When harmful bacteria enter the body, it responds with a universal protective reaction - inflammation. Under certain circumstances, inflammation can become purulent. Pus is formed - a thick liquid that contains a lot of protein, dead leukocytes and microbial cells. If enough pus accumulates in one place, an abscess occurs, or, in simple words, an abscess.
Abscesses can appear in any part of the body, even in the bones. Most often they form under the skin, in the armpit, groin, genitals, anus, and other places. There are abscesses under the mucous membrane (for example, on the gum, if a carious tooth is not treated for a long time, or a retropharyngeal abscess - inflammation of the fatty tissue behind the pharynx), in internal organs: in the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, etc.
Most often, surgeons have to deal with subcutaneous abscesses. We will talk about their treatment below.
Is it possible to cope with an abscess on your own?
In principle, if the abscess is less than 1 cm in diameter and does not cause much concern, you can try to deal with it yourself. Warming compresses for 30 minutes 4 times a day help.
Under no circumstances should you try to “squeeze out” an abscess. By pressing on the cavity with pus, you create increased tension in it, which contributes to the spread of infection. You cannot pierce an abscess with a needle. The sharp tip of the needle can damage healthy tissue or blood vessels underneath the pus. Malicious microbes will not fail to take advantage of this opportunity and rush to develop new “territories”.
If you have something resembling an abscess on your skin, it is better not to delay a visit to the surgeon. Especially if:
- the abscess is very large or there are several of them;
- you feel unwell, your body temperature has risen to 38°C or more;
- an ulcer appeared on the skin;
- a red line appears from the abscess on the skin - this indicates that the infection has spread to the lymphatic vessel and lymphangitis has developed.
Treatment of flux and removal of edema
Dental flux (odontogenic periostitis) is a purulent disease in the subgingival and subosseous jaw area. It occurs as a result of inflammation of the tooth root and manifests itself in the form of a purulent sac on the gum. If you do not consult a dentist in time with this diagnosis, then there is a very high probability that the tooth will have to be removed and dental implantation performed or dental prosthetics performed in another way. And this is not the worst option, because the infection can enter the circulatory system and then the whole body is in danger!
Causes of flux
The causes of the disease are varied. It can be a consequence of an advanced stage of caries and its complications, a tooth bruise, or an inflamed pocket between the tooth and the gum. It can also appear as a result of infection, when food debris that accumulates in the tooth cavity begins to rot. Pus makes channels in the bone tissue and looks for a way out. It is stopped by the periosteum or lower jaw. The inflammatory process is accompanied by pathological changes in tissue, a person’s temperature rises and severe toothache (often unbearable) is observed.
Flux treatment
Treatment tactics depend on the localization of the process, the location of the tooth, and the form of inflammation. At an early stage, swelling is relieved with the help of antibiotics and high-quality painkillers. But first, the specialist must assess the condition of the tooth root, after which he will decide on the advisability of removing or preserving it. Please note that specialists at our dental clinic in Perm make a decision to remove a tooth only in exceptional cases when the inflammatory process poses a threat of blood poisoning. The purulent form is treated with surgery. The dentist will remove the abscess and carry out a series of antiseptic actions in the area of inflammation. All manipulations are carried out under the influence of painkillers. The dentist will make a small incision near the diseased tooth through which the pus will be released. In some cases, to ensure complete outflow, drainage in the form of a rubber strip is left in the incision. This manipulation in combination with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents quickly relieves swelling.
For patients from other regions, our clinic offers such a popular service as dental tourism. You can undergo complex treatment, prosthetics, dental implantation and other procedures and still have a good rest! We provide: preferential accommodation and assistance in organizing leisure activities. To preliminary draw up a treatment plan remotely and estimate the cost, contact us in any way convenient for you: by email, by phone or via a widget (send a request or request a free call back).
How to relieve swelling at home?
If you have gumboil, only a dentist can remove the swelling. Especially if it is manifested by an increase in body temperature. If you are unable to see a doctor immediately, you can try rinsing with sage or green tea infusion (but this should only be done in exceptional cases). All folk remedies have a weak effect and practically do not relieve pain. In addition, they will not eliminate the cause of the flux. These are just temporary measures that can help disinfect your mouth. Rinsing will in no way cure periostitis, but will only slightly slow down the process, which will reduce the risk of unfortunate consequences while the patient is unable to get an appointment with the dentist. If you are within reach of a doctor, then treating periostitis at home is strictly prohibited, as this can lead to disastrous consequences. You should immediately contact a dental clinic at any time of the day or night. If pus is not removed in a timely manner, inflammation can quickly spread to adjacent tissues. The Kostamed dental clinic operates around the clock, so you can contact us at any time. The dentist on duty will diagnose the flux and relieve the swelling.
Folk remedies
For treatment, traditional medicine offers different recipes. Below are some of them:
- Alcohol tincture of calendula (1 tsp per glass of water).
- Hot infusion of Siberian or red elderberry (a handful of berries in three cups of boiling water, cook for 15 minutes, leave for 2 hours).
- Heat flaxseed, 3 tbsp. wrap in cotton cloth, then tie with thread and apply to the cheek.
- Brew a mixture of green tea and sage and add half a teaspoon of salt. Rinse your mouth with hot infusion.
- 4 tbsp. l. pour lemon balm leaves with two glasses of boiling water. After 4 hours, express and rinse.
There are also quite ridiculous recipes for “treatment”:
- Make “cigarettes” from the cat’s paw plant, smoke without inhaling the smoke into your lungs.
- Place a piece of salt-free lard between the gum and cheek and hold for 30 minutes.
- Chop the garlic and apply it to your wrist.
- Mix tar with sea buckthorn in equal proportions and apply as a compress.
- Burdock, radish and sorrel in the form of a compress.
Doctors at the Kostamed dental clinic will provide:
- maintaining the integrity and health of the oral cavity;
- prevention of dental diseases;
- creating a perfect smile;
- preventing serious complications;
- minimizing life-threatening risks;
- high aesthetics and beauty, and, consequently, higher success in career and personal life.
If you have the slightest symptoms of dental flux, then call us 24/7 as soon as possible and come to Costamed dentistry. We will definitely help you!
Is it possible to cure an abscess without opening it?
Even the ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates liked to say: “where there is an abscess, there is an incision.” Since then, little has changed in the principles of abscess treatment.
Why does the abscess need to be opened? The human body is designed very wisely; it usually gets rid of everything unnecessary. If pus has accumulated somewhere, this indicates that natural mechanisms were ineffective. The body does not know how to remove it. In this case, the cavity with pus becomes like a time bomb. Pathogenic microbes can spread beyond the abscess, sometimes leading to severe complications, including sepsis.
The best solution in this situation is to release the pus through the incision. As a rule, after this, improvement occurs quickly and the healing process begins.
After opening the abscess, the surgeon may prescribe antibiotics, but not all patients need them.
Methods for quickly getting rid of flux
Such a phenomenon as flux develops rapidly. It can appear as a result of an externally acquired infection, as one of the symptoms of periodontitis or a complication of caries.
Infection can also get inside during dental procedures. However, this option is only possible if the patient does not comply with oral hygiene rules or misses an appointment.
The main symptom of flux is swelling. In the initial stages, pain appears only when pressing on a certain area of the gum, but over time it worsens, spreads to the teeth, cheeks and becomes permanent. The pain is characteristic, sharp and aching.
When the first suspicions and symptoms appear, you must immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment methods. However, there are some ways to alleviate the patient’s condition at home if it is not possible to immediately get an appointment with a dentist.
Antibiotics
Self-use of antibiotics is not recommended, but in emergency situations, broad-spectrum drugs can be used to get rid of the primary infection. In case of periostitis, the following drugs are suitable:
- Doxycillin;
- Ampiox;
- Lincomycin.
You can use antibiotics yourself in the postoperative period, in case of swelling and infectious processes. If the result of treatment with different groups of drugs is not observed, then you should consult a specialist.
Decoctions
Additional methods of getting rid of gumboil include rinsing with herbal decoctions. The most effective herbs are:
- Melissa;
- sage;
- calamus;
- Oak bark.
They help relieve inflammation, have a calming effect, relieve pain and swelling.
A solution of soda and salt is also an effective remedy. For one glass of warm water there is one teaspoon of salt and the same amount of soda. Rinsing can be done at any convenient time. This remedy allows you to speed up the process of maturation of the abscess.
It is almost impossible to quickly get rid of flux at home. This will require a course of treatment, consultation with a specialist, and in particularly advanced cases, even surgical intervention. Since flux is a purulent process, its treatment will require at least 7 days.
How is an abscess opened?
The operation is usually performed under local anesthesia. You will feel virtually no pain. The doctor will make an incision and clean the wound from pus - using a special suction, or manually, armed with a gauze pad.
Once the wound is clean, the surgeon will insert a finger or surgical forceps into the wound to check if there are still pockets filled with pus. Sometimes there are partitions inside the abscess that divide it into two, three, or more “rooms.” All partitions need to be destroyed and all the pus released.
The wound is washed with an antiseptic solution. But they are in no hurry to sew it up. Pus may again accumulate under the stitches. The cavity should be left open so that it is better cleaned and heals faster. To drain excess fluid, drainage is left in it - a strip of latex, one end of which is released outside. Subsequently, dressings are carried out with antiseptic solutions, healing and antibacterial ointments.
We will call you back, leave your phone number
Message sent!
expect a call, we will contact you shortly
Is it possible to pierce flux with a needle at home?
Many self-medication methods are extreme, but this does not make them more effective. Some patients are confident that they can pierce the flux themselves with a regular needle, even at home.
After this, they use various rinses and lotions. However, positive results after such manipulations are extremely rare.
Under no circumstances should you violate the integrity of the gums or skin on your own. Such operations can have extremely negative consequences:
- worsening of the inflammatory process;
- an increase in the amount of pus in the abscess;
- pus can penetrate into spongy and soft tissues;
- may develop as a complication ;
- Cellulitis without proper treatment develops into sepsis.
Let's find out how to remove cheek swelling from a tooth
Only an experienced specialist can open the flux, since this manipulation is classified as surgical.
On the Internet you can read many reviews from people who opened the flux themselves using a needle. Even if such an “operation” was successful, it still remains extremely dangerous, so you need to consult a doctor instead of conducting experiments on your own health.
How quickly will healing occur?
The further scenario for the development of events after opening the abscess usually looks like this:
- As a rule, immediately after the pus is released, the pain subsides and the general condition improves.
- After 2 days, liquid discharge from the wound almost completely stops.
- Within 7-10 days you will have to periodically see a doctor and have bandages done.
- After 10–14 days, the wound heals completely. Sometimes faster - it depends on the size of the abscess.
Opening an abscess is practically painless and not at all scary. Much worse are the complications that may arise if treatment is not carried out on time. Make an appointment with a surgeon at the International Clinic Medica24 by phone: +7 (495) 230-00-01
Frequently asked questions about flux
How many days does tooth flux last?
The serous form of periostitis turns into a purulent form after 2 days. After about 5 days after the soft tissue swelling appears, pus breaks through the periosteum under the mucous membrane.
Depending on the state of the body's defenses, the abscess can last up to a week. Then it spontaneously opens.
Chronic periostitis can exist for several years, periodically exacerbating with the formation of new subperiosteal abscesses.
Is a tooth removed during gumboil?
A tooth with periostitis is a source of constant infection. The question of its preservation is an important stage in drawing up a treatment plan.
If the tooth can be saved, then it is treated therapeutically.
How to treat flux at home?
Periostitis is subject to mandatory dental treatment. Without professional help, the infection will not go away. Self-medication will only complicate the situation.
Is it possible to cure gumboil in one day?
Periostitis is a complex infectious and inflammatory condition. Its treatment is aimed not only at eliminating the cause, but also at combating inflammation and intoxication of the body. Even with a timely visit to the dentist, it will take 3 to 5 days for a complete recovery.
What does gumboil look like on a tooth?
Flux is a reddish swelling in the area of several teeth. Sometimes pus may appear through the gums.
What to do if your cheek is swollen?
Swelling of the cheek is a sign of many dental diseases: periostitis, mumps, osteomyelitis. Therefore, if swelling of the cheek occurs, it is necessary to contact the dentist to establish a diagnosis and receive timely help.
What to do if there is a tooth flux under the crown?
A crown or other orthopedic structure is removed from the tooth for treatment. Sometimes a hole is created in it to access the channels. If the tooth cannot be treated, it is removed along with the crown.
How to reduce the temperature after removing the flux?
The use of drug therapy is prescribed by the dentist depending on the severity of the disease, the general condition of the patient, his age and concomitant diseases. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to relieve pain and fever. The name and dosage of the drug will be determined by the doctor.
The danger of self-medication
As already mentioned, attempts to open an abscess on your own lead to extremely negative consequences. The same is observed in patients who did not try to open the abscess, but did not visit the doctor or ignored his recommendations.
It is important to remember that when pus penetrates the soft tissues of the face, the rate of spread of infection will increase several times, and sepsis without proper treatment can even lead to death.
Even if self-treatment is chosen correctly, it will take much longer than professional help from a dentist. Modern technologies make a visit to the doctor completely painless, so you shouldn’t put off taking care of your body until later.
