What happens it i don't treat a gum abscess right away?

It'll get worse: It'll get worse and you may end up losing the tooth or even worse, end up in th er with a medical emergency.

It can get serious: The source of an abscess should be identified and treated as soon as possible. Dental infections can be very destructive and can make you systemically ill. Please see your dentist as soon as possible.

Become tooth abscess: If left untreated, a gum abscess will work its way toward the apex with the bacteria invading the tooth apex and enter the pulp (nerve ) and cause a tooth abscess (endo abscess). This is referred to as perio-endo lesion. Treatment would be more costly since it involved a root canal and a crown and the tooth debridement and possible bone graft due to the extent of bone destruction. Do not wait!

A few thoughts...: The longer you fail to treat an infection, the greater the chance of pain, swelling, loss of tooth, and eventually systemic infection. Please treat it ASAP.