Learn about the treatment of gum abscesses and the best medical center for dental treatment and cosmetics

Gum Abscess Treatment, Gum diseases are among the most common diseases among patients of various age groups, including gum abscess. This is due to several reasons that will be mentioned in detail in our article, in addition to mentioning various treatment methods that can alleviate the symptoms of the infection and how to avoid its occurrence.

Gum abscess treatment

Gum Abscess Treatment

Gum abscess is a highly sensitive disease that needs to be treated as soon as possible. Neglecting it and not initiating treatment can lead to a worsening health situation and complications later on. Usually, the treatment for a gum abscess involves surgical intervention to eliminate any bacterial collections or purulent content due to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics or home remedies in treating some slightly complicated cases.

Is there a difference between a gum abscess and a dental abscess?

An abscess is a buildup of bacterial content in a specific area and this area can be any part of the human body. In dental patients, an abscess can form in their teeth, gums, or the general facial area.

Dental abscess is a pus collection resulting from bacterial infection and can form in the pulp of the affected tooth or its root and nerve endings, as well as the tooth tissues in the gum next to its root. One of the most common signs of a dental abscess is difficulty chewing and biting food. Untreated dental abscesses can lead to the spread of infection to the neck and ear, tooth damage, and tooth loss.

Gum abscess is bacterial growth in any part of the gums in the mouth. The proliferation of this bacteria causes bacterial accumulation in the form of swelling or spherical swelling accompanied by redness, gum sensitivity, and severe pain. Untreated gum abscess can cause tooth fragility and loss, among many other complications.

What is the best treatment for a gum abscess?

Gum abscess is a disease that requires immediate consultation with a doctor because it can cause serious complications if not treated, due to having causes or problems that are not trivial in the first place that led to the formation of the abscess.

There are many therapeutic methods for treating a gum abscess, including home remedies that relieve symptoms and pain but not complete healing, or using herbs and natural oils that have some properties that help resist bacteria and inflammation, which prevents the worsening of the gum abscess condition. In addition, treatments prescribed by the doctor such as antibiotics and antiseptics to get rid of any infection and prevent its spread.

Gum Abscess Treatment at the Dentist

Gum abscess is a disease that does not heal by itself and requires consultation with a specialist; for diagnosis, determining the cause, and treating it with methods suitable for the patient’s condition and medical history. The doctor follows all emergency and necessary procedures to treat the abscess, which are:

• Injecting the gum with a local anesthesia syringe or using numbing creams.
• Using surgical tools to open the abscess swelling in the gum.
• Cleaning the gum from bacterial accumulation and removing all harmful fluids.
• Pressing on the affected area to ensure it is cleaned of any bacterial residues and then drying it well.
• Removing tartar beneath the gum to not give another chance for bacteria to grow and form decay material around the teeth in the gum.
• Extracting damaged teeth in the area of the gum abscess.
• Removing decay from the nerve endings in the roots of teeth in the abscess area if the abscess affects them.
• Supporting and regenerating bones and tissues of the affected gum area if the infection reaches and damages them.
• Making adjustments to dental prosthetics in cases where dental fittings cause problems that led to the appearance of the abscess.

Gum Abscess Treatment with Antibiotics

The treatment protocol for cases suffering from a gum abscess includes the use of various antibiotics that target and resist bacteria and try to prevent their spread to the teeth and jaw bones or any part of the mouth area, in addition to helping the body gain immunity against this infection so it does not recur.

In many cases, surgical intervention that involves removing all contaminated content inside the gum swelling is not

enough to eliminate the bacteria or disinfect the affected area, making doctors resort to prescribing oral antibiotics that eliminate any remnants of the infection, and topical antibiotics used in clinics are not effective enough in eliminating the infection.

Gum Abscess Treatment at Home

Some patients may resort to some home remedies to alleviate some symptoms and relieve pain until an appointment with the doctor is booked. These therapeutic guidelines can be summarized as follows:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol, which alleviate inflammation and accompanying pain.
• Rinsing with a saltwater solution that helps disinfect the mouth due to its ability to resist bacteria, in addition to relieving pain and allergy symptoms.
• Using a medical mouthwash containing hydrogen peroxide, which acts as an anti-inflammatory.
• Brushing teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste daily.
• Using dental floss to remove any food remnants between the teeth.
• Avoiding starchy foods and sweetened carbonated drinks.
• Quitting smoking.

Gum abscess treatment with herbs and natural oils

Gum Abscess Treatment with Herbs and Natural Oils

There are some herbs and natural oils that have proven their high effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of gum sensitivity or abscess formation. These herbs and oils include:

• Turmeric.
• Peppermint oil.
• Clove oil.
• Cinnamon oil.
• Garlic oil.
• Tea tree oil.

These mentioned herbs and oils can be used in making some home remedies like turmeric paste, which consists of a spoonful of ground turmeric granules, a spoonful of mustard oil, and a spoonful of kosher salt. This mixture is applied to the affected gum area for two to five minutes and then rinsed with warm water. This step can be repeated twice a day.

Turmeric is available in several other therapeutic forms, such as turmeric mouthwash, which is used to rinse the mouth for a minute and repeated twice daily, in addition to the possibility of mixing fine turmeric powder with toothpaste during brushing. The multiple uses of turmeric in treating gum abscess or related diseases are due to its effectiveness in combating severe inflammation, bacteria, and tartar deposits that led to the formation of the abscess because it contains curcumin that protects the gums from many diseases and alleviates the severity of pain associated with the abscess.

The mentioned oils can be used by adding a few drops of any available type from the herbalist to a cup of water and then rinsing with it, in addition to other opportunities such as adding the oil to mouthwash or toothpaste or applying it directly to the gum abscess area.

Types of Gum Abscesses

There are 3 types of gum abscesses based on the location of the infection, which can be clarified as follows:

1. Gum abscess: In this case, the infection is in the gum only and has not spread to the teeth or anywhere else.
2. Gum boil: The scientific name for this type of abscess is periapical abscess due to the bacteria reaching the root.
3. Tooth tissue abscess: This type results from the bacteria infecting the tissues and bones surrounding the teeth.

Symptoms of a Gum Abscess

There are some clear symptoms that indicate a gum infection and the formation of an abscess in it, such as:

• Pain in the mouth area in general and extending to the ear.
• Swelling and gum inflammation.
• Gum bleeding.
• Bad breath.
• Fever.
• Sensitivity to cold and hot foods and drinks.

Causes of a Gum Abscess

The main cause

of abscess formation is the presence of an infection in the oral surroundings due to bacterial growth when dental hygiene is neglected. There are other general causes we will learn about as follows:

• Gingival pocket: These are the small spaces between the teeth and the gum where food remnants and drink deposits accumulate, leading to bacterial growth and tartar formation.
• Dental abscess: There are cases where bacteria reach the root of the tooth, causing decay of a large part of its cavity and spreading the infection to the surrounding areas until it reaches the gum.
• Tooth extraction: Losing a tooth or molar gives a chance for bacteria to grow in its place and spread to the gum, in addition to nerve-pulling cases where the infection accumulates in the cavity of the affected tooth due to improper cleaning, facilitating its spread to the gum. We offer innovative techniques for filling and correcting dental spaces at The Dental Center, providing you with ideal and natural results. You can read more about the healing and recovery period of the gum after tooth extraction through this article.
• Tooth tissue inflammation: The main reason for tooth tissue inflammation and then abscess formation in the gum is the accumulation of tartar and infection under the gum due to food remnants in the mouth and between the teeth or excessive smoking. There are other causes for tooth tissue inflammation, such as obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis, or hepatitis C, in addition to genetic factors, hormonal changes, or certain medications that cause dry throat.
• Immune system weakness: A weakened immune system that fights any infection affecting the human body can be the main cause of gum diseases or abscesses. There are factors that affect the body’s immunity and weaken it, such as fatigue and stress or any chronic diseases or immunosuppressive medications.

How to avoid gum abscess?

How to Avoid Gum Abscess?

There are some guidelines that, if followed, will protect a person from getting a gum abscess or any other related diseases. These tips are as follows:

• Maintaining oral hygiene, and avoiding gum problems and mouth inflammations thanks to the properties of the saltwater solution that help soothe and disinfect the affected areas.
• Brushing teeth regularly after meals and using dental floss daily.
• Regular check-ups with a dentist every 6 months or a year.
• Quitting smoking.

Complications of a Gum Abscess

A gum abscess is an infection in a part of the gums and not rushing to treat it can lead to the spread of the infection to adjacent parts then the teeth and bones until it encompasses the entire mouth and face area. In some severe cases, it reaches the bloodstream and from there to other parts of the body such as the heart or lungs, posing a significant risk to human life.

Best Medical Center for Dental Treatment and Cosmetics

The Dental Center is one of the specialized centers in providing therapeutic and cosmetic dental services famous for using the latest medical devices and therapeutic and cosmetic techniques and providing them at prices that suit everyone. The confidence of many patients in the center is due to the experience of its specialized doctors, their practical and scientific competence, and their keen interest in patients’ welfare, as well as the elegant treatment by the management and nursing team.