You notice a shiny redness with a little pinpoint of white on your gum one morning and think nothing of it. Just a few days later, the same area is larger, swollen, and painful. You cannot wait any longer—now’s the time to investigate gum abscess treatments.

What is a gum abscess?

A gum abscess (also commonly referred to as a gingival abscess), is one of three types of periodontal abscess. A tooth abscess attacks the dental pulp, and a periapical abscess focuses on a tooth’s roots, but a gum abscess occurs in the gum tissue and is often visible to the naked eye. This pus-filled sac is caused by bacteria that enters the gum, leading to pain and inflammation.

Gum abscesses most commonly develop over time but can also worsen overnight. Gum abscess treatments are important to prevent what starts as a mild irritation from developing into something more serious.

Do I have a gum abscess?

In the beginning, a gum abscess may not seem like anything much. Your gum tissue may redden slightly and become shiny. A small white or yellow spot may appear on your gum, easily dismissed as a scrap of food or stray bit of skin. This dot may get larger and become raised as the bacteria creates more pus and the infection and inflammation takes over.

As the abscess progresses, you may experience some or all of the following gingival abscess symptoms:

  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Warmth
  • Fever
  • Swollen neck and glands
  • Sharp pain
  • Foul taste in the mouth
  • Radiating pain
  • Feeling of malaise
  • Increased pain when you lay down
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold temperature

Many of these symptoms are tell-tale signs of the body fighting infection. Once you begin to experience these symptoms, it’s crucial to get to your dentist. (AZ Dentist is your Phoenix-area weekend dentist!)

An overview of gum abscess treatments

If your symptoms become severe, you may want to contact an emergency dentist. They can fit you in—even on the weekends—to evaluate and treat your gum abscess.

Once you are at the dentist, they will evaluate the severity of the abscess. When a fluid-filled sac is present, they will incise and drain the abscess in the following four steps.

Step 1: Getting you comfortable

Some patients have significant dental anxiety and will require a mild sedative prior to this procedure.

Your dentist may use a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort during the procedure.

Step 2: Incising the abscess

After you are comfortable, your dentist will use a sterilized scalpel to make a cut in the most prominent part of your abscess.

This will produce a foul-tasting rush of liquid. This is the infected material, which will be suctioned away by the dental assistant.

Step 3: Inspection

The next step is to make sure that all infected material has drained completely from the abscess.

Your dentist will probe the abscess, pressing gently to coax any remaining infected material that might be remaining.

Step 4: Thorough cleaning

Once the infected fluid is completely drained, the abscess is flushed with water to thoroughly clean and irrigate the area.

If you experience mild bleeding (which is common), the incised and drained area is packed with gauze. For more excessive bleeding (a rare occurrence), your dentist may cauterize the incision. Usually, the incision is minor and mouth wounds are quick-healing. For this reason, most dentists decide not to pack the incision with gauze.

Your dentist may opt to have the drained fluid tested, but this is not common. For gum abscesses that are deep and extensive, your dentist may install a small tube to encourage further draining until a follow-up visit (usually a week or two after the first draining).

You may be tempted to skip the dentist and drain the abscess on your own. This opens your gums up for an even more serious infection and is never a good idea.

At AZ Dentist, we understand your reluctance to seek gum abscess treatment and will make you as comfortable as possible for a pain-free experience.

Will a gum abscess go away on its own?

For a smaller gum abscess, many people consider just allowing it to run its course without dental intervention. While you may be able to relieve some of the symptoms of a gingival abscess while you wait for a dental appointment, an untreated infection will only worsen over time. It’s important to check in with your dentist to see if they can take a look. You may only need a minor intervention, but there’s no sense in waiting for things to get worse.

Call your dentist and check in, just to be safe.

How to care for a gum abscess while it’s healing

After a gum abscess treatment by your dentist, it is important to take good care of the area while it heals. If your dentist has prescribed antibiotics to fight further infection, follow their directions and take the entire course of medication.

Gently flushing the mouth with warm saltwater can feel soothing and also may prevent infection. If you experience pain, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can help with both swelling and pain. A warm compress on the cheek outside of the area where the abscess was drained can also help ease any minor pain you experience.

If pain is unrelieved or worsens over a few days, get in touch with your dentist. This, along with any fever or increased swelling, can be a sign of infection or other complication.

Gum abscess treatment may seem scary, but the gentle dentists at AZ Dentist are ready to assist. We are open on nights and weekends, so get in touch when you need help.

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