A gum abscess begins as an infection in the mouth that is left untreated and eventually forms a pocket or lump filled with pus on the gums. Gum abscess can cause serious complications, so it needs to get the right treatment.
A gum abscess occurs when bacteria in the oral cavity enter the gap between the tooth and the gum. This condition generally occurs in people who have poor dental hygiene and suffer from periodontitis.
Gum abscess is characterized by several symptoms, such as:
- Swollen, red, loose gums
- Teeth sensitive to heat and cold
- Discharge of pus from the lump on the gums
- Bad breath
- Severe pain in the teeth that radiates to the chin, neck, and ears
- Fever
How to Overcome Gum Abscess
Gum abscesses do not heal on their own and require treatment from a dentist. Before going to the doctor, while you can take pain relievers, such as paracetamol, to relieve pain. In addition, avoid foods that easily make your teeth hurt and avoid chewing with the teeth on the affected side.
To treat a gum abscess, the dentist will remove the source of the infection causing the abscess. Here are some ways that dentists do to treat gum abscesses:
Remove pus from the gums
It is necessary to remove pus from the gums to remove the source of infection and prevent complications. The doctor will make a small incision in the area of the gum that has an abscess to remove the pus and bacteria that cause the gum abscess. After that, the doctor will clean the gums and teeth down to the root of the tooth to remove debris from the abscess.
In order not to hurt during the process, the doctor will give a local anesthetic some time before this action is carried out.
Perform root canal treatment or extract teeth
The infection that has caused the abscess will usually also attack the root canal of the tooth. Therefore, root canal treatment is needed to remove the soft tissue inside the infected tooth. This procedure is done by drilling the tooth to reveal the root canal.
If root canal treatment is not effective, the dentist will perform tooth extraction. After the tooth is extracted, the pus in the gums will be cleaned to remove the infection.
3. Give antibiotics and pain relievers
In addition to the measures mentioned above, the dentist will usually also prescribe antibiotics. This medication will help with swelling and prevent the spread of infection. The doctor will also give pain medication to relieve toothache during recovery after the procedure.
Gum abscess causes unpleasant symptoms and needs to be treated with a fairly complicated treatment. Therefore, try to always maintain the health and hygiene of your teeth properly.
Brush your teeth 2-3 times a day, especially after eating, and brush your teeth regularly scaling see a doctor at least every 6 months.
Visit your dentist immediately if you experience symptoms of a gum abscess. Early treatment of gum abscess can give good results. However, if not treated immediately, the infection can spread to surrounding tissues or even enter the bloodstream and be life threatening.