7 Gum Abscess Symptoms To Look Out For: Complete Guide 2023
A gum abscess is one of the most painful dental conditions you can develop. Given that 46% of adults over the age of 30 in the US show signs of gum disease, gum abscesses are quite common. Anyone with poor oral hygiene can develop this serious gum disease.
If you fear that you have a gum abscess, don’t panic. Early treatment & prevention can prevent this disease from becoming severe. Here’s everything you need to know about gum abscesses, including how to manage & prevent them at home.
Table of Contents
What is Gum Abscess?
An abscess is a pocket of pus in a tooth or the gums, caused by an infection. A gum abscess occurs when plaque accumulates under your gums, releasing bacteria into your mouth. If left unchecked, the pocket of pus can trigger a painful bacterial infection in your mouth.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, gum abscesses can be classified into two categories:
- Gingival Abscess: When the infection only affects the gingiva surrounding the teeth.
- Periodontal Abscess: When the infection spreads inside the gum tissue & other surrounding tissues.
Periodontal abscesses are more painful. The throbbing pain stems from the infected gum tissue. If the infection affects the patient’s teeth, it can lead to the patient developing a tooth abscess.
Causes of Gum Abscess
Like most periodontal diseases, a dental abscess is an inflammatory condition of the gums. It develops when sticky, colorless films of bacteria called “plaque” builds-up under the gums.
When plaque isn’t removed through brushing/flossing it can trigger infections in the surrounding gum tissues. These bacterial infections lead to the formation of gum abscesses.
If the patient doesn’t receive gum abscess treatment on time, the infections worsen inside these periodontal pockets of pus. This causes the condition to become more painful.
Here are some reasons why people develop this condition:
- Some people have naturally deep periodontal pockets in their mouths. Periodontal pockets are the spaces that form around the teeth from gum disease. Poor oral hygiene can lead to bacteria living & thriving in these spaces around the gum.
- People with weaker immune systems are more prone to developing gum abscesses. That’s because they’re unable to fight off bacterial infections in their mouths.
- Smoking is the biggest risk factor for all periodontal gum diseases, including gum abscesses.
Some other common risk factors for developing a gum abscess include: having a chronic illness (diabetes, obesity, arthritis, etc.), heart disease, hormonal changes (in females), & genetics.
7 Symptoms of Periodontal Abscess
The pain associated with dental abscesses makes it impossible for patients to not notice the most obvious symptoms of this gum disease. The most common symptom of a gum abscess is throbbing pain in the infected areas. In addition to gum pain, patients also experience:
- Red, swollen gum
- Severe, persistent pain in the gum line
- Tooth decay expanding at a rapid rate & spreading to nearby teeth
- Increased pain at night
- Trouble breathing
- Inability to chew hot or cold food
- Fever & Swollen neck glands
If you keep ignoring these symptoms & the abscess ruptures, you’ll notice the sudden release of a salty, foul-tasting liquid in your mouth. This means that the pocket of pus has exploded & you need immediate medical care to prevent further complications like sepsis.
What to Do If You Have A Gum Abscess?
Not every gum abscess requires emergency dental treatment. But, if you experience severe pain in your gums, you must seek immediate dental treatment. A dentist will provide you with prescription pain medicine. The medicine will reduce pain & contain the infection.
Treating Gum Abscess: The Most Effective Dental Treatment Techniques
A tooth abscess can be fixed by getting a tooth removal surgery. But, gum abscess treatment is a bit more nuanced. According to a recent StatPearls study, the two most effective dental procedures for treating a gum abscess are:
- Draining the gum abscess by creating incisions over the affected areas (similar to root canal treatment).
- Creating incisions through the infected periodontal pockets to reduce the risk of the bacterial infection spreading.
Your dentist will decide which gum abscess treatment option is more suitable for you depending on the severity of your condition.
If the infection spreads through your mouth’s connective tissue & enters your periodontal bones that support your teeth, you may need oral surgery to fix the bone damage caused.
Natural Remedies for Gum Disease
Many home remedies can help you reduce pain & manage your periodontal abscess at home. They include:
- Oil pulling with coconut oil.
- Avoid sugary foods.
- Only eat soft foods.
- Drinking raw garlic juice.
- Washing your mouth with warm salt water.
- Participating in stop-smoking programs.
- Applying turmeric to the affected tooth & the surrounding gum line.
- Eating a healthy diet to boost your immune system.
- Use a soft toothbrush (preferably a periodontal abscess brush) with fluoride toothpaste.
Medications for Gum Disease
Taking an over-the-counter medicine like will ibuprofen provides you with instant pain relief. Antibiotics & other prescription medications can also prevent the reoccurrence of bacteria in your gum line, dental pulp, & surrounding blood vessels.
Medical Care for this Gum Disease
Once you’re diagnosed with periapical abscesses, you’ll have to visit a dentist regularly until the pain and sensitivity in your gum perishes. However, you can avoid all that hassle if you learn about this gum disease & practice the right prevention techniques at home.
Digital Programs
Here are two of the most resourceful digital programs for treating all types of periodontal disease.
A. Treats Sore and Painful Gums: Freedom from Dental Disease
Freedom from Dental Disease is a set of two eBooks titled – How to Become Dentally Self-Sufficient written by Dr. Robert Nara & Money by the Mouthful written by Dr. Levy Palmey. The information found in these books goes back to the 1800s – back when modern-day dentistry was being invented.
By reading these two books, anyone can manage a serious dental condition at home. These books were written long before chemical cleaning or root canals or other complex dental procedures were invented. So, they’re full of guidelines on how to treat gum diseases like gum abscesses at home using all-natural ingredients & techniques.
The Freedom from Dental Disease Pack is a must-read for anyone who has suffered from gum or periodontal disease in the past.
Shop Freedom From Dental Disease Book at Official Website.
B. Organic Treatment For Gum Disease: Gum and Teeth Fortifier
Can you reverse your gum disease just by altering your lifestyle? According to the eBook, yes – anyone can. This comprehensive resource on how to preserve gum health is a must-read for anyone suffering from gum diseases & infections.
The book presents an easy-to-follow blueprint that can help you reverse tooth decay, gum abscess, & periodontal abscesses.
From the ancient gum care techniques used by the aboriginal tribes of Tasmania to the cutting-edge dental treatment techniques of today – the Gum and Teeth Fortifier eBook features all the info you need to know to manage and treat your gum abscess at home.
Shop Gum & Teeth Fortifier Digital Guide at the Official Website.
Gum Disease Prevention
Can’t maintain a healthy diet due to work-life balance issues? Don’t expose yourself to the risk of developing painful gum disease. Add the following highly-rated dental health supplements to your daily diet.
1. Top Consumer’s Choice: Dentitox Pro
Dentitox Pro is one of the most highly-rated oral health supplements on the market today. It’s packed with zinc, calcium, sage, cinnamon, peppermint, potassium, vitamin A, & collagen extracts.
These natural ingredients combine to help regenerate infected gums from the inside out. Dentitox drops are FDA-approved. Taking a few drops of Dentitox a day will ensure that your gums never experience bacterial infections, inflammation, or swelling.
Shop Dentitox Pro Drops at the Official Website.
Full Article: Dentitox Pro Reviews: Does it Really Work?
2. Best for Stronger teeth: Dentafend
This supplement is another all-natural oral health supplement that’s taken the market by storm. It features a scientifically-approved formulation that’s proven to eliminate harmful bacteria in the mouth & prevent plaque buildup. No plaque buildup means no infected gum & periodontal abscesses in your mouth!
Shop DentaFend Supplement at the Official Website.
Full Article: DentaFend Reviews 2022: Does it Really Work?
3. Best Vitamin for Oral Health Supplement: Steel Bite Pro
Steel Bite Pro is packed with over 23 plants, herbs, vitamins, & minerals. All of these ingredients have amazing anti-inflammatory properties. They combine to treat & prevent a variety of gum diseases, including gum abscesses.
Ingredients like chicory root, beetroot, celery seeds, berberine & grapeseed extracts prevent extensive bacterial damage in the teeth & gums. This all-natural dental supplement comes in easy-to-swallow pills as well. That’s why Steel Bite Pro is so popular among customers.
Shop Steel Bite Pro Supplement at the Official Website.
Full Article: Steel Bite Pro Reviews: Does it Really Work?
Risks and Complications of Gum Abscesses
If a gum abscess is left untreated, the bacterial infection can spread deeper into the dental pulp & surrounding connective tissues. Such widespread infections can easily travel to the bloodstream, cause irreversible changes in the blood vessels, & evolve into a severe complication called “sepsis.”
Conclusion
Going for regular dental checkups is the best thing you can do to prevent developing gum abscesses. The next best thing is practicing good oral hygiene. Before your gum abscess evolves into something serious, start practicing good oral hygiene at home.
Brush & floss your teeth twice a day to prevent plaque buildup in your gums. Add the right dental supplements to your diet to give your gum the nutrients it needs to fight off infections.
Learn As much as you can about this painful condition. Visit your dentist regularly.
Use this guide to create your own periodontal abscess prevention strategy. Take charge of your gum health!
Gum Abscess FAQs
How do you get rid of a gum abscess?
It depends on the severity of the gum abscess. If detected in its early stages, a gum abscess can be treated by taking antibiotics & other over-the-counter medicines. But, if the infection becomes too severe, oral surgery may be required.
Will a gum abscess go away on its own?
No. Unless you take steps to eliminate the bacterial buildups in your mouth, your gum abscess will only keep worsening.
How serious is a gum abscess?
A gum abscess isn’t a life-threatening dental condition. But, if left untreated, it can lead to severely painful & potentially terminal conditions like sepsis.
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Author: Vanessa Richards
Vanessa is a mom of 3 lovely children and a software geek. Outside of her career as a health and wellness instructor. She enjoys writing and researching on topics such as finance, software, health and culinary.
