Mouth and oral pain can be caused by many different conditions. Our healthcare providers can determine what is causing your pain and design a treatment plan to improve your symptoms.

Conditions that may cause mouth and oral pain include:

• Oral injuries
• Canker sores
• Herpes simplex virus (cold sores)
• Dry mouth
• Thrush
• Oral cancers
• Gum disease
• Dental abscess

Minor problems may be managed with at-home remedies. Some strategies to try at home include:

• Over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Salt water rinses and gargles
• Apply ice to areas of pain or swelling
• Avoid spicy, acidic, or salty foods
• Increase fluid intake, try sugar-free lozenges for dry mouth
• Avoid smoking and tobacco products
• Practice good oral hygiene with brushing and flossing

When at-home remedies are not helping, it’s time to seek professional care. Reasons to seek care for mouth and oral problems include:

• Severe pain not responding to over-the-counter medicine
• Pain that is interfering with eating and drinking
• Persistent tooth or gum pain
• Sores that won’t go away or keep returning
• A growth that doesn’t go away
• White spots inside the mouth
• A mouth injury with bleeding or looks infected
• Signs of infection like fever and swelling