Many things can cause your gums to be painful and sore. They can get better on their own. But if your gums hurt and you have a white coating on your tongue or cheeks, you could have an yeast infection called thrush. Eating yogurt with live cultures can help, but you should see a doctor or dentist if it doesn’t clear up.
If you have gum pain and white mouth ulcers with red borders, it could be canker sores. They’re not contagious and usually go away in 1 to 3 weeks. Canker sores that are larger than a half-inch can be very painful and should be treated by a dentist.
To ease your pain in the meantime, avoid spicy, salty, and acidic foods.