Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

A gum boil is a type ofperiodontal diseasethat involves the formation of an abscess on thegums. It causes pain and swelling. If left untreated, it can spread to the teeth and surrounding tissues.This article will discuss gum boil symptoms, causes, and diagnosis. It will also discuss treatments and prevention.

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A dentist performs a procedure on a person in a dental procedure room

Types of Gum Boils

A gum boil is anabscessthat forms on the gum. Anabscessis a painful swollen bump filled withpus(which includes living and dead white blood cells, bacteria, and debris). Depending on where the gum boil is located, it can be subcategorized into one of these two types:

Other types of dental abscesses involve the teeth, like the periapical abscess. This type is found at the root of the tooth.

Periodontal diseaseis a common condition among people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47% of people over age 30 have some type of periodontal disease.

Gum Boil Symptoms

The primary symptom of a gum boil is a swollen, painful bump on the gum. Pain can be felt at all times and can worsen when eating and chewing. The other symptoms of a gum boil include:

An infected tooth can also cause a gum boil as bacteria from the root infection can travel into the gum and result in a boil in the gum.

Some conditions and situations can increase the risk of a gum boil. These include:

The healthcare provider will look into your mouth and see the swollen bump. They may ask questions about your medical history and ask if there has been any recent mouth trauma.

The healthcare provider may want to perform anX-rayif there is concern that the gum boil has spread to theteeth.

A gum boil can become a serious medical condition if not treated promptly. The infection can spread and affect the teeth and surrounding tissues and bone.

To relieve the pain before getting treatment, you may use Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen).Talk to a healthcare provider to ensure which of these is most appropriate for you and the dosage.

Keeping a healthy mouth and gums is the best way to prevent a gum boil. Visit a dentist regularly for cleanings and an exam. Other ways to help prevent a gum boil are:

Summary

A gum boil is an abscess that forms on the gum. The abscess can form almost anywhere on the gums but is often seen between the gum and teeth. The symptoms include pain, swelling, the sensation of loose teeth, and bad breath.

Treatment includes clearing out the abscess and starting antibiotics. In some cases, a root canal or tooth extraction may be necessary.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Herrera D, Retamal-Valdes B, Alonso B, Feres M.Acute periodontal lesions (periodontal abscesses and necrotizing periodontal diseases) and endo-periodontal lesions.J Periodontol. 2018;89 Suppl 1:S85-S102. doi:10.1002/JPER.16-0642Bhatnagar S.Treatment of gingival enlargement. In: Eddin Omar Al Ostwani A, ed.Gingival Disease - A Professional Approach for Treatment and Prevention. IntechOpen; 2019. doi:10.5772/intechopen.82664NHS Inform.Dental abscess.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Periodontal disease.Jauch EC, Valdez J.Gingival abscess (periodontal abscess). In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB, Thurman R. eds.The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e. McGraw Hill; 2021.Bertossi D, Barone A, Iurlaro A, Marconcini S, De Santis D, Finotti M, Procacci P.Odontogenic orofacial infections.J Craniofac Surg. 2017;28(1):197-202. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000003250Marquez IC.How do I manage a patient with periodontal abscess?J Can Dent Assoc. 2013;79:d8.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Herrera D, Retamal-Valdes B, Alonso B, Feres M.Acute periodontal lesions (periodontal abscesses and necrotizing periodontal diseases) and endo-periodontal lesions.J Periodontol. 2018;89 Suppl 1:S85-S102. doi:10.1002/JPER.16-0642Bhatnagar S.Treatment of gingival enlargement. In: Eddin Omar Al Ostwani A, ed.Gingival Disease - A Professional Approach for Treatment and Prevention. IntechOpen; 2019. doi:10.5772/intechopen.82664NHS Inform.Dental abscess.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Periodontal disease.Jauch EC, Valdez J.Gingival abscess (periodontal abscess). In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB, Thurman R. eds.The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e. McGraw Hill; 2021.Bertossi D, Barone A, Iurlaro A, Marconcini S, De Santis D, Finotti M, Procacci P.Odontogenic orofacial infections.J Craniofac Surg. 2017;28(1):197-202. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000003250Marquez IC.How do I manage a patient with periodontal abscess?J Can Dent Assoc. 2013;79:d8.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Herrera D, Retamal-Valdes B, Alonso B, Feres M.Acute periodontal lesions (periodontal abscesses and necrotizing periodontal diseases) and endo-periodontal lesions.J Periodontol. 2018;89 Suppl 1:S85-S102. doi:10.1002/JPER.16-0642Bhatnagar S.Treatment of gingival enlargement. In: Eddin Omar Al Ostwani A, ed.Gingival Disease - A Professional Approach for Treatment and Prevention. IntechOpen; 2019. doi:10.5772/intechopen.82664NHS Inform.Dental abscess.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Periodontal disease.Jauch EC, Valdez J.Gingival abscess (periodontal abscess). In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB, Thurman R. eds.The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e. McGraw Hill; 2021.Bertossi D, Barone A, Iurlaro A, Marconcini S, De Santis D, Finotti M, Procacci P.Odontogenic orofacial infections.J Craniofac Surg. 2017;28(1):197-202. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000003250Marquez IC.How do I manage a patient with periodontal abscess?J Can Dent Assoc. 2013;79:d8.

Herrera D, Retamal-Valdes B, Alonso B, Feres M.Acute periodontal lesions (periodontal abscesses and necrotizing periodontal diseases) and endo-periodontal lesions.J Periodontol. 2018;89 Suppl 1:S85-S102. doi:10.1002/JPER.16-0642

Bhatnagar S.Treatment of gingival enlargement. In: Eddin Omar Al Ostwani A, ed.Gingival Disease - A Professional Approach for Treatment and Prevention. IntechOpen; 2019. doi:10.5772/intechopen.82664

NHS Inform.Dental abscess.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Periodontal disease.

Jauch EC, Valdez J.Gingival abscess (periodontal abscess). In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB, Thurman R. eds.The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e. McGraw Hill; 2021.

Bertossi D, Barone A, Iurlaro A, Marconcini S, De Santis D, Finotti M, Procacci P.Odontogenic orofacial infections.J Craniofac Surg. 2017;28(1):197-202. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000003250

Marquez IC.How do I manage a patient with periodontal abscess?J Can Dent Assoc. 2013;79:d8.

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