The inside of our mouth is an area where the accumulation of bacteria happens quite easily, whether due to food that passes through and can get stuck, dental problems, or other causes, which together cause damage to oral health. Dental abscess and gum abscess are some of these damages, which occur due to this accumulation of bacteria and can cause problems and discomfort for those who have them.
Dental abscesses cause severe pain in patients who have them, and for this reason and other reasons, which we will see below, they must be drained from the tooth or gum as quickly as possible.
In this article, you will find all the answers to your questions about dental and gum abscesses, and understand how they can be identified and how their prevention and treatment process works.
Dental Abscess and Gum Abscess: What Are the Differences and Symptoms?
While both terms indicate oral infections and can present similar symptoms such as pain and swelling, the location and specific causes differ:
Dental Abscess:
- Refers to an infection located inside the tooth or at the root of the tooth.
- It can be caused by untreated cavities, trauma, or infections that reach the dental pulp.
- Symptoms include severe pain, swelling, sensitivity to touch, and sometimes fever.
Gum Abscess:
- Refers to an infection in the gum, often caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque.
- It can occur due to poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, or periodontitis.
- Symptoms include gum swelling, pain, sensitivity, and sometimes an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
As mentioned above, the abscess is caused by a bacterial infection that evolves into the appearance of “pockets” of pus at the root of the teeth – their upper part, or in the gum. These pockets, white or yellowish in color, are called dental abscesses.
Abscesses can appear a few days after the onset of the bacterial infection, and they are divided into two types, periodontal abscess and periapical abscess:
- Periodontal abscess is known as gum abscess, as they appear in the space between the tooth and the gum.
- Periapical abscess is commonly known as dental abscess, originating at the root of the tooth.
Symptoms of Dental Abscess
Now that you know what a dental and gum abscess is, let’s understand what their symptoms are.
The main one is the already mentioned white/yellowish pus pocket, which can be red at its onset. Besides this, other symptoms of dental abscess include:
- A feeling of discomfort in the mouth, accompanied by unease and restlessness;
- Constant pain, which can become throbbing, in the area of the tooth where the abscess is;
- Neck lumps, indicating inflammation;
- Swollen jaw, both upper and lower;
- A bitter taste in the mouth accompanied by constant bad breath;
- Increased sensitivity in the inflamed tooth.
Symptoms of Gum Abscess
The gum abscess, although having similar symptoms, presents some specific differences:
- A feeling of discomfort in the mouth, with unease and restlessness;
- Constant pain, which can become throbbing, in the area of the gum where the abscess is;
- Swelling in the gum;
- Increased sensitivity in the affected area;
- A bitter taste in the mouth accompanied by constant bad breath;
- Possible presence of a white/yellowish pus pocket in the gum.
Advanced and Concerning Symptoms of Dental and Gum Abscess
If the dental or gum abscess is in a more advanced stage, it is common for these symptoms to be accompanied by:
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Fever;
- and diarrhea.
These symptoms indicate that you should seek a dentist urgently.
Even if some classic symptoms of the abscess do not appear, it is essential to consult a specialist when there are suspicions.
In the case of pain, for example, it is one of the symptoms that makes the patient seek a dentist, but it is not present in all cases, which does not mean that the infection is not there.
The abscess that, even without causing pain, is not treated, can increase in size and lead the bacteria to come into contact with the bloodstream, opening the possibility for the development of more serious problems.
Diagnosis of Abscess at the Dental Clinic:
The diagnosis of dental and gum abscesses can be made in two ways:
- Through an in-person evaluation by the dentist, which is sufficient in most cases;
- Through a dental X-ray, which helps indicate the exact location of the abscess. If there are other abscesses, this exam also allows them to be found.
What Are the Causes of Dental and Gum Abscess?
The main causes of dental and gum abscesses are the presence of untreated cavities and wounds in the gum that take time to heal. Therefore, if you suspect you have one of these main causes, it is essential to consult a dentist.
Contributing to the appearance of diseases, we also have diets where sugar consumption is high and oral hygiene is not taken seriously. To a lesser extent, abscesses can also arise from poorly done treatment or that was not cared for by the patient after being performed by a professional in the area.
How Long Does a Dental Abscess Take to Disappear?
There is no standard duration for the presence of an abscess in the mouth; it can appear quickly and already require intervention due to discomfort and the appearance of other symptoms, or remain for a long time in the tooth or gum without causing major problems.
The important thing to know is that in both cases, the dentist is responsible for diagnosing, intervening, and treating the abscess.
Treatment of Dental and Gum Abscess?
The treatment of an abscess, whether in the teeth or a gum abscess, requires some care to prevent other problems associated with the bacterial infection from arising during the removal process.
In summary, the treatment of the abscess consists of 3 stages: draining the “pocket” of pus, restoring the tooth, and in more severe cases, extracting the tooth. These 3 stages may be accompanied by the use of antibiotics to control the infection.
Confira um pouco mais sobre cada uma das etapas do tratamento do abcesso:
1️⃣ Abscess Drainage
With the diagnosis made, the first task performed by the dentist is to make a small cut or hole in the abscess. This way, it will be possible to extract all its pus.
Depending on the severity, this stage may take more or less time. After the removal of all the pus, the area where the dental and gum abscess was located will be properly cleaned.
2️⃣ Root Canal Treatment and Restoration (Filling)
With the pus removed, the second stage of the treatment involves analyzing the region, discovering how much it was affected, and removing, if possible, all the infection.
If the dental pulp was affected, it will be necessary to perform the root canal treatment, which aims to remove the contaminated and inflamed nerve and then fill the tooth. This procedure can be done in one or more appointments and also depends on the severity of the condition.
With the root canal treatment completed, and signs that the infection is regressing, it is time to restore the visible part of the tooth.
During the restoration, the functions of the tooth and its aesthetics, which may have been lost in the previous stages of the treatment, are recovered.
3️⃣ Extraction of the Tooth Affected by the Abscess
There are more severe cases of abscesses where the above-mentioned treatments are not enough to completely remove the bacterial infection.
Therefore, the dentist may opt for a treatment that impacts the functions of the tooth and the aesthetics of the mouth, which is its removal.
The removal is performed only as a last resort, and although it may seem like a severe measure, it can be compensated later with other treatments that restore function and aesthetics.
Post-Treatment of the Abscess: Use of Antibiotics
If the bacterial infection spread before or during the treatment, the use of antibiotics will be prescribed, preventing further health problems both in the mouth and in other parts of the body.
What Are the Consequences of Not Treating an Abscess?
The first noticeable symptom that can persist when a person does not treat the dental and gum abscess is pain, which can even be a hindrance to maintaining a normal life, where daily activities are carried out without discomfort.
Even when an abscess “disappears” from the mouth, this does not mean that a dentist does not need to be consulted. As we have seen, even without pain, bacterial proliferation continues.
This proliferation can lead to the appearance of other abscesses and cavities and also lead the bacteria to come into contact with the bloodstream, which can cause more serious diseases.
As an example of this, we can cite cases where bacterial proliferation leads to heart attacks.
How to Prevent Dental Abscess
Now that you know about dental and gum abscesses and their possible consequences, check out the main habits that can be adopted as a way to prevent this condition:
- Maintain oral hygiene, brush your teeth at least twice a day, use dental floss, and mouthwash;
- One of the potential causes of abscesses is a diet rich in sugars, so maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is one of its forms of prevention;
- Change your toothbrush regularly, ideally every three months;
- Have routine check-ups with a dentist to identify possible problems in the teeth and gums.
- Treat cavities as soon as they are detected to prevent them from growing and progressing to more severe conditions, such as internal infections that can lead to abscesses. Acting quickly ensures that the problem is resolved efficiently and without complications.
Dental and gum abscesses can evolve into severe conditions, causing problems for other parts of the body besides the mouth.
Therefore, maintaining good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist are essential to preserve your oral health and overall health.
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