One of the rather unpleasant and dangerous situations for a child's health associated with dental diseases is the formation of an abscess on the baby's gum. This situation requires an immediate response from the parents, as it can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Why and how does an abscess appear on the gum
The main reason for the formation of abscesses in the tissues of the gums of children is their infection, which can occur due to:
- Untreated caries of a milk tooth, which caused pulpitis.
- Poor tooth treatment (if the doctor has placed a filling on an incomplete tooth).
- Introducing infection into a cyst-like structure that appears at the site of a tooth eruption.
- Lack of treatment for pulpitis of a permanent tooth.
- Infection in the gum after injury with any sharp object.
Most often, the formation of an abscess on the gums is provoked by caries. The first stages of this disease often go unnoticed, so the infection sneaks into the tooth. Once it reaches the root, the toxins begin to penetrate the tissues and cause inflammation of the gums near the root. Since bacteria are the cause, pus is formed during this inflammation. It goes under the gum mucosa, which looks like a purulent sac.
The main symptoms
The appearance of a purulent formation on the gums is accompanied by quite specific symptoms. At first, the child will notice a feeling of bursting in the gums, and a little later, a slight reddish swelling will appear in the place that he indicated.
Gradually, its size will increase, and a white dot will become noticeable in the center of the bump. It indicates the appearance of pus inside the gums. If you touch such a bump, you will see that it is soft, and the child will notice that it is very painful. Increasing in size, the lump transforms into a white abscess.
In addition to changes in the mouth, the child may experience other symptoms:
- Increased body temperature.
- Whims and restless behavior.
- Refusal to eat.
Possible complications
If you do not consult a doctor at the time of the formation of an abscess, it will increase in size and, as a result, burst. This will improve the general condition of the child (soreness will decrease, and the temperature will decrease), but will lead to the formation of a fistula, through which pus will escape into the oral cavity.
In some cases, the fistula heals on its own, but it still represents a focus of infection, which threatens to activate the inflammatory process in certain conditions (with a decrease in immunity).
If an abscess appears as a result of a milk tooth disease, it can cause infection of the permanent rudiment. In addition, bacteria from the abscess can enter the mucous membrane of the tonsils, provoking the development of their chronic inflammation, as well as into the lymph nodes under the jaw, causing lymphadenitis.
Another danger of having a fistula in a child's mouth is allergization of the body. In the most severe cases, pus can enter the bloodstream, after which it spreads through the child's body and can cause suppuration in other organs and tissues. No less dangerous is the spread of infection into the deeper tissues of the jaws with the formation of phlegmon or bone inflammation.
What to do
The most correct tactic of parents when they find an abscess on their child's gums is to go to a dental clinic. The doctor will conduct an examination and determine his further actions, which will be affected by the stage of the process (the abscess is just being formed, already formed or ruptured) and the type of tooth (milk or permanent).
It is best if the child visits the dentist in the early stages of development, when the purulent lump has just appeared, but even after the abscess breaks through, the baby still needs to be taken to the doctor in order to eliminate the focus of infection and prevent the abscess from re-forming in the same place or over the adjacent teeth.
Treatment
When an abscess appears in the area of the milk tooth, the doctor will first anesthetize the place of manipulation, then open the formation and remove pus from its cavity, after which he will remove the milk tooth, the defeat of which caused the development of purulent inflammation. Next, the child will be prescribed a course of antibiotics and rinses.
When an abscess forms over a permanent tooth, the doctor, after examination and local anesthesia, will cut the gum and, if the abscess is very large, will install drainage. If the pulp is infected, the canals of the tooth are opened, depulpation is performed, and then a filling is placed.
How to treat at home
If you cannot immediately take the child to the dentist when an abscess appears, at home parents can provide such first aid to the little one:
- Give an antipyretic drug approved at the age of the child at an elevated temperature.
- Offer to rinse the mouth with a warm decoction of chamomile or sage, if the child already knows how to rinse, and the abscess has not opened.
- Do not give your child solid or hot food.
- To reduce soreness, apply something cold to the cheek.
- Do not allow the child to touch the abscess.
- Give your baby more drink.
- Call an ambulance if the baby's condition worsens.
When an abscess is detected in a child, it is strictly prohibited:
- Try to open the formation with your own hands. This threatens to get the infection into the blood.
- Heat the site of inflammation with hot compresses or rinses with hot water.
- Give your child an antibiotic without a doctor's prescription.
- Rinse your mouth if the abscess has opened.
Prevention
In order to prevent the development of an abscess on the gums of a son or daughter, it is recommended:
- Pay attention to oral hygiene, starting from the moment the first teeth erupt.
- Make sure your child brushes his teeth correctly in the morning and before bed.
- Rinse your mouth after meals.
- Regularly go to the dental clinic for examination and treat caries detected in the early stages in time.
- Protect the gums from injury.
- Do not allow the child to abuse sweets and hold lollipops on the cheek.
