Pus from the Gums (Periodontal Abscess): Acute vs Chronic, Treatment, and Emergency Signs

If pus comes out when you press the gum, or one spot on the gum is raised and round, it may be a periodontal abscess, in which a bacterial infection has collected pus in the tissue around a tooth. An acute abscess can cause pain, tooth mobility, and, rarely, fever and swollen lymph nodes; a chronic abscess has milder symptoms but forms a small opening in the gum (a fistula) through which pus seeps out little by little. Either way, the causes, tartar and inflammation, must be removed at the dentist, and if the face swells or you have a fever you should be seen promptly.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

What a periodontal abscess is	A pus-filled inflammation confined to the tissue around a tooth, caused by bacterial infection in the mouth; it appears as acute or chronic (source: Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information)
Symptoms of an acute abscess	The tooth hurts when tapped and may be loose; swollen lymph nodes, fever, and general weakness can occur (source: Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information)
Features of a chronic abscess	A fistula that breaks through the gum lining may form, with dull pain, and it can turn acute (source: Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information)
Basic treatment	Removal of plaque, tartar, and local causes; root planing after scaling; antibiotics if pus is active (source: Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information)
Difference from gum disease with little pain	Periodontal disease usually causes little pain, but pain appears once it progresses to an abscess (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)

What does it mean when pus comes out of the gums?

As gum disease progresses, deep pockets (periodontal pockets) form between the tooth and gum, and bacteria and tartar settle inside. When the opening of the pocket narrows from inflammation and pus cannot drain and collects, one spot on the gum swells into a round bulge. This is a periodontal abscess.

Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information describes a periodontal abscess as a pus-filled inflammation confined to the tissue around a tooth, caused by bacterial infection in the mouth. It tends to occur in gums that already have chronic periodontitis when the body's resistance drops, or when tartar remains in a deep pocket, and it is also linked to systemic diseases such as diabetes that worsen gum disease. So once a periodontal abscess has formed, it is wise to check the condition of the gums throughout the mouth, not only that tooth.

How do acute and chronic abscesses differ?

An acute abscess is one in which the gum swells and becomes painful quickly over a few days. The gum beside the root rises in an oval shape, pus often comes out at the gum edge when pressed with a finger, and the tooth may hurt when tapped and may be loose. If the inflammation spreads, the lymph nodes under the jaw swell, and you may run a fever or feel run down.

A chronic abscess often passes with unclear symptoms, such as a dull ache or a feeling of wanting to bite on something. Instead, a small opening forms in the gum lining and pus seeps out little by little, and you may notice a salty taste or odor in the mouth. A chronic abscess can turn acute at any time if your general health worsens.

How does pus from the gums differ from pus at the tip of the tooth root?

Not all pus in the gums comes from gum disease. When a cavity is deep and the tooth nerve dies, inflammation can form at the tip of the root and pus can break out toward the gum; this is called a periapical abscess. They may look similar, but the causes differ, so Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information also explains that a diagnosis is needed to tell the two conditions apart.

For an abscess from gum disease, the core of treatment is tartar removal and gum treatment; for one from the nerve, the core is root canal treatment. The dentist looks at the depth of the gum pockets, the response of the tooth nerve, and X-rays together to judge which it is, or whether the two overlap.

How does the dentist treat pus from the gums?

The basis of treatment is to remove the plaque and tartar that cause the pus and the local factors that cause inflammation. After scaling, root planing smooths the root surface, and if pus is active, a procedure to drain it may be done along with antibiotics. An acute abscess can improve quickly with initial treatment and medication.

If a chronic abscess keeps recurring, periodontal surgery may be done in which the gum is opened, inflamed tissue and tartar are removed thoroughly, and the gum is sutured, under local anesthesia. When the gum bone has dissolved so much that it can no longer support the tooth, extraction may be recommended so the inflammation does not spread to the surrounding area. After treatment ends, you receive maintenance care at 3 to 6 month intervals, with checks of gum pocket depth, so that an abscess does not form again in the same spot.

What should I do at home when pus appears?

Do not squeeze out the pus with your fingers or a needle, because bacteria can spread to the surrounding area or the wound can worsen. Also avoid taking leftover antibiotics from an old prescription on your own, and if you need a painkiller, choose one after talking to a pharmacist or doctor.

Brush the swollen side gently with a soft toothbrush to keep the mouth clean, and do not chew hard food on that side. If you have any of the symptoms below, get seen without waiting until the next day, and if breathing or swallowing is difficult, go to an emergency room.

Swelling spreads to the cheek or under the jaw
You have a fever and feel run down
You cannot open your mouth well
Pus and pain get worse by the day

Common myths and facts

Myth: Once the pus is squeezed out, it is all better

Even if the pus drains and you feel better for a while, it will collect again if tartar and a deep gum pocket remain. The cause has to be removed at the dentist.

Myth: If the pus stops and it does not hurt, no treatment is needed

A chronic abscess can continue with almost no pain, seeping a little pus through a fistula, and it can turn acute at any time.

Myth: Taking antibiotics alone solves pus in the gums

Antibiotics are a supporting treatment while pus is active. If local causes such as plaque and tartar are not removed, it will come back.

Frequently asked questions

A small pimple-like bump on my gum appears and disappears.

It may be a small opening (fistula) through which pus drains. It can arise from a chronic abscess of gum disease or from inflammation at the root tip of a tooth with a dead nerve, so even if it does not hurt, it is best to have the cause checked at the dentist.

Does a tooth that oozes pus have to be pulled?

In most cases, treatment first aims to save the tooth with tartar removal, gum treatment, and root canal treatment if needed. Extraction is considered when the gum bone has dissolved so much that the tooth is very loose, so the earlier you are treated, the more options you have.

I taste something salty or fishy in my mouth.

That taste and smell can occur when pus seeps little by little from a gum pocket or fistula. If you notice it on one side only, check whether the gum there is painful or swollen when pressed, and get seen.

I have diabetes and often get pus in my gums.

Diabetes and gum disease affect each other, so when blood sugar is poorly controlled, gum inflammation and abscesses tend to recur. Along with blood sugar management, it is good to have gum maintenance care at 3 to 6 month intervals.

It is the weekend and I cannot get to a dentist. What should I do?

Keep your mouth clean with gentle brushing, do not squeeze it, and wait; but if your face swells, you have a fever, or you cannot open your mouth well, go to an open dental clinic or an emergency room. Even if the symptoms settle, be sure to see a dentist on a weekday.

References

Korean version →