
If you have periodontal (gum) disease, you’ve no doubt experienced red and swollen gums. If, however, you notice an especially inflamed area next to a tooth, you may have developed a gum abscess.
An abscess is a pus-filled sac that develops as a result of chronic (long-standing) gum disease, an infection caused by bacterial plaque that’s built up on tooth surfaces from inadequate oral hygiene or from a foreign body (food debris) getting stuck below the gums. The abscess, which typically develops between the tooth and gums, may be accompanied by pain but not always (the affected tooth may also be tender to bite on). Abscesses may grow larger, precipitated by stress or by a general infection like a common cold, and then abate for a time.
As with other abscesses in the body, a gum abscess is treated by relieving the pressure (after numbing the area with local anesthesia) and allowing it to drain. This is often followed by cleaning any infected root surfaces of bacterial plaque and then irrigating the area with a saline and/or antibacterial solution. We may also prescribe antibiotics afterward and some form of pain control (usually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen) to help with discomfort.
Although the results of this procedure can be dramatic, it’s just the first step in treating the overall gum disease. After a few days of healing, we continue with a complete examination and recommend further treatment, usually starting with removing bacterial plaque and calculus (hardened plaque deposits), the underlying cause for the infection and inflammation, from all tooth and gum surfaces. This may take several sessions before we begin seeing the gum tissues return to a healthier state.
The key to preventing an abscess recurrence (or any symptom of gum disease) is to remove plaque everyday through proper brushing and flossing, and visiting us twice a year (or more if you’ve developed chronic gum disease) for cleanings and checkups. Doing so will raise your chances of avoiding an uncomfortable and often painful gum abscess in the future.
If you would like more information on gum abscesses, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Periodontal (Gum) Abscesses.”
Comments:
Blog Content
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
Tags
- mouthguards (5)
- dental injuries (4)
- periodontal disease (12)
- gum disease (57)
- periodontal surgery (3)
- dental implants (8)
- dentures (1)
- tooth decay (7)
- oral hygiene (28)
- oral health (19)
- fun dental facts (1)
- bad breath (4)
- tooth grinding (1)
- x-rays (1)
- snoring (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- dental emergencies (1)
- bleeding gums (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (2)
- orthodontics (4)
- dental cleanings (1)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- tooth pain (2)
- ibuprofen (1)
- pain management (2)
- cosmetic dentistry (6)
- gum recession (10)
- celebrity smiles (50)
- braces (5)
- pediatric care (1)
- laser dentistry (4)
- chipped teeth (1)
- teeth whitening (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- crowns (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- pediatric dentistry (1)
- crown lengthening (4)
- chipped tooth (3)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- toothpaste (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- orthodontic treatment (6)
- veneers (2)
- dental visit (2)
- blood pressure (1)
- teeth grinding (4)
- loose teeth (3)
- loose tooth (2)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (2)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- dental injury (6)
- periodontist (1)
- mouthrinse (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- toothbrush (1)
- gummy smile (2)
- retainer (1)
- diabetes (2)
- cracked mouth (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- extraction (1)
- root canal treatment (2)
- retainers (1)
- root resorption (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- bone loss (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- root planing (1)
- smoking (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- nutrition (1)
- canker sore (1)