Irritated gums on one side?!

Irritated gums on one side?

I really have irritated gums on one side of my mouth, if I scratch them some of the pain goes away but it makes them bleed. I used a hot facecloth and put it on my cheek, which helped a bit.
Any idea what this might be? My gums on the other side are just normal and they don't hurt.

Sounds like gingivitis, which, as Wikipedia puts it, is "the inflammation of the gums (gingiva) around the teeth." It also says, "Gingivitis may be caused by a build up of plaque and tartar from improper cleaning of teeth, or by injury to the gums from over-vigorous brushing and/or flossing." The condition is generally reversible."

Go here to learn about it.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/gingiviti...

Here's what you can do immediately (from the link above)

Self-Care at Home

The best home care for gingivitis is prevention.

* Regular dental visits to remove plaque build-up are necessary to combat gingivitis.
* Once a dentist removes plaque, regular brushing and flossing will minimize plaque formation. Even with good dental hygiene, plaque will begin to accumulate again.

So, what I would do at this point is go to your dentist, get diagnosed, and if it is in fact gingivitis, take the appropriate steps listed above and as mandated by your dentist.