allergy is oral allergy syndrome (OAS), which can cause an allergic reaction to certain raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts.²

OAS is more common in people with hay fever or other pollen-related allergies. If your tongue itches along with your gums after eating raw fruits, you may have OAS. Seek emergency care if your throat swells, you have trouble breathing, or you develop hives or vomiting.

3. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can make your gums more sensitive and more easily irritated by plaque. During puberty, rising hormone levels increase blood flow to your gums and make them more reactive.

Women who are pregnant are more likely to experience swollen and tender gums (pregnancy gingivitis). Women going through menopause may experience dry mouth and burning or tender gums.

4. Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, makes your gums more susceptible to plaque buildup because you don’t have enough saliva to wash the bacteria away. Dry mouth can also cause your gum tissue to dry out, which can make it sore and itchy.

Dry mouth can be caused by medications, cancer treatments, some health conditions, and mouth breathing during a cold.

Other symptoms include:

• A dry or sticky sensation
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• A burning or itchy sensation in the mouth

5. Irritation or Injury

Your gums can be injured by brushing too hard, eating sharp foods like chips, burning your mouth with hot food, and wearing ill-fitting dentures or retainers. Injured gums can feel sore or irritated.

Grinding your teeth (bruxism) can wear down enamel and damage your teeth, but it can also irritate your mouth and make already sore gums feel worse.

6. Viral Infections

The cold sore virus (herpes simplex) and coxsackievirus can cause an oral infection called gingivostomatitis, which causes swollen gums and painful sores. Gingivostomatitis is a type of stomatitis, or mouth inflammation.

Coxsackievirus can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is most common in children under 5.⁷ Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Difficulty swallowing or a sore throat
• Skin rash on your hands and feet

Other Causes

Less common causes include:

• Teething: A baby’s gums can become sore and itchy as new teeth come in.
• Wisdom Teeth: Your gums may itch when your wisdom teeth begin to come in. The gum around them can also become infected with a condition called pericoronitis if food gets trapped there.
• New Oral Care Products: Some toothpastes, mouthwashes, and whitening products contain ingredients that can irritate your gums.

Can Itchy Gums Be a Sign of Gum Disease?

Itchy gums on their own can’t tell you whether you have gum disease, but these other signs need a dental check:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss.
• Red, swollen, or tender gums.
• Gums receding from your teeth.
• Pus between your teeth and gums.
• Persistent bad breath.
• Loose teeth or changes in how your teeth fit together when you bite.

Gum disease is common: from 2009 to 2014, about 4 out of 10 US adults aged 30 and up had periodontitis, its advanced form.⁸ Left untreated, it can permanently destroy the bone around your teeth, which can lead to tooth loss.

While gingivitis can be reversed with a dental cleaning and good at-home care, periodontitis can’t be reversed but can be slowed and managed with a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing.

How to Get Rid of Itchy Gums

Treatment for itchy gums depends on what’s causing them. If it’s mild, at-home care may be enough. However, if it’s a recurring problem, you may need to see your dentist.

Home Remedies for Itchy Gums

Things you can try at home include:

• Brush and floss gently: Especially around the area that itches
• Saltwater rinse: Rinse with warm salt water a few times a day
• Cold therapy: Suck on ice chips (without chewing them) or apply a cold compress to your cheek
• Antihistamines: Take them if pollen seems to be the cause, but some can make dry mouth worse. If food is the problem, stop eating the foods that trigger your symptoms and consult a doctor or an allergist.
• Tea tree oil mouthwash: Although research is limited, a small 2020 pilot trial found that gingivitis improved with both a tea tree oil mouthwash and a prescription-strength one called chlorhexidine.⁹ Both groups also got a professional cleaning and hygiene advice, and the trial didn’t measure itching. Always check with your dentist before using one, and never swallow it.

Professional Treatments

Your dentist can treat whatever is causing the itch:

• Deep cleaning: Scaling and root planing removes tartar below your gumline and smooths out the roots of your teeth. Some dentists may add lasers, but scaling and root planing remains the standard non-surgical treatment.
• Grinding: Getting a night guard if you grind your teeth
• Dry mouth care: Using a saliva substitute or switching medications (be sure to check with your doctor first)

Itchy Gum Prevention

The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth once a day to remove plaque buildup.¹¹

Other habits that help include:

• Use a soft-bristled brush and don’t scrub too hard
• Visit your dentist as often as they recommend
• Avoid smoking or vaping
• Drink enough water throughout the day

When to See a Dentist

See a dentist if your gums itch for 3 or more days, or sooner if bleeding, swelling or pain comes with it. A dental exam tells plaque irritation apart from gum disease, dry mouth or a rubbing appliance.

Dr. Nandita Lilly is one of NewMouth’s in-house dentists. She says, “If you experience gum itching for 3 or more days, your dentist can determine the root cause and prevent it from causing bigger problems later.”

Call 911 for These Signs

A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) needs treatment right away. Call 911 if mouth itching comes with:

• Trouble breathing or wheezing
• Swelling in your throat or tongue, or trouble swallowing
• Widespread hives, vomiting, dizziness or fainting

If you think it’s anaphylaxis and you have an epinephrine auto-injector, use it right away, then call 911. Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse, and don’t take an antihistamine instead.¹³

Book a Dental Visit If You Notice

• Itching that lasts 3 or more days without getting better
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, puffy gums, or gums pulling back from your teeth
• A loose tooth or a change in your bite
• Pus, a bad taste or bad breath that won’t go away
• Pain around a wisdom tooth coming in. Get same-day dental care if the gum around it swells
• Dry mouth that drinking water doesn’t relieve
• A denture, retainer or aligner that rubs

Get Medical Care Promptly If

• Mouth blisters or sores come with a fever, a rash, drooling, dehydration or trouble swallowing. Contact a dentist or medical provider promptly, and get emergency care if you’re unable to swallow or breathing is hard.
• A child with mouth sores won’t eat or drink. Call their doctor right away for signs of dehydration, and call 911 if they’re confused, pass out or are hard to wake.
• Certain foods make your mouth itch, or your reactions are getting worse. An allergist can assess your symptoms and decide whether you need testing. If nuts make your mouth itch, get checked even if it’s the first time.