A periodontal abscess is a bacterial infection that can cause a gum or gingival blister, discomfort while chewing, and tooth pain. It can be caused by foreign bodies or gum disease and should be treated by a dentist to prevent complications. Treatment may involve draining the abscess, scaling and root planing, antibiotics, and pain medication. Repeat treatment may be necessary to prevent the disease from getting worse.
A periodontal abscess is a bacterial infection that most often develops in the periodontium, a supporting structure that sits between the tooth and gums. It can also develop elsewhere, but does not affect the main structure of the tooth at first, although it can cause tooth pain. The most common symptom of a periodontal abscess is what’s called a gum or gingival blister, a swelling of gum tissue that protrudes from the gum.
You may experience other symptoms besides the boil in your gums and they may include discomfort with chewing on the side of your mouth where it is present or a feeling of pain at all times. Rubber bubbles can break or they can just spread out. When they break up, a slightly thick yellow or white liquid may flood your mouth. It is also possible for the periodontal abscess to spread to the mouth or sinuses during or before the break and cause a much more complicated condition.
Most people who have this condition are adults and may already have some development of gum disease. It is certainly more common for adults with periodontal disease to get a periodontal abscess. Though rare, children sometimes get them too. However, gum disease is usually not the cause. A foreign body, such as an irritating piece of food, can become trapped in the periodontium and start creating infection; popcorn husks are legendary for their ability to do this. This circumstance can also occur in adults.
Given the possibility of complications in the mouth, sinuses, and teeth, it’s never a good idea to ignore a periodontal abscess. People should see their dentists right away and treatment, especially in the initial stages, is not that difficult. Dentists may want to drain the abscess and also look for any foreign bodies that may have created the problem. A tooth may need to be scaled. Alternatively, dentists may need to perform scaling and root planing to address early symptoms of gum disease. Antibiotics are also prescribed, and dentists might prescribe pain medication if needed.
If a periodontal abscess was caused by gum disease, scaling and planing usually needs to be repeated every two years to keep the disease from getting worse. Other treatments may be needed if the periodontal disease is more advanced. As mentioned, gum disease is rarely the cause of a periodontal abscess in children, so treatment may simply involve removing foreign bodies, lancing the abscess, and going on a course of antibiotics.
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