What do you do when your gums are infected?

Periodontitis, an infection of the gums, requires immediate assessment and intervention by a dentist, who may use scaling, root planing and antibiotics as a treatment, according to Mayo Clinic. For more advanced cases of periodontitis that don't respond to these options, dental surgery may be required.

Scaling involves removing bacteria and tartar from the surface of the gums, explains Mayo Clinic. Root planing is the smoothing of gum surfaces, which prevents future infection. Topical or oral antibiotics may also be required, depending on the type and severity of the gum infection. Gum infections can be prevented with regular dental cleaning, frequent brushing, flossing and the use of mouthwash.