Boil Infection on the Gums

A boil on the gums is a bacterial infection that creates a small ball of pus. Because the boil typically involves an underlying problem with a tooth or gum disease, the condition calls for a dentist's attention.

Symptoms

• A boil on the gums can start out as a painful soft lump, later hardening. A toothache often accompanies the infection. The boil eventually pops and drains foul-tasting fluid. The pain then usually decreases significantly.

Causes

• A gum boil results from a localized dental infection. The nerve may have died and become infected, a cavity may have become infected, a root canal may have failed, or the patient may have gum disease.

Effects

• The boil develops as the body's immune system sends white blood cells to the infected area. This creates pus, which is a combination of live and dead white blood cells, enzymes and bits of destroyed tissue.

Solution

• Although the boil may pop and drain, the individual should still seek dental treatment. The underlying condition that caused the boil may result in future symptoms. Typically, a root canal is necessary to resolve an infected tooth nerve.

Considerations

• Patients with lowered immune resistance---such as diabetics, people undergoing chemotherapy, and HIV-positive individuals---are more likely to develop a boil infection on the gums. The dentist can prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection before performing any treatment.