Blister on Gums & Gum Boils: Causes & Treatment
Table of Contents
- Common Causes
- Less Common Causes
- What are Gum Boils?
- Gum Boil Causes
- Gum Boil Risks
- Gum Boil Treatment
- Caring for Gum Blisters
- Prevention
- Popping a Gum Blister or Boil
You’ve looked in the mirror and noticed a blister or boil on your gums. It’s an alarming situation, especially if the new spot is bloody or sore. Don’t panic. This article will explain what causes blisters or boils on your gums, and we’ll cover how these issues are typically treated and when you should get help.
What are common causes of blisters on the gums?
Blisters and boils on the gums can spring from many different sources. Understanding what they are could help you determine how a doctor might help you feel better.
More than 5 million teeth are displaced during sports activities every year, says the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A severe injury like this could also cause blisters on your gums. When your teeth take a direct hit, the tissue that holds it in place can shift and bleed.
Conditions like herpes and cold sores can cause blisters and boils on the gums. These types of illnesses cause an immune system reaction, which results in tissue death and swelling. Sometimes, those problems can look like blisters and boils.
People with compromised immune systems due to conditions like HIV can develop conditions like thrush and lichen planus. These issues can cause blisters and boils on the gums, and they can be slow to heal without treatment.
What are common types of blisters on the gums?
While this article refers to blisters and boils on the gums as a whole, there are some specific types you should be aware of. They include the following.
Canker sores are among the most common types of gum sores and can be experienced at any age.
Appearance: Canker sores may appear on the gums as round, oval blisters with a white or yellow center and red border. They may also appear on the inner cheeks or lips, tongue, or soft palate.
Types: Minor canker sores are most common and smaller in size. Less common are major canker sores, which are larger and more painful, and herpetiform canker sores, which are tiny (like pinpoints) and often occur in clusters of 10 to 100 sores that form into one large ulcer with irregular edges.
Symptoms: A tingling or burning feeling may occur in the location of the sores a day or two before they appear. Minor canker sores can be mildly uncomfortable or noticeable while eating or talking. Major or herpetiform canker sores can be very painful and affect eating.
Treatment: Most canker sores are mild. They will usually heal on their own in one to two weeks and will not leave any scars. Herpetiform canker sores will also usually heal without scarring in one to two weeks. Major canker sores, however, can take up to six weeks to heal and can leave serious scarring.
When to see a doctor: While most canker sores are mild and heal on their own, large or recurring canker sores are an issue that should be addressed with your doctor. You should also seem medical attention if your canker sores are accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
High fever
Significant difficulty eating or speaking
Sores that are spreading to the lips
Serious pain
Gum blisters can be caused by irritation or trauma to the mouth from minor accidents, such as cutting into the gums with food while eating. Braces or dentures that don’t fit correctly can also cause lesions, as can the ongoing irritation from a broken filling or sharp, chipped tooth.
Minor burns can cause gum blisters. Burn-related blisters are especially common in children and young people.
Appearance: Gum blisters caused by irritation or trauma may vary in size and appearance but will occur as bumps (usually small and round) around the location that the accident or irritation has occurred.
Symptoms: In cases of minor trauma or irritation, gum blisters may be mildly painful and/or irritating. If they were caused by an accident, they will appear immediately or shortly after the accident. If they are caused by irritation, they may get worse over time if the cause of the irritation is not addressed and corrected.
Treatment: Gum blisters caused by a minor accident will likely heal on their own within one to two weeks. If the blisters are being caused by an ongoing irritation, like poorly fitting braces, the root cause of the irritation will need to be fixed to allow the sores to heal and also to prevent more sores.
When to see a doctor: You should seek medical attention if your mouth has experienced severe trauma, such as a serious accident. Ongoing irritation problems, like dentures or dental devices that don’t fit properly, will also need to be addressed by a dentist in order to resolve the blisters and avoid future problems.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they are very common. It’s estimated that 50 to 80 percent of adults in the U.S. have oral herpes, even if the virus doesn’t present itself in all cases as oral sores.
Cold sores typically appear around the mouth, tongue, lips, and roof of mouth as well as on the gums.
Appearance: Cold sores first appear as painful, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters and the fluid they contain are very contagious. The blisters usually “pop” within two to three days and become sores that will crust over and heal within a week.
Symptoms: The first outbreak of oral herpes is usually the most severe, with the most blisters and the highest level of pain and irritation. You may experience tingling, itching, or burning sensations in the locations of the blisters before they appear. As they are caused by a virus, cold sores may occur with a number of symptoms, including these:
Mild fever
Sore throat
Muscle fatigue and soreness
Headache
Treatment: There is no cure for oral herpes or cold sores. The virus lives inside of you forever. However, antiviral pills can help outbreaks to occur less often.Certain creams can also help the sores to heal. Reducing stress, avoiding certain “trigger” foods, and including certain nutrients in your diet, like Lysine, may also help.
When to see a doctor: As soon as you suspect you have oral herpes, you should speak to your doctor about treatment options to prevent future outbreaks.
What are less common causes of blisters on the gums?
Gum blisters can also be caused by more serious underlying issues, including these:
Gingivostomatitis: An infection of the mouth and gums that is most often found in children and in adults with poor oral hygiene. Small ulcers in the mouth may be accompanied by fever, cough, and aches.
Thrush: This is a yeast infection inside the mouth that causes white lesions. This is most common among immunocompromised people and people who wear dentures. The condition is also known as denture stomatitis.
Oral lichen planus: This is a chronic disorder in which inflammation causes raised patches of tissue and/or swollen sores in the mouth.
Leukoplakia: Most often found in the mouths of smokers, leukoplakia causes thick white patches in the mouth.
Oral cancer: Oral cancer may cause ulcers, or sores that are red and white that don’t heal.
What are gum boils?
Gum boils are different from gum blisters, as they are actually abscesses filled with fluid or pus. There are three types of gum boils:
Gingival gum boils: Although less common, these types of abscesses form on the gums near teeth and can be very painful.
Pericoronal gum boils: Pericoronal abscesses usually form near the crowns of teeth that are waiting to erupt (like impacted wisdom teeth).
Periodontal gum boils: These abscesses are the most common. They are one of the most common dental emergencies of any type.1
What causes gum boils?
Gum boils are caused by bacterial infections and may be the result of these conditions:
Poor overall oral health or poor oral hygiene
Mouth trauma or surgery
A compromised immune system
An imbalanced diet
Inflammation
What are the risks associated with gum boils?
Because a gum boil is the result of a bacterial infection, it’s important that it’s treated quickly in order to ensure the infection doesn’t spread in the mouth or to other parts of your body’s system through the bloodstream.Any untreated dental abscess could lead to serious complications, including shock, brain abscesses, and even death.2
How are gum boils treated?
How your gum boil is treated will depend on how severe it is and where it is in the mouth. Treatment may include the following:
An antibiotic prescription to fight off the bacterial infection
Draining of the fluid inside the boil to reduce discomfort
Teeth and gum cleaning (if decay or bacteria buildup is the cause of the abscess)
Tooth extraction or surgery (in severe cases)
Caring for common gum blisters
The type of treatment you’ll need for blisters and boils on the gums depends on the cause. Just as no two types of sores are the same, so are no two types of treatment options. However, dentists often use similar approaches when they help patients with open sores.
Common in-office treatments for blisters and boils include the following:
Exploration: Doctors examine the sore closely to determine what’s causing the issue. Sometimes, your dentist uses x-rays and other imaging to determine how serious the problem might be.
Draining: If the sore is tall or extends deep into oral tissues, your doctor might use sterile equipment to drain the fluid and improve your comfort level.
Cleaning: If the sore is caused by bacterial buildup, your dentist might clean your teeth and gums to reduce the swelling.
Medications: Your doctor may use oral medications or antibacterial rinses to remove any remaining problems and allow your mouth to heal.
While your doctor can help address many cases of blisters and boils, your at-home care matters, too. These steps are typically required when you have oral health issues:
Diet changes: Avoid food and drink that is hot, spicy, citrus-based, or alcoholic.
Using ice: Blisters and boils caused by trauma may respond to ice packs.
Pain control: Over-the-counter therapies can ease discomfort and help you to heal.
Cleaning: Your doctor may recommend brushing the area gently and using mouthwash to remove any debris your brush can’t touch.
Some types of mouth blisters and boils need time to heal. For example, if you have blisters caused by herpes, they don’t respond to traditional treatment very quickly. However, following your doctor’s recommendations very carefully can ensure your sores don’t persist longer than they should.
Can you pop a gum blister or boil?
You should never manually pop a gum blister or boil. Doing so may cause more trauma to the mouth and affected area, resulting in further irritation and inflammation.
Mild blisters or boils may erupt on their own or with a warm saltwater rinse, but they should not be squeezed or agitated. If you have a blister or boil that persists, see your dentist for an assessment.
Can you prevent blisters & boils on gums?
Since every type of blister and boil is different, there are no prevention steps that work for all of them. However, making a few changes could help you to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of some types of problems.
The Oral Health Foundation recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of blisters and boils:
Improve your oral health. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste, use dental floss, and try an oral rise (if your doctor recommends it).
Upgrade your equipment. Use high-quality tools to keep your mouth clean. Cheap toothbrushes and DIY floss can injure tissue in your mouth and cause sores.
Eat well. Fill your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce your risk of mouth cancer.
Visit the dentist. Regular checkups can help your dentist spot oral health problems early, before they have a chance to worsen.