Tooth abscess

[misspollysdollyridesagain]

Nightmare start to summer holidays...! Last Thursday had slight toothache in a tooth that has been being patched up since it broken just after DD was born 3 years ago. Better Friday, didn't call dentist, put it down to sensitivity/twitchy tooth nerve and carried on. Bad tooth pain returned Fri-Sat night and again (worse) during Sat-Sun night. Sunday morning couldn't put any chewing pressure on it, but Sunday afternoon the pain was increasing by the minute and no pain relief would touch it by the evening. Was crying on the phone to NHS Direct at 2am by which time my face was swelling and by the morning I looked like Popeye....!! Eventually got to see my dentist during Monday - massive swollen face, worst pain I have ever known and sobbed in the chair as he attempted to drain it and put local anaesthetic in (unsuccessful as just too painful - I sobbed and sobbed and my dentist was lovely and caring and kept squeezing my shoulder and telling me how well I was doing - bless!). He gave me five days of mega antibiotics and on Wednesday I went back and had the bastard tooth taken out. I finished the antibiotics today. Am on much reduced pain meds. Swelling has all gone down, just about. BUT there is still a 0.5cm visible 'pocket' of either pus or ulcerated tissue on my gum and it is all still quite sore in there. Is this cause for concern?? Will it now just resolve or might it get worse and spread again having finished the antibiotics...?? Anyone else had this before? Did the acute illness/pain/swelling come on as quickly and as extremely as it did for me last weekend?? How did the whole sorry episode end for you? Did it just eventually all heal or did you need more antibiotics to finish the job...?!

[livelablove]

Ooooh sounds horrible, glad you are feeling a bit better. I haven't had an abcess like that, only know of someone at work whose face started to swell and had to rush off to hospital I think. Not much help there but wanted to say it sounds tough. I would be inclined to ring dentist about the remaining swelling, maybe you need a few more antibiotics? I do have a few home remedies you could try. My mum likes herbal remedies and recommends thyme tea for infections, just that normal dried thyme used in cooking infused in water for 10 mins. Manuka honey is also good. Another thing you could try is hot water with tsp salt rinsing every few hours. A friend was recommended this by the dentist's receptionist once when the dentist was away for the day! She said it really helped.

[3littlefrogs]

Go back to the dentist asap. you may well need a much longer course of antibiotics.

Poor you. I have had a bad abscess - the pain is worse than childbirth.

[RockinD]

I'm ashamed to say I popped mine with a sterilised needle and rinsed my mouth out with cooking whisky. Cheap and effective.

Talk to your dentist as soon as you can.