Spot Near Tooth What Is It?

[mischamoonlight]

Hi, I'm a little worried about a spot I have near a tooth, that I've had for nearly 2 weeks. It seems to have pus in it, its very small, like a pin prick size. I did have a bit of pain at the beginning, but now nothing. I made an appointment for my dentist, but I have to wait until the 21st December, as they have nothing sooner.

I was a little worried after reading online, mainly about infection, and them saying how serious it is. I've also been a little spooked about oral cancer too. The spot is right beside a tooth that had a root canal when I was 13, and has a filling in it, and I'm 34 now. I've been using Bonjela for the last couple days but not sure its doing anything.

I'm not touching it either, it had been seeping occassionally, and then stops, and I accidentally brushed too hard over it at one point. It's very small but it has me a little worried, and I am very stressed at the moment, theirs a lot going on. I'm worried because of infection and so on and because I can't see the dentist sooner. I know the doctor is there if it did get worse at any point, I'm just feeling a little panicked about it.

I only tried salt water once, so not sure if that helps, would have to use it again to see.

[pulisa]

Salt water rinsing 5 times a day is the best thing you can do, Mischa. You do have to stop "researching" online too but you know this of course. It won't help your anxiety/ compulsion to check for worrying "development".

[mischamoonlight]

Yeah, I'll give the salt water another try, anything to help it.

[mischamoonlight]

My dentist gave me a prescription of antibiotics of Erythrocin 500mg, to take 3x a day for 5 days. I'm having some serious stomach cramps and noises with it though. Might be just a side effect of it. I'm taking them evenly throughout the day and I checked with my Pharmacist if their okay with my normal medicines; they are.

Anyone ever feel sick on antibiotics? Anything to ease the stomach sensation?

[pulisa]

I get bad gut ache with erythromycin. Are you allergic to penicillin?

[mischamoonlight]

@pulisa Sorry for late reply. yeah, I'm allergic that's why I was given it. Yeah, my stomach ache is bad too, it's not often, but it feels like your stomach is empty and mine gurgles a lot which feels uncomfortable. Along with some cramping too. So far, no diarrhea, but its only the 1st day, 4 days to go.

Felt a little dizzy too, but not sure if that's just all the stress going on, the medicine or little combination of both. Seems mostly my stomach that gets effected. I know its for my tooth though, which the spot was oozing pus so better to take the antibiotics. I spoke to the chemist too, who said it was fine to take with my beta blockers and thyroid meds. I'm always double checking.

Yeah, pretty much same, all gut aches and cramps going on.

[BrightPhoenix]

Glad I found this thread as I can tell you my personal experience with a couple tooth abscesses I had and the headaches (figuratively) it caused.

That little bump with pus in it is an abscess. It's a common thing if you let an infection go for awhile.

The reason why it stopped hurting for awhile is - well - when a tooth gets infected, the nerves in it eventually die off, that's why it stops hurting for a little while, but it's actually a good thing you caught it now because if you left it alone you'd be in *way more pain*. I'm talking about you-can't-go-to-sleep kinda pain.

My dentist usually prescribes penicillin or amoxicillin, not sure why they gave you erythrocin - I guess it's stronger? Usually with the stronger antibiotics you may have to take it with food. It burns if you try to take it on an empty stomach. Only problem is if you Google this medication - there's conflicting info, but if it's making your stomach sour it's your best bet to take it with food, double check with your dentist though, I'm just a random stranger on the Internet.

The antibiotics is only to keep you "tided over" so that the pain from the infection doesn't hurt so much. It won't 100% eliminate the infection because there are very thin blood vessels in the gums so not much of the medication will get there, but you should definitely start feeling better after a few days.

ALSO, this is something I learned from my endodontist. Endodontists are like specialists that ONLY do tricky root canals, which makes them a tier above regular dentists. I asked him about all these articles about how if you let an infection go it'll spread throughout your body and cause problems - he said these are rare, and these only happen *if you let the infection/pain continue for a long time*. We're talking many months, if not years. Since you reacted quickly you'll be ok.

I know you're worried about the dentist visit itself but dentists have become way more modern these days - X-rays are easier to do, the procedure is generally faster, and you should be recovered within a few days.

[mischamoonlight]

@BrightPhoenix Hi! The amount of puss is very small, like a pin prick amount. It's at the corner of a tooth I had a root canal done on when I was a young teenager. It's got a full filling in it now, beneath the nerve is completely dead already, so theirs nothing there.

I have an appointment on the 21st, and he gave me the high dose antibiotics before to help clear the infection. I think he may just remove the tooth, or clear it out for now. Thankfully, theirs been no pain at all, I only had a sore gum at the beginning but I think it was like normal sore gum pain. Theirs no discoloration of any kind and it is really small, think it just needs a little help.

I know that tooth needs a crown as my dentist told me earlier this year, but their very expensive, so can't afford it unless theirs a payment option. For now, I can tolerate the stomach cramps and bit of dizziness until I get seen by my dentist, I'll just eat before taking it, that seems to help a little.

I just got a little panicky because I read up on it, and it saying about the infection spreading to the rest of your body, and that panicked me a bit.

Thanks for replying!

[mischamoonlight]

Anyone get diarrhea with Erythrocin? I got it this morning, or at least very soft. It is also yellow. Not very nice.

[NancyW]

Anyone get diarrhea with Erythrocin? I got it this morning, or at least very soft. It is also yellow. Not very nice.

Antibiotics make a total mess out of my digestive system. I had something similar with a molar and had to have a second root canal done, same happened to my son. I thought we were done with that tooth ..