Your teeth are a barrier to bacteria, preventing them from invading your living tissues. If your enamel erodes and weakens, the bacteria make the most of this opportunity and invade your gums. Sometimes, it forms inside the gum pocket that surrounds your tooth.
Types of Tooth Abscess
The kinds of tooth abscesses are categorized according to their formation inside the mouth.
- Gingival Abscess: When an infection reaches the gum tissue, gingival abscesses are formed. A gingival abscess usually develops due to food particles or debris accumulation in the gums.
- Periodontal Abscess: These are bacteria-infested pockets around your teeth. They are formed due to trauma or gum disease.
- Periapical Abscess: Your teeth are protected by enamel; when enamel wears off, bacteria invade the root of your tooth. This pus formation at the dental root is known as a periapical abscess.
Early Stage Gum Abscess Stages
A gum abscess is not something you can easily get away with. It is a potential threat to your oral health. Diagnosing it early can help you stop it from causing further damage. The early stages might not indicate any noticeable signs. However, you can look for the following symptoms:
- Swelling, redness, or pain in the affected area
- Sensitivity to extreme temperatures
- Pain or pressure while biting or chewing
- A loose tooth
- Pus discharge in mouth, causing a foul taste and smell
- Fever
Gum Abscess Treatment
The main goal of tooth abscess treatment is to relieve pain and eliminate the infection. Hence, your dentist can:
- Drain the Abscess
With a little incision, your dentist will cut open the dental abscess. Doing so will allow the pus and bacteria to ooze out. Your gum pocket will then be washed nicely with a saline solution to remove leftover bacteria. - Root Canal Treatment
If the infection has already attacked your dental pulp, your dentist will create a hole in your tooth. This will help them remove the infected pulp and seal the tooth with a crown. This restoration can last a lifetime if you follow a proper dental care routine. - Tooth Extraction
If your tooth has already suffered irreparable damage, your periodontist or dentist might be unable to save it. They will extract your tooth to access and drain the abscess formed inside. - Antibiotics
When a dental abscess stays limited to one area in your mouth. Your dentist won’t need to prescribe antibiotics. But if it has found its way toward neighboring teeth, antibiotics will help stop the infection.
Gum Abscess Healing Stages
After the professional treatment from the dentist for your gum abscess, your healing process should start right after your follow-up appointment with the dentist. The healing stages can include:
- Symptoms Disappearance:
The redness, soreness, and pain will no longer be felt when the infection is treated. This is a clear indication of symptoms going away. - Tissue Repair:
The body’s built-in healing abilities compensate for the harmed gum tissues. This requires time, and the pace of healing varies from person to person.
Key Takeaway
Sometimes, a gum abscess ruptures, relieving you, but it doesn’t mean it’s cured. The pus was released, but the infection stays, so visit your dentist as soon as possible and get the required treatment.
Contact our experienced periodontist, Dr. Michael K. McGuire, at Perio Health Professionals. Dial (346) 509-9060 to book an appointment.
