What causes pain in the gum behind the molar tooth?
Mar 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Chao
Introduction
Frequently consuming spicy or overly hard foods, or eating too quickly, may injure the gums behind the molars. It is advisable to adjust your diet, choosing mild and soft foods such as porridge and noodles. Chew slowly and thoroughly during meals to reduce irritation to the gums. Generally, if the injury is mild, the gums can recover on their own through dietary adjustments. Brushing teeth too aggressively or using a toothbrush with hard bristles can easily damage the gums.
Pain in the gums behind the back molars may be caused by dietary irritation, improper brushing techniques, erupting wisdom teeth, gingivitis, or apical periodontitis. Appropriate management can be chosen based on specific circumstances. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention to determine the cause and receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician.
1. Dietary irritation: Frequently consuming spicy or excessively hard foods, or eating too quickly, may injure the gums behind the molars. Adjust your diet by choosing bland, soft foods such as porridge and noodles. Chew slowly and thoroughly during meals to reduce gum irritation. In mild cases, the gums can usually recover on their own after dietary adjustments.
2. Improper brushing techniques: Brushing too aggressively or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can injure the gums. Learn the correct brushing method—use the Bass technique with a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean the teeth and gums. Brush teeth twice daily, rinse after meals, maintain good oral hygiene, and promote gum healing.
3. Wisdom tooth eruption: During eruption, wisdom teeth may become impacted due to insufficient space, pressing on surrounding gum tissue and causing pain. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times daily to clean the oral cavity and reduce inflammation. Avoid spicy or irritating foods that may worsen the pain. If the pain is severe, take pain relievers such as ibuprofen under a doctor's guidance.
4. Gingivitis: This condition is often caused by long-term accumulation of dental plaque and calculus, which irritate the gums and cause inflammation. Symptoms include red, swollen gums that may bleed easily during brushing or biting hard objects. Under medical guidance, patients may use medications such as metronidazole buccal tablets, dibucaine and borax ointment, or compound chlorhexidine mouthwash to alleviate symptoms.
5. Apical periodontitis: This condition typically develops from pulpitis, where bacterial infection within the pulp chamber spreads to the tissues surrounding the tooth root apex, causing inflammation. Symptoms include gum pain behind the back molars, tooth tenderness upon biting, a floating sensation of the tooth, and, in severe cases, fever and facial swelling. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as amoxicillin capsules, metronidazole tablets, or ibuprofen sustained-release capsules to relieve discomfort.
In daily life, regular oral muscle relaxation exercises such as applying heat and gently massaging the jaw muscles can be beneficial. Maintaining good oral hygiene is important for promoting overall oral health.
