A little over two years ago I had my wisdom teeth removed. Rather foolishly, I reasoned the calculated risk of getting an infection made the time and effort it'd take to get the prescribed antibiotics a waste of my time. Well had I known the pain, swelling, fever, sleepless nights, and overall discomfort I was about to experience I would have made a different decision.
After the infection started I had to "waste my time" to get the antibiotics anyway. Go figure. Anyway, I like to keep a positive attitude so I can look back on that situation and laugh at myself.

What's not as funny however, is my current situation. Starting 4 days ago (now this is two years after my tooth was removed and prior infection occurred) there's been sharp pain in the exact same spot where my prior infection hurt the worst.

On top of this I've had a fever, swollen gums, earache, light headaches, general pressure buildup in the head, and sore throat like symptoms (including trouble swallowing from sharp pain and the white sores all over my tonsils). What's interesting to me is that, as I mentioned, the main source of pain is in the exact same spot but, even more so is that the strange pus like taste I had in my mouth two years ago is back (I'm 100% sure it's the exact same flavor). I should mention I got a strep test with the results coming in negative. Oh, and the infection is starting to spread onto my lower lip.

So, I guess all this to ask a few things.

• Is it possible for this to be the same infection from two years ago?
• To get antibiotics can I see either my dentist or doctor (and which would be better)?
• What other actions should I be taking besides salt gargles, plenty of water/fluids, and resting.

Thank you all for your time and concern,

Jeremy

P.S. As a token of appreciation here is a joke:
My mom taught me some valuable life lessons; like the way to a woman's heart.

It’s through her rib cage.

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for adding the joke..... ;-)

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

It is possible that you have had a lingering infection or some type of a bacterial issue going on for the last two years or longer. Chances are that you had an infection in that area of your mouth prior to having the tooth removed. It could have been small and not mentioned to you by the dentist, but none the less, there was most likely something brewing there.

Add to that probability the fact that the area became more infected after the extraction just put fuel on the already burning fire. Did you complete the antibiotic prescription that you were given when your teeth were extracted?

If you have had any degree of a chronic bacterial infection in that wisdom tooth site for all of this time, then any upper respiratory infection, like tonsillitis, could cause pain or exaggerated flare up to occur in that area of your mouth.

The spots on your tonsils, if they are pus and not food, indicate a tonsillitis which can be viral or bacterial. Your physician would be the one to determine that. Pus anyplace in the mouth or throat will taste similar to a tooth infection. So based on your description, that icky taste could be coming from your tonsils and/or an oral infection. The fact that you believe it is spreading to your lower lip needs another evaluation.

Did your physician put you on an antibiotic or tell you to just wait it out? Is your tongue coated with a white coating? Do you have any sores, other than on the lip, in your mouth? Do you something have sinus, stomach or digestive problems? Do you have any swollen glands? Are you sick often?

To evaluate the wisdom tooth site to see if there may be a lingering, brewing infection in that area, you would need to see an oral surgeon. He would take some xrays and probably a panoramic xray as well.

If you feel that your tonsils are getting worse, then see your physician again. Step tests can be falsely negative.

You are doing all of the things you should be doing if what you have is viral. However, if it's been a few days and you feel like you are not improving, then get in to see your physician.

Please check back in with us.
Bryanna

Thanks so much for your help Bryanna,

I'll try to respond to your questions and comments as relevantly as I can:

"...there was most likely something brewing there." Although seemingly uncommon from what I've read, I've got a very thorough and helpful doctor. If he had noticed something, even something tiny, he would have pointed it out (Even if to say, "It's very likely nothing to worry about but...").

"Did you complete the antibiotic prescription..." I don't actually remember but I don't see any reason I wouldn't have. I know it's often a stressed point to continue use even after signs of feeling better. I'd put it at a high 90% I did complete my use.

"...if they are pus and not food..." I'm certain it's not food but white sores all over my tonsils. Looking up tonsillitis per your recommendation I saw I have eleven of the twelve likely symptoms according to WebMD. It also states children often feel abdominal pain which I experienced for the first time this morning (although I'm 22?).

"The fact that you believe it is spreading to your lower lip needs another evaluation." Can tonsillitis not spread to the lips? If it can't (and the wisdom tooth extraction infection can't) then I guess I have two canker sores along with whatever mess is going on.

"Did your physician put you on an antibiotic or tell you to just wait it out?" I didn't see my physician. The strep test was performed from a lab at Kaiser. However my mom is an advice nurse, though this is outside of her expertise, and she's encouraging me to wait it out.

"Is your tongue coated with a white coating?" Yes, there is a thin white layer across my tongue.

"Do you have any sores, other than on the lip, in your mouth?" No other sores than the two on my lip.

"Do you something have sinus, stomach or digestive problems?" Extremely infrequently.

"Do you have any swollen glands?" Yes, I can only turn my head about 45 degrees each way. Also, two points, one on the left and one on the right side of my jaw are slightly swollen and very tender to the touch. Lastly, on my right eyebrow is another swollen, more so than the jaw, and tender spot.

"Are you sick often?" I'm not sick very often. I'd guess about two or three times a year.

As far as I'm feeling, I only woke up one time each the past two nights which I'm extremely grateful for. Everything feels the same as yesterday except a little decrease in pressure from my ears. My gums are still so tender to the touch that eating anything more solid yogurt causes pain.

"Thanks for adding the joke..... ;-)" And here's another:
The only thing worth paying an arm and a leg for is the ability to regenerate limbs.

Thanks again,

Jeremy

Be your own advocate....I had a wisdom tooth infection for six years. It masked as sinus infections...no medical staff found it on the ct scan.

Thanks for the advice! I honestly never would have known my wisdom tooth infection could be lingering for years to come (but obviously won't because I'm on to it and it's sneaky ways).

I'd been following my mom's advice of letting my body do it's own dirty work but made this decision on the condition that I'd wake up with improvements by Saturday (today). Sadly, this condition was failed to be met so I'll be going in to see me Dr. at some point.

And, as always, a joke:

An insane man escaped from his asylum. Getting desperate and unsure of where to go, he decided to turn himself in for the rather large bounty. Needless to say, he was rewarded.

Hi Jeremy,

I read your last post saying you are not feeling any better. Yea, I think you need to see the physician again.

My comment to you about the possibility of something being unnoticed or not mentioned by your dentist when referring to a possible infection during the removal of your one wisdom tooth simply meant that either it was undetectable or something that he felt was not significant enough to concern you about. This type of "communication" between a dentist and patient is very typical and not to be misunderstood as a deliberate withholding of important information. Not all problems encountered by the dentist are going to be mentioned to the patient if the dentist feels that the situation will remedy itself and the information is not worth worrying the patient over. However, in some cases the problem does not resolve on it's own and instead it grows more severe. You still have not established whether that is happening in your situation or not.

I asked if you completed the rx for the antibiotics because it is necessary to take the entire prescription to eradicate the bacteria and all too often people stop taking the meds when they feel better.

Some people have chronically inflamed tonsils and/or pus filled areas on their tonsils due to a number of reasons a couple of which are upper respiratory infections and/or sinus infections. Some people have deep nooks and crannies (called tonsillar crypts) in their tonsils that collect mucus and food debris which looks like pus, causes redness and irritation of the tonsils and makes the breath smell pretty bad.

The sores on your lip can be a complication from either an irritation, or a contaminated toothbrush (with bacteria from your saliva if you are ill), straw or utensil, or it could be a result of a compromised immune system.

The white tongue coating can be bacterial, thrush or food debris.

The swollen and tender glands in your neck, etc indicate that your lymphatic system is fighting off an irritating bacteria. It needs to be determined if it is viral or bacterial.

I asked how often you were sick because I am just getting the sense that your immune system may be a bit run down in general. To be honest, being sick a few times a years may be typical of many people but it indicates a sluggish immune system. We generally get sick when our immune system allows us to become host to the germs that are floating around. In other words, when the immune system is functioning healthfully we are able to fight off most of those germs and rarely become ill.

You mentioned that your gums are tender. Is this just in the area of the wisdom tooth site or gums in general? Do you tend to have bleeding or tender gums from time to time?

Bryanna

*** keep the jokes coming !






QUOTE=JeremyCML;1119927]Thanks so much for your help Bryanna,

I'll try to respond to your questions and comments as relevantly as I can:

"...there was most likely something brewing there." Although seemingly uncommon from what I've read, I've got a very thorough and helpful doctor. If he had noticed something, even something tiny, he would have pointed it out (Even if to say, "It's very likely nothing to worry about but...").

"Did you complete the antibiotic prescription..." I don't actually remember but I don't see any reason I wouldn't have. I know it's often a stressed point to continue use even after signs of feeling better. I'd put it at a high 90% I did complete my use.

"...if they are pus and not food..." I'm certain it's not food but white sores all over my tonsils. Looking up tonsillitis per your recommendation I saw I have eleven of the twelve likely symptoms according to WebMD. It also states children often feel abdominal pain which I experienced for the first time this morning (although I'm 22?).

"The fact that you believe it is spreading to your lower lip needs another evaluation." Can tonsillitis not spread to the lips? If it can't (and the wisdom tooth extraction infection can't) then I guess I have two canker sores along with whatever mess is going on.

"Did your physician put you on an antibiotic or tell you to just wait it out?" I didn't see my physician. The strep test was performed from a lab at Kaiser. However my mom is an advice nurse, though this is outside of her expertise, and she's encouraging me to wait it out.

"Is your tongue coated with a white coating?" Yes, there is a thin white layer across my tongue.

"Do you have any sores, other than on the lip, in your mouth?" No other sores than the two on my lip.

"Do you something have sinus, stomach or digestive problems?" Extremely infrequently.

"Do you have any swollen glands?" Yes, I can only turn my head about 45 degrees each way. Also, two points, one on the left and one on the right side of my jaw are slightly swollen and very tender to the touch. Lastly, on my right eyebrow is another swollen, more so than the jaw, and tender spot.

"Are you sick often?" I'm not sick very often. I'd guess about two or three times a year.

As far as I'm feeling, I only woke up one time each the past two nights which I'm extremely grateful for. Everything feels the same as yesterday except a little decrease in pressure from my ears. My gums are still so tender to the touch that eating anything more solid yogurt causes pain.

"Thanks for adding the joke..... ;-)" And here's another:
The only thing worth paying an arm and a leg for is the ability to regenerate limbs.

Thanks again,

Jeremy[/QUOTE]

Just to provide closure for anyone who stumbles into this thread:

I ended up having a doctor look at my mouth. He said it was obvious I had a viral infection. That same day I went to a dentist (not my normal one) for a second opinion. She told me it was bacterial. She proceeded to give me a painful tooth cleaning. She said it was good for my gums to bleed a little because it'd help relieve the swelling. She also mentioned a few times she needed to get me on antibiotics. She gave me a prescription at the end of the visit but it wasn't until I got home that I realized the prescription was only for an over the counter mouthwash; she'd forgotten the antibiotics.

After getting the cleaning I figured I'd take another day or two more to see what would happen. I felt better the following day so continued to let my body heal itself. In total I was sick about twelve days but now feel great.

And, of course I must end with a joke: I threw a housewarming party last weekend. One of my friends seemed confused because he knew I've lived here my entire life. What he failed to realize was I had bought a heater.