If you suddenly find that your gums are swollen or bleeding, or pain is reverberating through your jaw, you may have a gum abscess. This type of acute condition will require a trip to the dentist so you can get treatment as soon as possible and get some pain relief. While realising that you might have a gum abscess can be scary, the good news is that your dentist will be able to treat it quickly and effectively.
When to Receive Gum Abscess Treatment
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Medically Reviewed By Colgate Global Scientific Communications
What Is a Gum Abscess?
A gum abscess is a kind of periodontal infection and is characterised by a localised collection of pus (i.e., an abscess) found alongside a tooth. Contributing factors include food, foreign-body, or residual tartar impaction into the gum area. If you're already undergoing periodontal treatment, your gum abscess may be caused by introducing bacteria into the gingival pockets (during debridement) or bacterial superinfection.
Symptoms of a gum abscess are:
- Intra-oral swelling, with or without pain
- Increased pain on biting
- Purulent exudate (a discharge of pus from the area) when pressure is applied
- Bad taste in the mouth
- A sensation of the tooth being loose
What Are the Stages of Gum Abscesses?
An article published in The Times of India, explains that there are two types of abscesses - periapical and periodontal abscesses.
Gingival abscess. This condition is characterised by localised purulent infection that affects the marginal gingiva (the gingiva's terminal edge surrounding the teeth in a collar-like fashion).
Periodontal abscess. This condition also involves a localised purulent infection, but it occurs within the tissues adjacent to the periodontal pocket. If untreated, it can lead to the destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.
Gum Abscess Treatment
Talking about the treatment of dental abscess, eDantSeva explains that treatment would involve incision and drainage of abscess, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and sometimes extraction of teeth. Timely treatment is important to prevent the pus from spreading into surrounding vital structures and serious complications. This typically includes draining the abscess by making an incision over the area of greatest swelling on the gingiva (in the case of a gingival abscess) or through the periodontal pockets (in the case of a periodontal abscess). If you have a periodontal abscess, your dentist might decide to perform mechanical scaling of the periodontal pockets and use an antiseptic rinse to remove the dead tissue and bacteria. If a foreign object is embedded in your gums, it will also need to be removed.
In most cases, your dentist will also give you antibiotics, which will help with the infection, and recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. Once you're home, along with taking the antibiotics, you can try rinsing with warm salt water to help reduce the swelling.
Having a gum abscess can be a stressful and painful experience. That's why prevention is the best approach. Get regular cleanings at your dentist's office and maintain a good oral care routine. But remember, if you experience any pain or irritation related to a gum abscess, it's highly treatable. Just ensure that you make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible!
