Flux (periostitis). Description, symptoms, causes and treatment of flux. Complications and consequences of gumboil: why is it dangerous? Deaths from gumboil treatment

Flux is the colloquial name for acute purulent periostitis. The disease itself and the complications of flux are dangerous for humans and, if treatment is refused, can lead to unpredictable consequences. If you suspect periostitis, you must immediately contact your dentist for diagnosis and selection of effective treatment methods.

What is flux and why does it appear?

Flux is an inflammatory process localized in the periosteum (we recommend reading: how and with what is inflammation of the periosteum of a tooth treated?). The medical name for this disease is purulent periostitis. The inflamed connective tissue increases in volume and envelops the bone. The lesion can be located on the upper or lower jaw.

There are a huge number of reasons for the appearance of flux. Among the main ones are:

Damage to soft tissues. Mechanical injuries to the gums, teeth, and oral mucosa. Unskilled medical intervention resulting in infection.
Inflammatory, purulent processes with a focus in the tonsil area - for example, purulent tonsillitis.
Pulpitis, periodontitis and other diseases of the tissues of teeth and gums, which are accompanied by inflammation.
Venereal diseases. Periostitis is a common companion to syphilis.
Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction. Due to the variety of manifestations, such a disease can also result.

A predisposing factor may be a weakened immune system, as well as chronic diseases associated with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular or digestive systems. People prone to seasonal allergies should especially carefully monitor their condition.

The symptoms of periostitis are quite clear, and diagnosing the disease is not difficult. Signs by which flux can be identified:

pain in the cheek area;
fever, sudden increase in temperature, difficulty breathing;
throbbing or dull pain in the temples;
change in gum color, swelling;
purulent discharge from the gums;
changing the shape of the face;
general malaise, loss of appetite, weakness.

Why is periostitis dangerous?

Why is flux dangerous? Like many other diseases, it is fraught with complications. If the flux is left untreated, the purulent contents spread throughout the jaw and adjacent areas become infected. The results of this may vary.

Depending on the location of the inflammatory process in the upper or lower jaws, swelling as a result of inflammation spreads to the cheek, cheekbones and reaches the ears (we recommend reading: reasons why cheekbones on the face hurt). It is impossible to cope with the consequences on your own, and a flux breakthrough will only alleviate the condition for a short period of time.

How is periosteal inflammation treated?

Flux treatment is always comprehensive. It is not possible to carry out all medical procedures on your own; moreover, self-medication can lead to the need for tooth extraction and more severe complications. Timely and prompt contact with the dentist is a fundamental issue. The most common scheme for combating periostitis:

Surgical intervention in the inflamed area, installation of drainage for the outflow of pus, thorough cleaning of the purulent sac, the crown of the tooth and its canals (we recommend reading: how and with what to treat a purulent sac on the gum?).
Treatment with antiseptic solutions and medications, filling of teeth and canals.
Antibacterial therapy. Aimed at destroying staphylococci and streptococci.
Physiotherapy. Selected by a doctor based on each specific case: laser, infrared therapy and UHF.
Home methods for post-operative care of the surgical area. Rinses with soda solution and decoctions of medicinal herbs are used.

Treatment includes a set of measures aimed at stopping the inflammatory process. It is also important to preserve the tooth and prevent relapse of the disease; in this case, the dosage of antibacterial agents should be strictly prescribed by the attending physician.

If the abscess bursts

If the abscess breaks through the flux, this can be considered a relatively good sign. As a result, pus flows into the oral cavity, rather than infection entering the blood, internal organs and lymphatic system. In addition, the general condition of the body improves, fever often disappears, and the painful syndrome decreases.

However, this in no way frees the patient from the need to see a doctor as soon as possible, since only a specialist can clean the abscess and cavities that were once filled with pus. If you do not consult a dentist, the consequences will not take long to arrive.

Before visiting a doctor, when the patient does not have the opportunity to go to the clinic immediately, there are several ways to alleviate and improve your condition:

rinsing with baking soda solution after each meal;
treating the breakthrough site with local anesthetics - Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, etc.;
in case of severe pain, take Nimesil according to the instructions.

If pain and fever reappear, you should take medications based on paracetamol or ibuprofen. The issue of visiting a doctor should be resolved as soon as possible.

Possible complications of the disease

When flux is in an advanced form, complications are very unpleasant. They can seriously harm the general health of the patient. Periostitis, which is not treated for a long time, becomes the starting point for other serious diseases.

The most harmless thing that periostitis can result in without medical intervention is an abscess that will not burst on its own. A cavity in the tissues filled with pus causes the patient not only severe pain, but also general intoxication, fever, and malaise. An advanced abscess, if left untreated, can become chronic.

Cellulitis is a logical continuation of the above-mentioned abscess in the gum. The walls of the inflamed tissues no longer contain the pus, and the infection enters the blood and surrounding tissues, spreading rapidly. This condition is extremely dangerous and can lead to the death of the patient. Treatment involves surgery and antibiotic therapy.

Sepsis, or, in simple terms, infection of the blood and tissues of the body, leads to damage to all systems and loss of their functionality. The condition is characterized by a rapid course, the patient may die.

A rare but serious disease is cavernous sinus thrombosis after flux. A dangerous condition in which the lumen of the cavernous sinus becomes blocked and the venous outflow from the brain worsens.

When inflammation spreads to the jaw bones, osteomyelitis of the jaw is possible. The patient experiences severe pain, cannot open his mouth, has difficulty breathing, and has a putrid odor from his breath. In severe cases, surgery is required.

How often do you put off visiting the dentist in hopes of enduring a toothache? Few people suspect that as a reward for such “bravery” a person can easily get gumboil. This is what people call periostitis - purulent inflammation of the periosteum.

This is one of the most unpleasant dental diseases. Really, who would like a painful lump on their gum?

Flux symptoms

"Fluss" translated from German means "flow, flow." This perfectly characterizes the pathogenesis of inflammation - the accumulation of infectious fluid in periodontal tissues, the release of pus.

Flux is also accompanied by aching toothache, which intensifies when the crown is lightly tapped (for example, with a fork). Inflammation of the gums, swelling of the mucous membrane quickly develops, and a putrid odor appears from the mouth.

The infectious process begins near the top of the tooth root, where pus gradually accumulates, which “pushes” its way out. A small channel is formed in the bone tissue of the jaw, but the fluid does not pass further and stops under the periosteum. As a result of this process, a painful compaction is formed in the periodontal tissues.

With a long course of the disease, the following occurs:

severe throbbing pain that may radiate to the ear, throat or temple;
increased body temperature (37-38 degrees);
swelling on the cheek;
inflammation of local (submandibular) lymph nodes;
opening the abscess and releasing pus out.

What is gumboil on the cheek like?

Acute serous flux - the inflammatory process goes away in just 1-2 days. However, infection can lead to fibrous growths or deposits of calcium salts in bone tissue.
Acute purulent periostitis - as a rule, affects molars, as well as impacted “eights”. Toothache intensifies as pus accumulates; when exposed to cold, the discomfort decreases.
Diffuse acute periostitis - in addition to local symptoms, is accompanied by general weakness and loss of appetite. Diffuse flux on the lower jaw is more difficult than on the upper jaw. If the molars are affected, the swelling is localized closer to the cheekbones; if the incisors are damaged, the lip or part of the nose swells.
Chronic flux is a rare form of the disease, which is most often localized in the lower periosteum. There is no swelling of the face, but the bone itself becomes denser. Chronic flux can last 4-8 months with periodic exacerbations.
Flux on a baby tooth is accompanied by the same symptoms as in the acute form in adult patients. Flux on the gums in children can damage the buds of permanent teeth.

Causes of dental flux

Pus is always a sign that our body is fighting an infection. But what is the cause of infection of the periosteum? As a rule, this is advanced caries, pulpitis, cyst or inflammation of the gum pocket.

The process itself is quite slow. Pathogenic microflora affects the enamel, and the hard tissues of the tooth soften. Then the infection enters the pulp, causing severe pain. Over time, the living tissue of the tooth begins to die, and the painful sensations subside. However, harmful microflora continues to spread to neighboring areas, penetrating the periodontal tissues and periosteum.

A time bomb called “periostitis” can explode from any unfavorable factor: decreased immunity, stress, hypothermia, cold.

Flux after dental treatment is also a possible phenomenon. For example, if a temporary filling along with arsenic is not removed in time, the medicine begins to destroy the pulp, which contributes to periostitis. The risk of infection is also high during complex endodontic procedures and after tooth extraction. But here it all depends on the skill of the dentist and compliance with antiseptic treatment standards.

Another common cause of flux is mechanical trauma to the jaw or fracture of the crown. Even small cracks in bone or dentin are ideal conditions for bacteria to penetrate into the deeper tissues of the dental system.

Why is tooth flux dangerous?

Flux is a direct threat not only to the oral cavity, but also to the entire body. If the inflammation is not stopped in time, the patient’s condition worsens and an abscess occurs (suppuration that extends beyond the periosteum). Over time, the abscess develops into a more serious complication - phlegmon, when pus penetrates into different parts of the face and neck. This disease is life-threatening as it can cause sepsis.

The main rule for flux: no self-medication! Therapy should only be carried out in a clinical setting. Hot compresses, taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription and other patient mistakes only worsen the situation.

Flux treatment is carried out by a dental surgeon. You can find such a specialist in your area thanks to our website. Select a doctor from the list or use the convenient search system.

Flux is an inflammatory process, the focus of which is suppuration of the periosteum. The most common cause of gumboil is advanced dental caries. Without medical intervention, damage to tooth tissue by caries tends to spread the infection to the root of the tooth and the cavity around it. The spread of infection due to progressive caries leads to inflammation of the pulp. Thus, pulpitis develops. Within a day or two, suppuration, and with it the bacteria that generate it, affect the internal soft tissue of the tooth, and then spread to the bone tissue of the gums. The formation of a purulent abscess in the gum next to a damaged tooth flows into periostitis, and in common parlance, gumboil.

So, flux symptoms:

aching toothache that intensifies when chewing or pressing on a sore tooth;
swelling of the mucous membrane around the tooth and the appearance of an abscess on the gum;
the appearance of swelling on the face;
general malaise and fever.

The best flux prevention consists of proper oral care and regular visits to your dentist. It is extremely rare that flux occurs due to jaw injuries or improper treatment of pre-existing diseases.

Flux treatment This should not happen at home; measures can be taken to temporarily relieve symptoms and then contact a specialist. In the suppuration of the periosteum lies not just the cause of an unpleasant disease, but also the danger of further migration of the infection throughout the body, and the spread of pus under the facial muscles can be fatal.

The first rule that must be followed to prevent the spread of infection and the proliferation of bacteria is not to warm the sore spot with either rinses or compresses. Below are recipes for herbal infusions for rinsing and compresses. Decoctions have an antiseptic and soothing effect. Like any herbs, these should be brewed with boiling water, but used after cooling to room temperature.

Herbal mixture from 2 tbsp. sage, 2 tbsp. mustard plaster, 2 tbsp. Blueheads must be infused in 300 ml of boiling water. It is recommended to rinse 5 times a day, and to enhance the effect, you can apply a cotton swab soaked in this tincture to the sore tooth.
Herbal mixture from 1 tbsp. birch buds, 1 tbsp. periwinkle, 1 tbsp. forest angelica and 1 tbsp. peppermint pour 1 liter of boiling water and let it brew. Rinse the tooth with a strained decoction at room temperature about 5 times a day.
Mix 4 tbsp. St. John's wort, 3 tbsp. sage and 2 tbsp. oak bark. 3 tbsp. pour 1 liter of boiling water over the resulting mixture. It is recommended to use the decoction for rinsing less than 10 times a day.

If you don’t have the necessary herbs in your home medicine cabinet, you can get by with an alkaline rinse, for which you need to dilute 1 tsp. soda in a glass of water.

To relieve pain symptoms, you can also use the healing properties of some vegetables. So, a cabbage leaf boiled for a few minutes and cooled or a cotton swab soaked in freshly squeezed onion juice can help.

If the action of folk remedies turns out to be so effective that the pain and swelling go away, this does not mean overcoming the infection. The resulting flux should be a reason for a medical examination in the next few days. Only a qualified specialist, if necessary, performing surgery or prescribing antibiotic therapy, can instill confidence that the disease is behind us. Under no circumstances should you choose antibiotics to treat gumboil on your own; only qualified recommendations can be the key to effective and safe treatment.

The question of how to treat gumboil arises for those who hesitate to visit the dentist, believing that the inflammation will go away on its own. However, this approach to the problem is dangerous because it can lead to serious consequences. Flux (its scientific name is “periostitis”) is accompanied by special symptoms. If they are recognized in time, treatment can be facilitated.

What is tooth flux?

Periostitis is an inflammation of the periosteum. Translated from German, fluss is defined as “flow” or “current”. This is justified, because dental flux is characterized by the accumulation of infectious fluid in the periodontium. As a result, a compaction is formed. Its formation is accompanied by pain and swelling. In 60% of cases, periostitis leads to tooth loss.

Flux comes in the following types:

acute (serous, purulent and diffuse);
chronic;
periostitis of milk teeth.

Flux - reasons

Periostitis is provoked by various factors. The most common reasons are:

Hygiene rules are not followed or oral care is of poor quality. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms multiply here intensively, penetrate the gums and provoke its destruction.
The development of pathology can be caused by sore throat, furunculosis and other ailments accompanied by the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria. Such microorganisms provoke inflammation of the periosteum.
Observed after scratches and injuries to the gums.
Flux occurs after unsuccessful tooth extraction or improper treatment.
Occurs when the gum pocket becomes inflamed.

Flux - symptoms

Periostitis can be recognized by its characteristic signs. This is what the flux looks like:

lymph nodes enlarge;
pain becomes more intense;
the gums turn bright red;
a compaction forms at the base of the tooth;
cheek swells;
body temperature increases.

Why is flux dangerous?

Periostitis is considered a very serious pathology. Not only is it difficult in itself, but it also causes dangerous complications. The consequences of flux are:

An abscess is a condition in which pus extends beyond its capsule. The pain may subside for a while and the swelling will disappear. However, the inflammatory process continues.
Phlegmon is a purulent lesion of the tissue. If the pathology has a superficial form, the subcutaneous layer is affected; if it is deep, the intermuscular tissue is affected. With this disease, the pain is constant. In addition, jaw mobility and speech abilities are impaired, and breathing becomes difficult. Facial asymmetry is observed. The patient's general condition worsens.

Does the flux go away on its own?

When the first symptoms of periostitis appear, you should immediately contact your dentist. While the patient is trying to figure out whether the flux goes away on its own, serious problems may begin. A wait-and-see attitude is not appropriate here. Although during the period of an abscess it seems that the disease has receded, this is actually not the case. It develops into a more serious problem - cellulitis.

Flux - what to do?

Treatment of periostitis involves the use of one of the following approaches:

drug therapy (it is effective only at the initial stage of pathology development);
surgical intervention (carried out in this case when an abscess appears on the surface of the gum).

Flux medication treatment includes the following:

antibiotics are prescribed to relieve swelling and inflammation;
therapy is performed aimed at eliminating the root cause of flux development;
To strengthen the body's defenses, immunomodulators and vitamins are prescribed.

Here's how to treat flux:

Open the fistula on the gum yourself, as this will lead to the spread of infection.
Apply warm compresses, because heat intensifies the inflammatory process. In addition, there is a high probability that complications will arise faster.
Drink alcohol or apply alcohol compresses to the affected area.

How is flux removed?

If drug therapy is ineffective, surgery is recommended. The patient may be overwhelmed by worries about whether the tooth will be removed due to gumboil. In each specific case, the doctor makes a decision, taking into account the degree of gum damage, the condition of the patient and other factors. The surgical intervention itself, aimed at removing flux, is performed in several stages:

The patient is given a local anesthetic.
A small incision is made on the gum in the gumboil area.
The pus is removed and drainage is installed.
The patient is sent for an x-ray in order to correctly prescribe subsequent therapy.
If the tooth cannot be saved, it is removed, the wound is cleaned and drainage is installed. Antibiotics are prescribed.
In advanced forms of periostitis, treatment with iontophoresis or laser is prescribed.

After removing the flux, you should not take Aspirin or other blood thinning medications for the first few days. These medications are dangerous during this period. They can cause bleeding. If 12 hours after the incision was made on the gum the patient does not feel relief, you should immediately consult a doctor. Another surgery may be required.

Flux - how to treat at home

It is impossible to get rid of periostitis on your own. At the first signs of pathology, you should seek professional help from a dentist. Only he knows how to treat gumboil and can do it correctly. If you hesitate to visit a doctor, this will lead to serious health problems. However, for certain reasons, the patient may not be able to immediately see a dentist. Then advice on how to cure gumboil at home will come to his aid. All these manipulations do not relieve periostitis, but only slightly alleviate the patient’s condition.

Flux - how to remove a tumor at home?

Time-tested remedies will help you cope with swelling. If you are worried about dental flux, you can quickly remove the swelling using the following manipulations:

Exposure to cold. You can take an ice cube or a napkin soaked in cool water and apply it to the cheek where the swelling appears. You need to keep this compress for several minutes. The tumor will gradually begin to disappear.
Applying a cake made from natural propolis. You need to take a small piece of this beekeeping product and warm it in your palms. Propolis will become soft like plasticine. Then a thin cake is made from it and applied to the gum affected by inflammation. Over time, the swelling will decrease.
Compress with Iodinol. A cotton pad is moistened with this preparation and placed on the inflamed area.

What antibiotics should I take for tooth flux?

Treatment with antibacterial drugs should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. When prescribing such solutions or tablets for flux, the doctor will take into account the following factors:

stage of development of periostitis;
patient tolerance to medications;
the complexity of the surgical intervention;
risk of consequences.

The following antibiotics are most often prescribed for flux:

Tsifran;
Amoxiclav;
Tsiprolet;
Doxycycline;
Levomycetin;
Amoxicillin;
Ampiox.

How to rinse your mouth with flux?

Such procedures help alleviate the patient's condition. However, rinses are not the main treatment; they are only used as an auxiliary therapy. If flux has formed, treatment at home can be carried out using the following drugs:

Rotokana - alcohol tincture of calendula, chamomile and yarrow. Take 1 teaspoon of the drug per glass of boiled water at room temperature. You need to rinse every 2 hours.
Chlorhexidine is a drug with a wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect. For rinsing, a 0.5% solution of the drug is used. The procedure should be carried out 3-4 times a day.
Malavita is a preparation consisting of extracts of medicinal herbs, copper and silver ions. Add 5-6 drops of medication to a glass of water and rinse every hour.
Furacilina is a product with an antibacterial effect. Dissolve a tablet of the drug in a glass of boiling water and cool the solution. You can rinse every hour.
Betadine is a medicine that contains iodine. For 60 ml of water take 1 teaspoon of 1% solution. You need to rinse your mouth 3-4 times.

Folk remedies for flux

Homemade “medicines” help alleviate the patient’s condition, relieve pain and swelling. The following folk remedies can be used:

decoctions;
ointments;
solutions and so on.

How to cure gumboil with lemon balm infusion?

Ingredients:

chopped dry grass - 4 tbsp. spoons;
water - 500 ml.

Preparation, use:

The raw materials are poured with boiling water.
Leave for 4-5 hours and filter.
Rinse the mouth every half hour.

How to get rid of flux with wax ointment?

Ingredients:

wax - a piece the size of a walnut;
chicken egg - 1 pc;
vegetable oil - 150 ml.

Preparation, use:

The egg is hard boiled.
The wax is melted in the oil and mixed well until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.
Half a boiled egg is ground and mixed with a waxy-oily mass.
The mixture is kept in a water bath for about 10 minutes, transferred to a glass container and sent to the refrigerator.
Before applying to the inflamed area, the ointment must be warmed to room temperature.

How to remove gumboil with calendula tincture?

Ingredients:

calendula tincture - 1 teaspoon;
water - 250 ml.

Preparation, use:

Add the tincture to a glass of boiled water cooled to room temperature.
You need to rinse with the solution 6-8 times a day.

How to treat gumboil with herbal medicine?

Ingredients:

St. John's wort - 4 tbsp. spoons;
oak bark - 2 tbsp. spoons;
sage - 3 tbsp. spoons;
water - 3 l.

Preparation, use:

The raw materials are poured with boiling water.
Leave for half an hour and strain.
Rinse the mouth with this solution every hour and a half.