Popping Abcess Tooth bump
 

Friday i had a real bad swollen jaw, *i posted earlier* i started antibiotics on saturday ammox 500mg 3 times a day. Was sore till today swelling went down a lot but there is still a bump on my gum from where it's still abscessed however the cheeck swelling went down that was very painfull. My question is can i pop the blister with a steralized lance? It doesn't seem to want to go down. I have listerine to rinse my mouth out after i do it. I went to the dentist on Tuesday and he drilled a hole in the tooth let it drain *it stunk really bad* and then i went back today for a medicated filling. He used this syringe thing and then put some filling over top of it. I asked him if he could pop that blister but he said antibiotics would take it down. I really don't see why he didn't pop the blister because that's what hurts and not the actual tooth. Anyone know best thing to do? I feel like the dentist jerks me around sometimes and doesn't realize the pain.

JaySmitty,

The "blister" is not a blister. It is a fistula and it is not superficial on just the gum tissue. It is the draining head of a very deep infection in the jaw bone. NO, do not lance it with anything. Also avoid using listerine for any reason at any time as this is nothing more than a toxic mixture of chemicals, dyes, and preservatives. In spite of how this product is marketed, there are no therapeutic benefits to using Listerine whatsoever.

The antibiotic has only temporarily subsided the symptoms. The tooth is infected and the only way to get rid of the infection is to remove the tooth. There is no dental procedure or medication that will cure the infection as the bacteria that is causing the infection is brewing inside of the tiny canals inside of the tooth. These canals cannot be cleaned out or reached with medication.

Drilling a hole into the tooth is done to reduce the pressure from the infection. But the pressure will build up again and again because the tooth is infected. The fistula may get a smaller but it will fill up again because the infection is in the jaw bone and it's draining through the fistula.

Did your dentist give you the option of removing this tooth? That truly is the only way to rid yourself of the infection.

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna,
Well i was rubbing on my jaw real hard one day and the next day it puff out like crazy it started hurting when it was swollen. I assume when i rubbed on my jaw it popped the abcess under the tooth that's the only thing i can think of that would have made it do that. No my dentist did not mention pulling the tooth. They said that tooth can be saved by root canal. I personally never had a root canal but my mom and dad have and they both said they never had any pain or problems since the canal. My tooth don't even hurt it's the bump. So there is no way to drain out the infection at all? I wish there was because i don't like all that nasty stuff trapped in my jaw. I know i could get the tooth pulled but i just worry about keep losing more teeth i am only 33 i had to get my bicuspid pulled on my upper tooth and im am not sure how my body will react to an implant. However i do want the infection gone.

JaySmitty,

There are millions of people who have root canaled teeth. Many have little to no obvious "tooth" symptoms telling them that there is a problem. However, every root canaled tooth remains infected and the bacteria spreads through the blood to other areas of the mouth and the body. Many times the person is ill with other health problems that have originated or correlated with their infected teeth. Unfortunately the person is treated for their other physical symptoms and there asymptomatic tooth infection goes undiagnosed. Every ones immune system is unique in that one person can become ill but never become too sick... while someone else could develop the same illness and become deathly ill.

An example of diseases that are correlated with oral infections that have little to no symptoms until they are severe are.... diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, auto immune disorders, cancer, and other inflammatory conditions.

I know it seems strange to link together a tooth infection with any of those things but the two main issues that connect all of them are 1) chronic infection and 2) chronic inflammation.

Rubbing against your jaw did not "pop" the abscess. It simply stimulated the inflammation that was already brewing in that area. Even if you had not done that, it would only have been a matter of time before the swelling and fistula occurred because you have an abscess. The fistula forms as the pressure from the bacteria burrows a hole or tunnel from the tooth, through the bone and eventually through the gum tissue. This hole or tunnel in the bone is part of the abscess and the longer the infection is present the less likely this area of bone will regenerate even after the tooth is removed. This is a severe infection and the abscess that can be visually seen in your mouth and on the x-ray is the result of the bacteria that will remain inside of the tooth irrelevant of what procedure is done to it. There is no way to drain out the infection because there is no access to the many hundreds of microscopic canals (called dentin tubules) that will continue to harbor infected nerve tissue. The bone cannot become healthy again until the source of the infection is removed, which is the tooth.

Some people who have a lesser infection will not develop an abscess or fistula. But even those people who have the tooth root canaled will still have a chronically infected tooth in their mouth.

Do you have dental problems in general? How many teeth have you had removed and why were they removed? What are your concerns about having a dental implant to replace the upper bicupsid?

Bryanna

Well the dentist i had did a filling on the tooth i had last abscess and this tooth. I have never had an abcess tooth unless it had a filling. Could the dentist be drilling the holes to deep to put the filling in? My teeth keep getting cavites in between them and i do brush and floss daily. My mom's sad has bad teeth but i managed to keep all mine until last year i had one tooth pulled but i still have the rest of my teeth. Like i said seems like the deep fillings my dentist puts in always abscess. Should i change dentists or would this have happened anyway? Thank You

JaySmitty,

If your cavities are deep then the drilling to remove them will be deep. This can lead to infection and abscess.

If the decay is not completely removed and/or the filling does not fit properly, then the tooth will continue to decay and that could lead to infection and abscess.

It is important to brush and floss properly. If you are not using the proper technique then you will continue to get cavities. When you have your teeth cleaned by the hygienist ask her to demonstrate the proper brushing and flossing technique. She should actually be showing you this without asking... but if she's not, then ask her.

Diet plays a huge role in tooth decay. Eating sugary foods or drinking soda or fruit juices, even diet drinks, will cause tooth decay. Think of it as bathing your teeth in sugar and acid all day. Diets high in carbohydrates, crackers, potato chips and most sticky foods will cause tooth decay also.

Some dental problems can be hereditary. However, there is usually other circumstances such as diet, improper oral hygiene and/or certain medications that cause a person to develop tooth decay.

If your dentist is not giving you reasons for your tooth decay and he is not offering you treatment options for the problems you are having, like extracting this infected tooth, then it may behoove you to find another dentist.

I know the information I am giving you is tough to read and I wish your dentist was more informative with you. After 3 decades in dentistry, I have learned that it is always best to tell the patient the truth.... even when it's tough to hear :/

Bryanna

Bryanna i still have a little bit of swelling on that tooth definitely not like it was but i can still feel it. Now my throat on the right side feels a little swollen but it's only noticable if you feel it. I know my allergies are starting to go nuts also and i figured that might be causing some throat uncomfort. Should i refill the antibiotics if there's even a little bit of swelling left? It's not notiable like it was but i have been sneezing and feeling of real dry mouth so bad. I can't determine if it's the tooth or the allergies. My stomachs also bothered me. None of my dentists seem to want to answer their phone. lol

Thanks,

JaySmitty,

I have been in the dental profession for over 3 decades. I am an educator, trainer and extensively experienced in chair side assisting and dental radiography. The information that I have provided for you is my opinion based on my professional experience and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.

I know you are scared and don't seem to be getting the guidance that you want from the dentists that you have seen. But it is never wise to attempt to self treat an abscessed tooth. Repeated doses of antibiotics are not going to cure the infection and they can actually become counter productive which could be concerning to your overall health.

Based on your various descriptions of your dental problem, the tooth is infected, the infection has spread and the antibiotics are not going to cure it. It would be wise to consult with your dentist again and discuss removal of this tooth.

FYI... Swelling of the throat can occur with an infected lower tooth and when it does, it is considered an emergency situation. A condition called Ludwig's syndrome can occur which will close off the airway. You need to get help with this tooth asap.

Bryanna

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you are having issues with your teeth. It is always a frightening thing. The one thing I have learned is to get a second opinion. If you are uncomfortable with the second opinion, go for a third. During all of your consultations, bring someone along who is not in pain. They can take notes so the discussion doesn't become confusing.

We patients do need to advocate for good health care. There are, unfortunately, dentists who give the profession a very bad name. For the most part they are well versed, well educated and there because they want to help, not hurt their patients.

I am in the middle of getting a root canal sorted out. I have found a endodontist who is knowledgeable, caring and understanding. Their is nothing worse than demonizing an entire profession because of a bad experience.

Follow the advice you have been given. Take your antibiotics, without fail and please don't pop anything yourself. You need professional intervention to ensure you don't get any sicker. Be well.

Bryanna I can't see a dentist till monday. My tooth doesn't even hurt but it's my right side of throat, i can still breath and stuff ok however it's mostly on the right side of my throat that is swollen but it doesn't hurt to touch it just feels weird. I also have allergiest so i wonder if that's playing a role on my throat? I been sneezing runny nose. So i wonder if it's a combination of things...Anyway. I posted a link to my pictures of xray and fistula. I'm tired of taking antibiotics it's really driving me nuts lol. Please let me knwo what you think of the pictures. I also feel like sinus pressure when i look up and down. I don't know if that's from sinuses or the infection.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123193...h/13834329225/

JaySmitty,

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Without any question what so ever, you have a very large abscess in your jaw bone. It is definitely linked to the first molar and may have spread to the last one as well. Your swollen throat is definitely related to this infection.

PLEASE do not wait another day.... get to the oral surgeon on monday without fail!

Bryanna i cant get to the dentist till 10 am tomorrow i went to them today
and he said he will take it out if he can get me number. Which antibiotocs will hold me.down till tomorrow the clydamycin or ammoxocillin? Im trying to not stress out about
it bc i cant do anything till tomorrow. they are booked everywhere else.

JaySmitty,

Is this dentist an oral surgeon? If at all possible it is best to see an oral surgeon for the removal of this tooth, not a general dentist.

The dentist should be the one to answer your question about the antibiotic. Have you been switching antibiotics back and forth? Do you keep stopping them before the prescription is done?

It would be helpful to rinse with warm salt water 3-4 times today... then no rinsing for the first 24 hours after the extraction. Resume rinsing gently after the initial 24 hours and continue until the extraction site closes over with gum tissue.

No he is not, my favorite oral surgeon retired or he could have gotten me in the other one said they are booked up for a month..Well first he said clydamycin then he prescribed me pennecillin which our family has a history of allergy to. I personally have never taken it. The ammoxicillin makes me want to go number to real bad. My main concern is the right side of my neck is swollen what can i do to alleviate the pain till tomorrow. I thought the ammoxicillin would help but i really don't see much progreess, i have missed a dose once or twice. My BP is 120/88. I know i do need to relax b/c makes things worse when i worry lol.

JaySmitty,

Your situation is considered an emergency. Did you call an oral surgeons office and tell them you have a very abscessed tooth and your neck is swollen and it's been progressively getting worse every day in spite of being on antibiotics? You need to be seen asap and I'm concerned that your general dentist is not going to be able to take care of this properly.

The antibiotic is not going to substantially reduce the swelling that you have now. In fact it may not do very much at all as your infection is very bad. You need to get in to see an oral surgeon. Go through the phone book and start calling oral surgery offices and see who will take you asap. Tell them you have an emergency.

There is not much else I can offer you here. I urge you to make it a priority to find an oral surgeon.

Bryanna they are getting me.in tomorrow. i went to two
dentists and one doctor. Even with the abscess yesterday
my dentist proceded to fill a cavity. I went to second dentist and they
got me into oral surgeon tomorrow for extraction. I went to doc day befoee
and he gave me a shot of resophin and put me on keflex antibiotics. The dentists have told me to take so many different things. Which antibio
tic is safest? ciphrofloxin, clindamycin,or keflex? My doctor seen me and said my glands are swollen. Anything i can do till tomorrow to make thinga better?

JaySmitty,

I am really puzzled as to why you have been seeing so many different dentists/doctors. Whatever the reason, this is actually making the problem worse because they are all giving you different prescriptions as they are seeing you at different stages of the infection. All of which is just prolonging the inevitable treatment. I hope you are able to stick with one oral surgeon at this point because your dental predicament cannot go on much longer without some serious consequences.

There is no such thing as which antibiotic is safest or most appropriate for you at this time. Your system is overwhelmed with infection thus the swollen glands. NO antibiotic is going to make you better. However, it is imperative that you take your antibiotic starting today as it's been prescribed so that the surgery can be performed tomorrow. The bacteria that causes the infection can make the local anesthetic less effective. So you need to reduce the bacteria and inflammation enough for the anesthetic to work well. Is the appointment in the morning? Did the oral surgeon offer you the option of having IV sedation for this extraction? The IV would guarantee that you would not feel anything. That would mean that you could not eat or drink anything after midnight tonight. So if you cannot speak to him about it until tomorrow... then take the precaution of fasting all night just in case you decide to do the IV. You would need someone to drive you there and bring you home.

Please stick with one antibiotic. Perhaps the most recent one given to you is best at this time. Drink plenty of water and eat a nutritious diet. NO sugar, no soft drinks, no gatorade, no cake or cookies no white bread... all of these things lower your resistance to beat this infection and they do not mix well with the antibiotics making your digestive issues worse ... eat vegetables, fruit, chicken, things like that.

Let us know how you are tomorrow. You will be fine... just don't back out of it.

Yes its tomorrow. yes they gave me the option to be iv sedated. My reg doctor put me.on Keflex twice a day for 7 days. Does the keflex have less side effects then ammoxicillin?

JaySmitty,

No, Keflex does not have less side effects than amoxicillin. All medications carry risks of side effects. But that does not mean that you will have any problems taking it. Everyone is different. Did you say somewhere that you are allergic to amoxicillin or was that a family member??

One reason you have an intestinal upset from the meds is caused by an imbalance in your intestinal bacteria. Meaning you evidently do not have a good amount of good/healthy bacteria to keep your intestines healthy when taking medications. The best way to deal with that is to take a probiotic supplement every single day... just like you would vitamins. And reduce or eliminate your intake of sugar and processed foods which all contribute to an imbalance of intestinal bacteria as bad bacteria thrives on sugar and processed foods. A good probiotic is called Culturelle and can be found at most food and drug stores. Start taking it ASAP.

It is important to know that when taking a probiotic you never take it at the same time as an antibiotic as they counter act one another. You would normally take one probiotic capsule per day with or without food. When on an antibiotic, you would take 2 probiotic caps per day... one in the am and one in the pm. Just make sure you take them an hour before or an hour after your antibiotic.

I would suggest that you go with the IV sedation. You will still be given novocaine after you are asleep which will last for several hours after the surgery...which is a good thing. However, you are guaranteed not to feel any of the surgery during the procedure if you have the IV. So seriously consider taking the IV. Just be sure to follow the instructions of nothing by mouth
after midnight tonight.

Please let me know how things go.... you will be fine and we will both be glad this is over with! :)

By the way bryanna i have geographic tongue and noticed it burns when i eat. i had some heartburn last night and kept burping. Im ki da wondering if the throat swelling could be from gerd geographic tongue or the ammoxicillin. My jaw is completely normal and fiatula is gone ita just the throat lymph nodes. I also was diagnosed with tinea versacolor. the fistula is completely gone i have no had a fever and my bp is good. how can i reduce the lymph node swelling till tomorrow?

JaySmitty,

I knew there was more to this story than you have shared. Okay.... geographic tongue is normal for some people but you may have some ulcerations going on due to the infection. However, you may also have a digestive problem or allergies to some foods that you are eating.

There is nothing you can do to reduce the lymph nodes at this point. The infected tooth needs to come out and the infection needs to be surgically debrided from that area. Then the healing will begin.

I thought you were taking Keflex?

Yes i had it for years. The doctor put me on ammoxicillin 4 weeks ago
for infection. I went to to family doctor and he gave me a shot of rosephin
and then presribed me keflex. I remember before clydamycin worked good but was so strong on my stomach i took 150mg for a previous tooth infection. They bumped it up to
300mg and that made me really sick to my stomach. My main question is which antibiotoc
kills the strain of bacteria for tooth throat related infections? Also how long will it take for lymph node swelling to go down after extraction.

JaySmitty,

There are over 400 different strains of bacteria in the mouth and the throat. So there is no one antibiotic that is affective on all of them. The only way to know for certain what antibiotic will respond to the bacteria that is causing this infection is for the dentist to take a swob of the bacteria and have it cultured in a pathology lab.

Your lymph nodes may stay swollen for several days after the extraction. You have a lot of toxins built up in the tissue so it's going to take time to get better.

Please check in with us after the extraction. Try not to worry.. you will be okay.

Just got the tooth pulled by oral surgeon. Bryanna will the swelling get worse on the neck or better. thats only thing im worried about.

Hi JaySmitty,

So glad that is over with... I'll bet you are too! How did it go? Did you take the IV? Did you ask the OS about the swelling? Did he change the antibiotic or tell you to continue with the amoxicillin?

The swelling may stay the same or a get a bit worse or spread over the next 2 days or so. There is no way to predict when that will subside because now the area is inflamed from the surgery. **If you ever feel like your throat is closing get to the hospital. When do you go back to see the OS?

It is extremely important that you follow the post op instructions. Do not stray from them and do not use any over the counter mouthwash or put anything on the surgical wound. It's important to keep your other teeth very clean. Just brush with a wet toothbrush and no paste for a couple of days. That way you won't have to rinse the paste out.

Drink plenty of water to help flush the toxins out of your system. Eat a soft nutritious diet. Soups, eggs, soft fruits, vegetables, mashed potatoes, things like that. NO sugar, soda or other soft drinks as these things interfere with the immune system and will slow down the healing. NO food that requires a lot of chewing...no sandwiches, steak, and nothing sticky.

Starting tomorrow afternoon rinse "gently" with warm salt water. You do not want to be aggressive with rinsing because it can dislodge the clot. Five to seven days out you can rinse aggressively.

I just did the regular local. It went ok my bp was good. he numbedbthe hell out
of me. just now wearing off and had it done at 1230
the presure on right side of my neck hurts so bad its hard to swallow
noodles. is my lymph glands causing all this pain? my acid reflux is bad to.

Can i use heat or cold compress on neck? i wish it go away so i van eat daggonit lol.

JaySmitty,

You were brave to just do the local :}

You will need to eat something so you can take pain meds and your antibiotic. Can you drink a shake or fruit smoothie? Do not use a straw, just drink normally.

I don't really know what is causing the pain in your neck as I have not seen what your neck looks like. Inflammation will make it feel tight and sore. What did the oral surgeon say about the swelling in your neck?

The acid reflux is going to act up because you're not eating properly and you've been under a lot of stress.

How about a cup of warm tea? Could you drink that?

JaySmitty,

I personally would use moist heat rather than ice on the neck. Cold temperatures make the blood pool in the area whereas moist heat makes the blood flow which is what you want. Do not apply heat to your face near the extraction site for the first 24-48 hours... after that time then you can apply heat there too. Just make it a comfortably "warm" temperature, not too hot.

Do not use a dry heating pad...that will cause coagulation of the blood. Use a moist towel heated up in the microwave or get a heat pack from the drug store that can be put in the microwave. They work really great and can be found in an aisle that has ace bandages and stuff like that.

You need to eat something. Make a fruit smoothie or a milkshade... scrambled eggs, something thick will be more filling. Are you taking your antibiotic and pain meds? You should eat when you take those because they can cause havoc with your digestion on an empty stomach.

Bryanna im honestly wondering if the neck thing is allergies. i have been real dry itchy eyes and sneezing im.sniffling a lot to..i may honestly be allergies or a combination of thi gs. if my neck.felt good id feel great!

JaySmitty,

I think it is a combination of things.... allergies and infection. So please don't pass this off as just allergies. You have a very large area of infection in your jaw bone and it is going to take weeks or longer to heal. Ways that the body drains an oral infection is through the lymph nodes and sinus and it would not be a surprise for your eyes to be irritated as well.

What are allergic too? What are you doing for your allergies? Are you eating today? Taking your antibiotic and pain meds?

Is swelling normal after the extraction? I hurts a little to chew under tooth 30. I was able to eat oatmeal toady along with some egg drop soup and some rice. The right side of my neck doesn't feel as bad but i still feel a burning sensation on that side of the neck. I assume it's normal to swell a little bit after an extraction? I used a sinuflo rinse in my nose and blood and gunk came out of my sinus. I been taking ibu800 and antibiotic. I wish all this would magically go away lol.

JaySmitty,

It is normal to swell after having a tooth extracted. Especially if the tooth was badly infected. Are you swelling on the right side of your face?

You should avoid chewing as much as possible because even though you are eating on the left side, you are still using the masseter muscle which affects both sides of the jaw. FYI...things like rice are not advisable to eat because the rice can get caught in the socket. Avoid small foods like rice, nuts, seeds, chips, things like that

Soups, mashed sweet potatoes, apple sauce, eggs, avocado, fruit smoothies and add some kale or spinach to the other ingredients in the blender to get more nutrients, oatmeal, squash, ... google soft nutritious foods for a better list.

The burning sensation in your neck could be from the inflammation.
What did the dentist say about the inflammation in your neck??

Using a saline nasal spray is okay and it would be normal for the blood, etc to come out of your nose as you most likely swallowed some during the extraction. DO NOT blow your nose hard... only gently.. and make sure you have your mouth open when you blow your nose. The suction inside of your mouth when you blow your nose can cause the clot inside of the extraction socket to become dislodged.

You are taking 800 mg of motrin at one time? That is considered a prescription dosage and should only be taken as prescribed by a dentist or doctor. DO not take more than that at one time and do not take that amount on a continual basis. It is always safest to take the smallest amount of medication needed to get relief from your pain and swelling. Most often you do not need to take more than 400 mgs of motrin at one time. This drug can cause damage to your stomach and intestines.. so only use the amount that is necessary to reduce the pain and swelling.

Yes i am taking 800mg every 8 hours i think the soreness is from where the
surgeon had me open my mouth real big. No im not really swollen lil bit but not much. How long till i am completely back to normal? i will tray and take a pic of my face.

JaySmitty,

Okay try to taper off of that 800 mgs as one dosage starting tomorrow and then less the next day....okay?

It is normal to have soreness in the TMJ area after opening your mouth really wide. You can put a warm moist cloth over that side of your face today every few hours and see if that helps.

You are not going to be back to normal for several days to maybe a few weeks. Don't try to rush the healing and avoid eating on that side until the site closes over. The bone will not fill in completely until a year from now. The wound will close over long before that, but the bone will still be growing.

Yes, take pic of your face and the surgical site if you want to.

QUOTE=JaySmitty33;1064502]Yes i am taking 800mg every 8 hours i think the soreness is from where the
surgeon had me open my mouth real big. No im not really swollen lil bit but not much. How long till i am completely back to normal? i will tray and take a pic of my face.[/QUOTE]

Heres a pic gum area still looks little red. is that normal? still hurrs a little bit.
swallowing discomfort a little better not much

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2wog...8#.U1KaeKOXupQ

Hi JaySmitty,

Thanks for posting the pic.

You still have quite a bit swelling on the right side jaw line, but it looks normal for just 2 days post op and it may swell a bit more before it goes down completely. The gum is going to be red and tender for several days.

Glad to hear the swallowing is feeling a bit better.
Please take good care of yourself.

Yeah, i just picked up the Peridex from the drug store. I noticed there's a little bit not much bleeding still. The hole has formed a clot though. I have another question, i do have strong bone structure should i opt for an implant or what would be my best option since this was a molar?

JaySmitty,

The infection in that area of your mouth was severe which may eventually result in significant bone loss. Dental Implants need to be placed in bone that has not been compromised by infection. So it is best to wait several months to make sure that the infection has cleared before anyone attempts to put an implant in there.

This area should be monitored with an xray every 3 months for the next several months to make sure that the site is healing and the infection has not spread. It may be a year before you replace this tooth with an implant or a bridge.

Bryanna the swalling is the same i think its still swelling. i been taking the antibiotics. i went to the doctor today he said swollen lymph nodes said my throat was wide open ears are good no fever no high blood pressure. The doctor didnt seem to be to worried about ir. . Is it normal to still experince pain? the hole still hurts. ai noticed it hurts way worse when i wake .up from.sleep.