Any time you see boils forming on your body, you can bet there’s something wrong, and you definitely want to rid yourself of these painful bumps as quickly as possible. It turns out that boils can not only pop up all over the surface of your skin, but they can also form on your gums.
Most often, these boils are a symptom of a more serious concern. In some cases, they’re caused by food particles, bacteria, or plaque that become trapped beneath gum tissue, festering and forming an abscess. However, conditions in the mouth, and the gums in particular, are usually not great in the first place, which is what allows foreign bodies to become trapped beneath gum tissue in the first place.
Gum boils could be a symptom of gum disease, periodontal disease, or other abscesses, say in the teeth or jaws. Regardless, you cannot let them go untreated, not only because they’re unsightly and painful, but also because they can cause serious harm to your teeth and your overall oral health. What can you do when you experience the pain, swelling, redness, bleeding, pus discharge, and other symptoms of gum boils? Here are a few ways to get rid of them.
Antibiotics
Often, gum boils are caused by bacterial infections, or abscesses. These must be treated before boils will go away. Your dentist will prescribe a course of antibiotics to treat infection and prevent further bacterial growth. However, this is rarely the only treatment advised. Generally, patients will have to treat underlying causes of infection (like gum disease or tooth decay) simultaneously to restore oral health, eliminate boils, and prevent future infections.
Deep Cleaning
Gum disease is a serious concern, and it is often the root cause of gum boils. In addition to treating with antibiotics, your dentist will almost certainly want to conduct a deep cleaning to remove tartar below the gum line, eliminate bacteria, and give your gums a chance to heal.
Root Canal
Gum disease isn’t always the cause of gum boils, or it isn’t always the only cause, anyway. Tooth decay could also be to blame. In such cases, a root canal or other treatments may be ordered in conjunction with cleaning and/or antibiotics in order to improve oral health.
Surgical Removal
If boils persist, despite other treatments, they can be surgically removed. This is also an option for those with gum boils not caused by infection.
Other Options
In some cases, gum boils could be related to ill-fitting dental work, especially dentures, that irritate gums. If this is the case, adjusting your dentures for better fit could help to alleviate pain and eliminate boils.
