How to Get Rid of an Abscess on Your Gum

An abscess on your gum can be painful and annoying. An abscess is a dental condition when a localized collection of pus appears on your gum. It is generally a result of a bacterial infection. Our body’s defense mechanism creates pus to trap and stop the infection from spreading into the blood stream. If you are reading this article, you probably know what it feels like to have an abscess. You’re probably even wondering about how to get rid of an abscess on your gum.

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1. OraWellness HealThy Mouth Blend Tooth Oil

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3. Organic Mouth DETOX Dental & Oil Pulling


4. OralPlus – Natural Toothpaste with Instant Toothache Relief for Gum Disease

S.N.	Home Remedies	Images
1.	Garlic for Gum Abscess
2.	Clove Oil for Gum Abscess
3.	Oil Pulling for Gum Abscess
4.	Salt Water Gargle for Gum Abscess
5.	Apple Cider Vinegar for Gum Abscess
6.	Peppermint Oil for Gum Abscess
7.	Baking Soda for Gum Abscess
8.	Turmeric for Gum Abscess
9.	Herbal Tea Bag for Gum Abscess
10.	Cold Compress for Gum Abscess

Types of Gum Abscess

There can be different types of abscesses:

1. Periapical abscess: Usually the result of a chronic, localized infection located at the tip of the root of a tooth.
2. Periodontal abscess: A pus-discharging localized infection involving a greater dimension of the gum tissue, extending to the tip of and adjacent to a periodontal pocket.
3. Gingival abscess: Localized infection involving only the soft gum tissue, without affecting either the tooth or the periodontal ligament.
4. Pericoronal abscess: Localized infection involving the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a tooth.
5. Combined periodontic-endodontic abscess: A situation where periapical abscess and a periodontal abscess combine to make an abscess.

Causes of Gum Abscess

Abscesses are, like I said, the results of bacterial infections. But there can be many causes for abscesses to form.

• Cavities/cayries in the teeth
• Poor dental hygiene
• Injury or blow to the teeth
• Gingivitis
• Consumption of sugary foods
• Weak Immune System

Symptoms of an Abscess on Your Gum

An abscess on your gum is usually painful. But in some cases, the pain may be absent making the abscess detection slower. When you get an abscess on your gum, these are the symptoms that may appear:

• A sudden and intense, throbbing pain in the affected tooth or gum. It worsens gradually.
• Pain spreads to your ear, jaw and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum.
• Pain worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep.
• Painful to chew anything.
• Redness and swelling in your face and jaw.
• A tender and/or loose tooth.
• Discolored teeth.
• Shiny, red and swollen gums.
• Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks.
• Bad breath and/or an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
• Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw.

In case the infection spreads, you may develop a fever and feel generally unwell. In severe cases, you may find it hard to fully open your mouth and have difficulty swallowing or breathing. If anything as such happens, you should immediately see a doctor.

How to Get Rid of an Abscess on Your Gum

Medical Treatment to Get Rid of an Abscess on Your Gum

There are many treatment methods that a dentist will use on you if you visit them for treating an abscess on your gum.

• incision and drainage – a small cut is made in the gum to drain the abscess (a temporary solution and further treatment is needed)
• root canal treatment – a procedure to remove the abscess from the root of an affected tooth before filling and sealing it
• removing the affected tooth (extraction) – this may be necessary if root canal treatment isn’t possible

Abscesses do require medical treatment for successful elimination. But we need to wait a really long time for dentist appointments and dates. So, for the time being that you have before your appointment, these remedies can help a lot in managing the pain and other symptoms.

1. Garlic for Gum Abscess

Garlic is a well-known remedy for toothaches. What is lesser known is that it can also cure abscesses.

Allicin, a juice created when Allin (a component in Garlic) is crushed, is what gives garlic its strong healing properties. The allicin is a powerful antibacterial agent and a natural anesthetic.

For an abscess on your gum, crush a few garlic cloves and squeeze out the juice. Apply that juice either directly or with a cotton ball. You can repeat it as much as you want.

You can also cut a garlic clove in half and place both the halves with the the cut face against the tooth/gum area on either side of the affected tooth and gently rub for about 7-10 minutes.

2. Clove Oil for Gum Abscess

Clove oil has been proven to have analgesic and antibacterial properties. It is very helpful in treating an abscess on your gum, as it is a result of bacterial activity.  The active ingredient in clove is eugenol, the same compound that gives the plant its aroma.

But using clove oil directly is not welcoming as the oil has a very strong and unpleasant taste.

So, to make it bearable, mix 2-3 drops of clove oil with a tablespoon of olive or any other vegetable oil of your choice. Apply that mixture to the affected area with a cotton ball. Hold it for as long as you can bear. 10-20 minutes are enough. The pain should be gone withing a half hour.

3. Oil Pulling for Gum Abscess

Oil pulling is one of the best oral detoxification methods. I personally do it on a daily basis. It helps with toothaches, cavities, bad breath and whitens teeth to an extent.

Remember, just any oil won’t work. You’ll need to use a good quality, unrefined, edible, virgin and cold pressed oil for oil pulling. Organic sesame oil, extra virgin olive oil and organic coconut oil are the best oils for oil pulling. I use coconut oil as I find it tastes better.

Take about a tablespoon of the oil of your choice in your mouth. You can take half a tablespoon, for starters. Swish it around your mouth for 10-20 minutes and spit out. Rinse your mouth with water if you want. Do this everyday as soon as you wake up and your mouth will thank you for it.

4. Salt Water Gargle for Gum Abscess

Whenever any oral problems appear, the first thing that comes to mind is gargling with salt water, isn’t it? Well, it does work.

Salt water is an isotonic solution. It contains the same minerals as our body does. So it won’t irritate the membranes and will aid in healing. Saltwater temporarily increases the pH levels in your mouth. The result is an alkaline environment in which bacteria can’t survive.

It is best if you use natural salts like sea salt or Himalayan pink salt. But table salt works, too. Just mix half a teaspoon of salt of your choice with a glass of lukewarm water. Gargle with the solution 2-3 times a day.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar for Gum Abscess

Another remedy that reduces pain and swelling is Organic Apple cider vinegar. It is also known to be a powerful disinfectant.

Simply take a tablespoon of raw, organic apple cider vinegar in your mouth and swish it around for about 10-15 minutes. Spit out and rinse your mouth with warm water.

If you find the taste too overbearing, you can just mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it two times a day.

6. Peppermint Oil for Gum Abscess

Peppermint oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It rids your gum of the bacteria and also works as a pain reliever.

To get rid of an abscess on your gum, take some peppermint oil on your fingers or a cotton bud and apply it to the affected area. Hold the cotton swab in place for 2-3 minutes and massage gently.

Alternatively, you can also chew on peppermint leaves if you can find it.

7. Baking Soda for Gum Abscess

Similar to salt, baking soda also increases the pH level of your saliva making it difficult for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

To treat an abscess on your gum, take half teaspoon of baking soda and half teaspoon of salt. Dampen a cotton ball with water and dip it in the salt-baking soda mixture. Place it on the affected area and leave it there for about 30-60 minutes.

8. Turmeric for Gum Abscess

The wonder spice from the east, turmeric, has potent anti-inflammatory properties used to treat pain and inflammation. There are various ways to use turmeric to treat an abscess on your gum.

The easiest way is to make a paste of turmeric with some water and apply the paste to the affected area. You can also mix turmeric with an oil of your choice, preferably mustard (that is what I use) and use the mixture to brush your teeth.

9. Herbal Tea Bag for Gum Abscess

The tannin in tea is a strong astringent. It clears infection by absorbing toxins and pus. Use a teabag as a warm compress to relieve an abscess on your gum.

Warm compresses are even suggested by doctors for getting rid of an abscess on your gum. Warmth not only helps relieve inflammation to give you relief from pain but also helps drain the pus out of the abscess.

Wet a herbal teabag in warm water, squeeze out the excess water and lodge it between your teeth and cheek in the affected area. You can leave it overnight or for a few hours, depending on how comfortable you are with it.

10. Cold Compress for Gum Abscess

Applying cold compresses to an abscess on your gum can help numb the area and relieve the swelling and pain. Cold compresses are great to use on any kind of swelling.

Take a few ice cubes and wrap it in a towel or cloth. Apply the compress to the outside of the affected area, on the cheek or jawline outside the area with the gum abscess.

Remedies to Get Rid of an Abscess on Your Gum

Apart from the home remedies, you can use a little bit of outside help to get rid of an abscess on your gum.

OraMD – The Mouth Doctor

It contains peppermint oils and is clinically proven to kill periodontal bacteria, a cause of the abscess. In addition, it also promotes healthy teeth and gums. 

SuperComfort Rescue Mouth Detox

This is an oil mixture for oil pulling. It works great to reduce pain in just a few uses. It also helps you to achieve a healthier mouth with the detoxifying properties.

SuperComfort Rescue Powder

This helps you eliminate gum disease and reverse gum recession, gum inflammation, bleeding gums, loose teeth, plaque build-up, gum sores, abscesses, gum sensitivity and bad breath. It also whitens your teeth.

More Tips

• Practice good dental hygiene practices. Brush, floss and use mouthwash twice daily.
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 – 4 months. If you brush too hard, replace when the bristles start to get frayed.
• Consume healthy food and limit sugary items.
• Avoid caffeine as it is bad for your teeth.
• Quit smoking and using tobacco products to keep your teeth healthy and clean.
• Avoid chewing gum or eating sweets until infection clears.
• Eat healthy and real food. Eat immune boosting foods such as tomatoes, onions, fenugreek, wheat grass juice, cashews, omega – 3 fatty acids, fruits, and vegetables to prevent abscesses.

You should never delay treating an abscess on your gum. The bacterial infection can spread to other parts of the body. Eventually, it can also affect brain and heart function. Consult a dentist as soon as possible to prevent the worse after-effects.

In conclusion, even though abscess on your gum can be painful, it is possible to get rid of it. Make sure you follow the remedies above to make your treatment process easier. Moreover, always keep your teeth and mouth clean to stay healthy and prevent infections.