Summary
What is a gum abscess?
Definition and types of abscesses on the gums
A gum abscess is a painful condition that occurs when pus forms in the gums due to a bacterial infection . It can seriously affect oral health and, if left untreated, can lead to more serious complications. Gum abscesses mainly come in two forms: periodontal abscess and periapical abscess.
Periodontal abscess develops in the gums following an infection of the periodontium, which is the tissue supporting the teeth. This type of abscess is often the result of gingivitis or advanced periodontal disease , where the gums pull away from the teeth, creating pockets that become infected.
On the other hand, the periapical abscess originates at the apex (end of the root) of the tooth, usually the result of untreated tooth decay that has penetrated deep into the tooth, reaching the pulp. 🦷
At Myvariations, we understand the importance of taking care of your gums to prevent such infections . Our sonic electric toothbrushes are designed to effectively clean along the gum line, reducing the risk of periodontal abscesses by removing plaque before it causes damage.
How to identify the symptoms of receding gums?
Receding gums manifests itself by various symptoms. In people suffering from this disorder, it is common to notice the appearance of black triangles . In reality, these are not marks, but rather spaces that are created at the junction of two teeth and the gum. These are in the form of triangles, hence their name. 🔼
If one or more of your teeth appear longer than they should be, you may have gum recession . Indeed, as the gums gradually disappear, the base of the tooth becomes more and more visible. This gives the impression that its size is increasing even though it remains the same. 🦷
When the gums recede, the tooth's sensitivity increases. Indeed, faced with gingival recession, the tooth root gradually loses its protection and becomes vulnerable to external threats . Likewise, teeth become more and more sensitive to hot, cold and sugar . ❄️ As the tooth root is exposed, two different shades are visible on the tooth.
Redness and bleeding of the gums are among the symptoms that characterize gum recession. In fact, bacteria often attack the gums of people with a poor oral hygiene routine . 🦠 In addition to making it bleed, these pathogens leave traces of redness and sometimes, pain. This inflammation is sometimes the consequence of periodontal disease or gingivitis.
Generally, these pathologies are the cause of receding gums. They are likely to reach a more advanced stage and thus lead to tooth loss.
What can cause receding gums?
There are various factors that cause gum recession. They can be chemical, bacteriological, mechanical or even anatomical.
What are the anatomical causes of gum retraction?
Due to their teeth, some people are predisposed to suffering from this pathology. This is for example the case of patients with a deficiency in keratinized tissue . ☝️ This is likely to lead to many oral health problems, including:
Difficulty maintaining good oral hygiene 🧼
Alteration of bone and gum 🦴
In some subjects, gum retraction is caused by bone dehiscence. A patient with a dental malformation risks seeing their gums recede over time. This is a problem encountered by people with a large labial frenulum or one located too close to the teeth. 💋 Indeed, this type of patient experiences difficulty when brushing. Taking advantage of this situation, dental plaque and tartar to be urgently eliminated accumulate .
Are there other causes of receding gumsOther causes of receding gums?
Regular brushing plays an important role in good tooth health. This is the first step to adopt to maintain good oral and dental routines . But you should not do it suddenly at the risk of damaging your gums or enamel . 🩸
Additionally, avoid brushes with medium or hard bristles . These are likely to damage the enamel. They could also cause irritation or inflammation related to the gums. A dentist will likely advise you to use soft-bristled, electric-type brushes , due to their harmless nature for your oral health. 😉
Poor oral habits can easily lead to gum recession. By this we mean occasional or excessive tooth brushing. This also results in the consumption of foods that can cause a problem of hypersensitivity in the teeth. This causes dental plaque to form. In the absence of adequate treatment, it turns into tartar by feeding on bacteria present in the mouth. 😷 These are the prerequisites for dental caries and gum recession . Many other factors such as smoking can lead to gum recession.
What are the links with periodontitis?
By definition, periodontitis refers to a serious condition characterized by inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth . All of these tissues are called “the periodontium”. It is essentially composed of:
The gum
Alveolar bone
Periodonts
The alveolar-dental ligament
Cement
Caused by bacteria, periodontal disease can affect several or just one of these tissues. When they only attack the gums, we speak of gingivitis .
This is manifested by inflammation of the gums. These show signs of redness and irritation, sometimes swelling and pain. Furthermore, the gums bleed when brushing your teeth or when you eat certain foods. 🪥
But when the disorder concerns other tissues, we speak of periodontitis. The latter can turn into severe periodontitis and cause periodontal recession .
How to treat receding gums?
To resolve this situation, different solutions are possible. The choice of treatment will depend on the severity of the disorder and the recommendations of the competent doctor.
Visit your dentist for scaling and cleaning of gum pockets!
Performed by the dental surgeon, scaling refers to an operation consisting of removing tartar. 👩⚕️ The goal is to clean the tooth and gum and thus fight against problems such as cavities , halitosis (also called bad breath) , periodontal diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis , the main causes of gum disease. retracted.
Cleaning the gum pockets helps rid them of food debris and bacteria. In fact, it is the latter which transform into dental plaque, which in turn creates tartar by solidifying.
