Abcess Help!!

[amyg810]

I have an impacted wisdom tooth and now have an abcess. I called everywhere yesterday to get an appointment but everyone is closed for the week for vacation due to the holiday. The gum that is over the wisdom tooth is sensitive and irritated, my cheek just above it is swolen on the inside of my mouth, and I can now feel a lump just above my jawline from the outside. None of the dentist offices in my area re-open until Monday, Jan 5. Is this something that an emergency room doctor could prescribe anti-biotics for? I really don't want to wait another 4 days to try to get in to a dentist. It started feeling irritated on Sunday night and has gotten progressively worse so I can't imagine what it will feel like by then. Please help.

[dfan32]

You've probably already noticed some relief after taking the antibotics. If it still feels swollen try some motrin or ibuprofin (not tylnol). motrin is an anti imflammatory it will reduce the swelling. Currently going through a similar situtation, so I know your pain.Dont use salt water if any chance of cracked or bleeding gums. Good Luck.

[babykins1982]

Best thing I found is ice the area (do not place ice right on the tooth, place Ice in a towel and on the outside of your jaw, where the lump is. Keep the area clean, do not use orajel, as it eats away at the new tissue forming (if your tooth is anything like mine, the gum is also very tender to touch) as well take some advil for the pain...

Hopefully it clears up with the antibiotics, but if find within a few days it is not doing anything, call back and get a new antibiotic. I was on penicillin and it did nothing, they switched me to amoxicillin, and it helped more.

[amyg810]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was able to find a dentist who had left his pager number on his office answering machine. I've started penicillin so I'm hoping to start feeling better soon. I looked for the stuff you mentioned but I didn't see it at my drugstore. The dentist wants me to flush the area with a syringe filled with peroxide (yuk) but I found some peroxide drops that are made for use in the mouth. I tried rinsing with peroxide last night and almost gagged from the nasty taste. I guess that's mostly to get any particles out that may be stuck under the gum so I think I'm going to try flushing it with salt water and then using the drops after while it's still kind of open. If there are any open tomorrow I may try another drug store to try and find the stuff you mentioned. Because until the abcess lets go I'm gonna be miserable. Again, thanks for the help.

[Smile4Us]

Hi,
I have had this happen to me in the past too. Get some "Oral-B Amosan" oral wound cleanser at the Drug Store. It comes in a small box with 20 packets and cost around $10 USD. Open one packet and make a Thick Paste by adding a few drops of warm water. Then apply the Paste to the area on your gum that is blowing up from the abcess. Let the Paste sit on your gum 10 min. or so and the abcess or (balloon) will eventually open and drain. Try not to swallow the pus and you can then rinse with another packet that you mix following the directions on the package. This will take the pressure off and provide a lot of relief. Hope This Helps!!

http://www.smiledentalplan.com