Question
Is gum disease an infection?
Answer
Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum attachment and foundations around a tooth or teeth, a bit like inflammation in arthritis.
So it is not considered a typical infection which you might be expecting antibiotics for. However, antibiotics can help in conjunction with some gum disease treatments.
If the breakdown of the attachment becomes extremely severe, the pocket around a tooth could connect with the root-end of the tooth and cause a dental abscess, including pain or swelling.
Rest assured gum disease is NOT contagious. It can not be passed from one person to another.