Getting infection out of your gums depends on how deep the infection has spread. Mild gum infections (gingivitis) can often be reversed with improved oral hygiene at home, but infections that have reached below the gumline or into the bone typically require professional treatment to fully resolve. About 42% of American adults over 30 have some form of gum disease, so this is one of the most common health problems people deal with.
The key distinction is whether the infection is still on the surface or has worked its way into the deeper tissues. That determines whether you can manage it yourself or need a dentist’s help.
Identify What You’re Dealing With
Gum infections fall into three general categories, and each one calls for a different approach.
Gingivitis is the mildest form. Your gums are red, swollen, and bleed easily when you brush or floss. The infection sits at or just above the gumline, caused by plaque that has built up on your teeth. Gingivitis is fully reversible.
Periodontitis is what happens when gingivitis goes untreated. Bacteria spread below the gumline and form “pockets,” abnormal gaps between the tooth and gum tissue. These pockets trap more bacteria, which release toxins that destroy gum tissue and the bone supporting your teeth. Periodontitis causes permanent damage, but professional treatment can stop it from progressing.
A gum abscess is a localized pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. It usually shows up as a painful, swollen bump on the gum. Abscesses don’t resolve on their own and need to be drained by a dentist.
What You Can Do at Home
Home care works best for gingivitis and as a support measure while you’re waiting for or recovering from professional treatment. It won’t cure periodontitis or an abscess, but it can reduce bacterial load and ease symptoms.
Saltwater rinses are the simplest option. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and swish gently for 30 seconds. Salt creates an environment that’s hostile to bacteria and helps draw fluid out of swollen tissue, which can reduce pain and puffiness. You can repeat this several times a day.
Hydrogen peroxide rinses can also help, but concentration matters. A 1.5% solution used once daily has been shown to be safe even over extended periods with no signs of tissue irritation. At 3% concentration, used multiple times a day, it can irritate your gums, especially if you already have sores or damaged tissue. If you’re using the standard 3% hydrogen peroxide from a drugstore, dilute it with equal parts water to bring it closer to 1.5%. Don’t swallow it.
Thorough brushing and flossing is the most important thing you can do. Bacteria constantly produce a sticky film called plaque on your teeth. If plaque sits undisturbed, it hardens into tartar (calcite buildup) within days, and tartar can’t be removed by brushing alone. The goal of daily cleaning is to disrupt plaque before it hardens, especially along and just below the gumline. Use a soft-bristled brush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and floss daily to clean the surfaces your brush can’t reach.
Professional Deep Cleaning
If your gums have pockets deeper than a few millimeters, or if tartar has built up below the gumline, you need a procedure called scaling and root planing. This is the standard first-line treatment for periodontitis, recommended by the American Dental Association as the initial nonsurgical approach.
During the procedure, your dentist or hygienist numbs your gums with local anesthesia. Then they use hand instruments or ultrasonic tools to scrape plaque and tartar off your teeth, both above and below the gumline. That’s the “scaling” part. The “root planing” part involves smoothing the root surfaces of your teeth, which makes it harder for bacteria and tartar to reattach later.
The whole process may be done in one visit or split across two to four appointments, depending on how widespread the infection is. Your gums will likely be sore for a few days afterward, and you may notice some sensitivity to hot and cold. Most people see noticeable improvement in gum swelling and bleeding within a couple of weeks.
When Antibiotics Are Needed
Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed alongside deep cleaning, but they’re considered a supporting treatment rather than a standalone fix. The physical removal of bacteria through scaling and root planing does the heavy lifting. Antibiotics help by reaching bacteria that instruments can’t.
Your dentist may prescribe oral antibiotics (typically a combination taken for about seven days) or place a medicated gel or chip directly into the gum pockets. Research from the European Federation of Periodontology found that seven-day and 14-day courses of antibiotics produced the same results, meaning longer courses don’t appear to offer extra benefit. Lower doses also performed comparably to higher doses.
The ADA gives a stronger recommendation to a low-dose anti-inflammatory form of antibiotic, which works by calming the tissue destruction rather than killing bacteria directly. Standard-dose antibiotics get a weaker recommendation because of the greater potential for side effects.
Laser Treatment
Laser therapy is a newer option that some periodontists offer. The laser targets infected and diseased tissue while leaving healthy gum tissue intact. Because there are no incisions, there’s less bleeding and often less post-procedure discomfort compared to traditional gum surgery.
That said, the evidence is still limited. The ADA’s current guidelines give only a weak recommendation for one type of laser therapy (photodynamic therapy with a diode laser) and an expert opinion against other laser types as replacements for scaling and root planing, due to uncertainty about their clinical benefits. Laser treatment may be an option worth discussing with your periodontist, but it’s not yet considered a standard replacement for deep cleaning.
What Recovery Looks Like
After scaling and root planing, your dentist will typically schedule a follow-up in four to six weeks to measure whether your gum pockets have started to shrink. Gum tissue reattaches to the tooth surface gradually over several weeks. During this time, keeping up with brushing, flossing, and any prescribed rinses is critical to prevent bacteria from recolonizing the cleaned pockets.
If pockets haven’t improved enough after nonsurgical treatment, your dentist may recommend gum surgery. This can involve folding back the gum tissue to clean deeper, or grafting tissue to areas where the gums have receded significantly. Recovery from gum graft surgery typically takes one to two weeks, though it varies by person. Your surgeon will usually check on the graft after one week, then schedule follow-ups until healing is complete.
For periodontitis, treatment doesn’t end when the infection is controlled. You’ll likely need more frequent dental cleanings (every three to four months instead of every six) to keep bacteria from rebuilding below the gumline. Periodontitis is a chronic condition. The bone loss it causes is permanent, but with consistent maintenance, you can prevent further damage and keep your teeth stable.
Signs the Infection Is Spreading
Most gum infections stay localized, but in rare cases, bacteria can spread beyond the mouth. If you develop a fever along with facial swelling and can’t reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Difficulty breathing or swallowing is especially urgent, as these symptoms can indicate the infection has spread into your jaw, throat, neck, or other parts of your body. A spreading dental infection can become life-threatening and needs immediate medical attention.