In certain minor cases, applying heat and compression to the affected area can help reduce the abscess before it becomes more serious. However, those waiting to see a doctor for an abscess should not attempt to poke at the abscess or drain it in any way.
The infection may grow worse. A popped abscess is an open wound, one that's already compromised by bacteria. Left untreated, there's always the possibility of introducing new types of bacteria into it, making the situation far worse.
No, you cannot pop an abscessed tooth with a needle. This can expose you to a worse infection and potentially spread the infection to other parts of your mouth and face.
It is not advisable to drain a gum abscess at home. Even if you poke or burst the abscess, it will form at the same place in a day as the source of infection (tooth) is still present. It is best to get the gum abscess treated by a dentist. To reduce pain, you can rinse your mouth with warm salt water for 4 to 5 times.
Abscess drainage has to be done by a trained dentist under proper surgical conditions. You should not try to drain a tooth abscess by yourself. If you have a dental abscess, see a dentist as soon as possible.
You might be wondering what to do next after the gum abscess popped by itself. It's possible that you find yourself dealing with a mixture of pus, blood, and bad odor from your mouth when the abscess bursts. You should take the necessary steps to drain the pus, keeping the area clean.
Saltwater Mouth Rinse
Salt or sodium chloride draws the liquid in cells out of your body when it comes into contact with them. If the liquids are bacterial, they are also drawn out. This helps cleanse the area. This easy and affordable technique is a good way to find temporary relief from your abscess.
Do not attempt to squeeze or pop the abscess. We know it is tempting to “deflate” the bump that develops on the gums when you have a tooth abscess. The problem is that when you squeeze or pop the abscess, you actually introduce even more bacteria into the infection. Leave it alone!
In certain minor cases, applying heat and compression to the affected area can help reduce the abscess before it becomes more serious. However, those waiting to see a doctor for an abscess should not attempt to poke at the abscess or drain it in any way.
Avoid touching, pushing, popping, or squeezing the abscess because that can spread the infection to other parts of the skin, making things worse.
If the abscess ruptures, the pain may improve a lot, making you think that the problem has gone away — but you still need to get dental treatment. If the abscess doesn't drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck.
A periodontal infection caused by an abscessed tooth can necessitate major oral reconstructive surgery. In some cases, to remove a tooth safely the patient will have to take antibiotics beforehand. That will clear up the infection to the point where an extraction is safe.
A dental abscess cannot heal away on its own. Professional intervention is necessary to deal with the infection as the insidious dental pulp is involved. Nevertheless, an abscess lasts for months and even a year without being drained.
Make sure your child avoids touching, pushing, popping, or squeezing the abscess because that can spread the infection to other parts of the skin, making things worse.
Don't stop your oral hygiene routine: Continue to brush and floss. Don't be fooled if your dental abscess stops hurting: Pain associated with a dental abscess may go away if the tooth root has died.
This retrospective data suggests that abscesses greater than 0.4 cm in depth from the skin surface may require a drainage procedure. Those less than 0.4 cm in depth may not require a drainage procedure and may be safely treated with antibiotics alone.
If superficial abscesses are ready to spontaneously rupture, the skin over the center of the abscess may thin, sometimes appearing white or yellow because of the underlying pus (termed pointing). Fever may occur, especially with surrounding cellulitis.
A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form inside the teeth, in the gums, or in the bone that holds the teeth in place. It's caused by a bacterial infection. An abscess at the end of a tooth is called a periapical abscess. An abscess in the gum is called a periodontal abscess.
Tooth abscesses don't form overnight—there are multiple stages to formation, starting with enamel erosion and progressing to dentin decay, pulp decay, and finally abscess formation. This process can take weeks or even months.
In most cases, your dentist will give you antibiotics to stop the infection. He or she may need to cut open (lance) the abscess so that the infection can drain. This should relieve your pain.
A dental abscess can form in a matter of a few days. This infection does not go away on its own. Without treatment, an abscess can continue for several months, possibly even years. Most abscesses cause intense tooth pain, indicating to a patient that prompt treatment is needed.
Time Span of an Untreated Abscess
In case a person does not treat a dental abscess in its initial stage, then the infection may last anywhere between 5 months to 12 months or even more. Moreover, if no treatment is meted out to the condition, the precious dental pulp will die away and may get another abscess.
A burst dental abscess may cause pain and swelling in the affected area. To alleviate discomfort, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, as long as you follow the recommended dosage on the label.