I got my wisdom teeth out ten days ago. On the fourth day I was having severe throbbing pain from my jaw to ear. I went back to the dentist and he said I either have dry socket or an infection. So he treated them for both. He packed the bottom right extraction site with some clove paste and gave me an antibiotic. (Amoxicillin 875mg) Two days ago I noticed some type of yellowish/light greenish mucus inside the top right wisdom tooth hole. I thought maybe it was SockIt! that I had syringed into it about three days ago. (SockIt! Is an all-natural medicine you put into the holes to help protect them and ease the pain. I got this from my dentist also) I didn't think anything about it. Yesterday, I noticed it again when it ran onto the tooth mirror when I was looking inside the hole. It had been running down my cheek and I must have been swallowing it. It's has a really nasty salty rotting taste. The past few days I have been spitting up yellowish mucus, which I thought was odd because I wasn't having any sinus issues. The mucus like substance continues to fall from the hole and it has a very unpleasant taste. It is also now, three days later, coming from my right nostril. (NO CLUE WHY ITS THERE.) I called the dentist today and he put me on Clindamycin 150mg 2 caplets 4 times a day for 8 days. My jaw still hurts significantly. I take 600 mg IBU every four hours to curve this pain. And I'm really freaking out now because its coming through my right nostril and the smell is so disgusting I can't describe it. And it's not normal snot or anything thats ever came out of my nose. I'm starting to think I'll never get better. If anyone could provide some insight or has seen something like this please let me know, thanks in advance.

Hi modernblitz,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here,

Your description of the upper right surgical site sounds like there is a sinus perforation and infection. Did the dentist say anything about a sinus perforation to you at the time of the surgery?

I would suggest that you call the dentist and tell him of these findings and ask if there was a sinus perforation. He may suggest a different regimen at home and ask you to stop the sockit gel. Sometimes they heal on their own, sometimes they need surgical intervention.

Bryanna

Thanks for your reply Bryana.

I went in today for a appointment. I told the surgeon everything that was happening, and he checked out the socket. He said he didn't see anything in my mouth nor has he ever heard anything like this. I suggested that I have a sinus infection. I explained to him how i have had several sinus infections, and none of them have smelled like this or came out of a tooth socket hole. At this point he got agitated with me and told the nurse to do some type of scan on my mouth.

I did a scan with the dental tech. When the doctor returned he acted really surprised to find that I was right. He wanted to look at the socket right away again. He seemed really concerned all the sudden. The whole right side of my sinuses were blocked on the scan, nothing on the left side. I asked how it was possible this was coming out of my socket. He explained that the hole is so close to the nasal cavity and there's so much fluid in my cavity that it must have leaked through the socket hole. This sounds like a perforated hole from nasal cavity to socket. He didn't act like it was a big deal at all, should I be worried? He prescribed me Augmentin 500-125 1 tab, 3 times a day. I thought it was kind of odd that he would prescribe me the Augmentin because I just completed a week dosage of Amox and it didn't really do anything. So I'm taking that and Clindamycin 150mg 2 caplets 4 times.

The infection continues to come out of my nose and smells ungodly. (Think cat pee, poop, salt, and rotted flesh all combined) I have been using my Netipot in the morning and at night. The infection comes pouring out, its gross. To help get rid of the smell i put vix in my nose while I'm at work. I continually chew gum. I figured this would help exercise my jaw while getting rid of the smell.

I have another appointment on Friday. Hopefully I can report progress at the upcoming appointment.

Hi modernblitz,

Here is a link about use of the neti pot..... FYI..
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellnes...ry?id=15170230

First let me say...... unless this surgeon is fresh out of dental school and has had limited surgical experience, he has surelyseen this type of infection before.

Secondly, you are on a lot of antibiotics and without question need to take a probiotic supplement starting asap.

Thirdly, does the dentist know that you are using the neti pot? Does he know you are putting vicks inside of your nose? The neti pot is useful for keeping the sinuses clear when non bacterial congestion is present. But to use it during a sinus infection where there is an opening into the oral cavity... I don't know if that is a good idea or not. The use of vicks may or may not be a good idea also as it may prevent the sinus perf from closing. But I am not certain of that..... it's best to ask the surgeon.

The sinus is obviously draining but at the same time it is important to not allow bacteria to get up inside of that hole as it will travel into the sinus. I believe it is best if the sinus drain from your nose and not the extraction site so you don't want to do anything that prevents the sinus perf from healing closed.

Please ask about the use of the neti pot and the vicks to be sure.

Please keep us posted.
Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna for your guidance.

I talked to the oral surgeon on the phone today and he said it was ok to use the neti pot. It does help, exp. in the morning when the green stuff comes out in chunks. I stopped using the vics in my nose and am just dealing with the smell. It's hard to tell at this point if the antibiotics are working. Yesterday I did not see any infection fluid in the socket, today I saw it. The smelly infection coming out of my nose continues to be there, but I believe it is subsiding. I quit taking my IBU last night and felt tremendous paid in the top left wisdom tooth socket. When I told my surgeon this he kind of chuckled, like I am making everything up, he said, "going full circle". I have another appointment with him on Friday. What is the process to get a second opinion from another oral surgeon? I know these types of things take referrals. Do I need to go back to my dentist?

Hi modernblitz,

If you are in the US, you do not need a referral to see an oral surgeon. You can go to anyone of your choice. If you are concerned about using insurance to pay for the visit, then you have to check if you have an HMO or a PPO plan. The HMO prohibits you from seeing anyone outside of the plan... but with a PPO or Indemnity plan you can go in or out of network.

I'm afraid going to your general dentist would most likely be fruitless. Most GD's are not well informed in diagnosing or treating sinus perf infections like yours.

I am familiar with your type of infection as I have seen it many times. Yes, the odor is quite bad but it will improve as the infection clears up. I just want to warm you about using mouthwash to cover up the odor.... just in case you have been doing that. Most mouthwashes contain harsh chemicals, dyes, alcohol, etc. Not only won't they eliminate the odor, they will prohibit the socket from healing. It is best to use warm salt water rinses and you can add 1-2 drops of pure peppermint oil to the water.... which might help refresh your breath and reduce that nasty taste.

If you feel that this dentist is not taking this seriously.... then please seek another opinion. You would need to bring or have ALL of your x-rays send to the new surgeons office for him to be able to evaluate it properly.

Keep us posted....
Bryanna

Just got back from the oral surgeon. I explained how the smelly substance is still projecting from my wisdom tooth hole. I suggested that it was a perforated hole into my nasal cavity. He looked at the wisdom tooth socket and said he didn't see a hole. Which I'm really confused about because if there isn't a hole how is sinus stuff coming from it and then I asked how will my nasal cavities ever get better if my mouth bacteria gets into my sinuses. He said "that's not how it works." He said he talked to his partner about my case this morning and they both discussed how they have never seen anything like this. The surgeon told me to finish my antibiotics. I have about 3 days left on them. He scheduled me an appointment on 2/10 to see him (as he is going on vacation for a week). He said that hopefully it heals on its own. HMMMM

Monday I went to my primary physician as my oral surgeon is on vacation. She referred me to an ENT who I saw today. The ENT specialist numbed my nose and looked inside. He also looked in my mouth. He saw the infection leaking through the socket but did not see a hole. He said sometimes during wisdom tooth removal the tooth pierces the sinus cavity and this happens. He said this usually heals on its own. He took cultures of the wisdom tooth socket and inside my nose to ensure it was not a fungal infection. He explained that these usually heal on their own, but if not surgery will have to happen. He said that this is very rare. He prescribed me Clindamycin 150 mg and Cadista (MethylPREDNISolone). He said in order for the socket to heal, it helps to get rid of the infection. He asked me if I noticed the infection when I eat, which I do. He said he has seen this before. I have a follow up appointment with him in two weeks. And an appointment with my oral surgeon next Monday. I am unsure why he prescribed me Clindamycin after I just did a double dosage of it the past week and it didn't do anything. Maybe the steroid will be the secret ingredient to getting rid of the infection?

Update:
1 month post wisdom tooth surgery

The stinky smelly snot in my nose is gone since my visit with the ENT on Monday.

Today is Saturday and my wisdom tooth socket continues to leak snot/mucus from the tooth socket. This happens after I wake up and after I eat for the most part. I tried to run yesterday but the socket started hurting and poured down the green mucus.

I have another appointment with the oral surgeon on Monday.

I was wondering if there was anything extra I could do to increase the healing time of whatever is happening. I used salt water rinse three times a day, taking vitamin c. I'm also on clinda and have two days left of steroids.

I got back the culture results from my ENT as followed (not sure what it means):

Gram Stain GRAM STAIN -- Many Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Seen; Many Small Gram Negative Bacilli; Many Fusiform Gram Negative Bacilli; Many Gram Positive Cocci In Chains;
Culture Result Heavy Growth
Culture Result Normal Oropharyngeal Flora
Culture Result No Further Workup

Modernblitz---did you ever find a solution to your problem? I have been having what you describe for the past three years.