What is a Gum Boil?

A gum boil is a pus-filled swelling that forms on the soft tissue around the teeth; they are often referred to as abscesses in the dental industry. You might be surprised how common this problem is in the UK, as cases of dental decay and gum disease continue to rise among adults, and thousands of people seek treatment for them every year. Gum boils are generally quite painful and tend to develop as a symptom of a more serious problem, like bacterial infection; it’s quite difficult to clean and repair the damaged tissue, without addressing the underlying issue that caused the boil to appear. As well as being painful, abscesses are quite unsightly and can make it difficult to chew properly; they may contribute to bad breath too.

Where do gum boils come from?

At the root of the problem is infection, boils develop as the body attempts to flush out the bacteria that is attacking the circulatory system, it does this by gathering infected fluid underneath small pockets of tissue. There are actually two types of abscess; periapical and periodontal, and when people refer to ‘gum boils’ they are often speaking about the periodontal variety, which appear on the soft tissue in the mouth (periapical abscesses are found at the centre of the tooth, where the nerve endings and blood vessels are stored). They are described as ‘boils’ because they take a more clear spherical form, and appear as a discoloured swelling, filled with bacterial fluid. Periodontal abscesses can develop as a result of some type of dental surgery, dental trauma, or at a later stage of gum disease; in these cases, the gums become read and inflamed, and they may start to pull away from the roots of the teeth, leaving them at risk of infection. Boils begin to form around any areas that are affected by bacterial build-up; it could be a tissue laceration, surgical wound, or a periodontal pocket that has formed as a result of gum disease.

When gum boils begin to appear, it’s a clear symptom that some kind of treatment is necessary, so if you notice any small boils appearing on your gums, make an appointment at the Pearl Dental Clinic, their professional team will be able to help you deal with the problem before it gets worse. This kind of dental issue needs medical attention and may even require antibiotics to help get rid of the infection, so don’t delay.

How are gum boils treated?

Where abscesses are concerned, it’s important to start treatment as soon as the first swellings become apparent; if the situation is allowed to deteriorate, it could become life-threatening. The process of infection can take hold before the patient really notices something is wrong, so it’s a good idea to keep a regular check-up appointment in your diary; your dentist is qualified to diagnose the early signs and prescribe the appropriate treatment right away.

When treating gum boils, it is often necessary to administer a local anaesthetic before it can be lanced, as it can be quite a painful process. Patients may still be aware of different sensations and movement during the operation, but there should be no feelings of pain or discomfort.

Boils need to be drained and cleaned, and the underlying issues have to be dealt with, to prevent them from recurring; you should be aware that healing the abscesses themselves is not a cure, they will keep returning if infection is present. There are a worrying amount of people in the UK who are happy to deal with boils as they appear, rather than fixing the problem that is causing them, which can get rid of the affliction permanently. Using specially designed tools, the dentist will pierce the skin and drain the fluid from the swelling, then wash out the empty pocket with anti-bacterial agent; this should allow the inflammation to die down enough for treatment to begin. Gum disease and serious infection will require antibiotics, to fight the bacteria and return the mouth to a healthy state.

If you are suffering from boils on your gums NSAID’s (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatories) should be able to help you with any discomfort, and may reduce the swelling a little, but they can’t help with infection or gum disease, you need to take decisive action, or you could risk losing more than your teeth.

Where can I get treatment for my gum boil?

If you aren’t in too much pain, you could make an appointment to see your regular dentist, but be sure to keep an eye out for more serious symptoms or significant changes in your condition, while you wait for treatment. For large gum boils that appear suddenly, you should consider getting in touch with an emergency clinic, or you might be putting your health at risk. Emergency surgeries are normally open twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, and they provide assistance for registered patients and those who just walk through the doors. It’s worth keeping the contact details of a nearby surgery handy, to save you scrambling around for a telephone number in the event of dental trauma or an emergency.

It has to be said that boils themselves are not the real danger in this type of situation; it’s the infection that lies beneath them which can be hazardous to your health. If you notice larger, more painful abscesses developing, you might first think about going to the emergency clinic, but you also need to assess your overall condition, in order to make an informed decision; if you have other symptoms that are making you feel generally unwell, such as dizziness, fever, and feelings of nausea, you need to get to a hospital. Some people may assume that these symptoms are unrelated to dental problems, but they are clear indicators of a more serious problem, which needs immediate attention. Without the appropriate treatment, infection can develop into septicaemia, a life-threatening disease that causes the major organs to begin shutting down. You don’t need to panic, if you do notice these symptoms, just get to a doctor as quickly as possible, the sooner you receive medical assistance, the better your chances of recovery are.