Infected wisdom tooth...what can I do to kill the infection?

Question

I got 3 wisdom teeth taken out Thursday and it has been very painfull but not infected untill today. I can only see the bottom one, and there is little yellowish-whitish things in the hole, I'm guessing that means its infected. I am taking amoxicillian to kill infection, yet it is still there. What can I do? I am going to call the dentist Monday. I have been using mouthwash to help keep them clean. Please Help!

Answer 1

goto the dentist fast, if you think its infected he must look for 2 seconds, then he wilkl give you a piece of paper to go get antibiotics...........forgot to tell you it happened to me, iceblocks sweetie - will sooth also, make your own in the freezer..........


amoxicillon i dont know about, if the quack (not Dr Sam) didnt give them to you they might not bethe right ones, ring first is a good idea, i expect they will want you to go see them

i will ask zeus for for for pain relieve,


EDIT: the dr is about, ignore me please, does it smell, get M to smell it, i think thats a good test? eh Dr Sam??


a

Answer 2

It might not be infection, but new tissue that you're seeing. What can make things very painful is a "dry socket" which has lost the blood clot. It's best not to mess with the places where the teeth were pulled. :-( The best thing to rinse it with is warm salt water. Put about a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gently rinse. That will soothe the sore area and won't do any harm. Stronger mouth washes might cause some harm.

Answer 3

I'm not saying it's not infected, but the little yellowish-whitish thing in the hole is a sign that it's healing. When our bodies suffer damage in any way, it begins healing from the inside and then out towards the surface. I personally wouldn't be using mouthwash during this time. Instead, eat foods like jello and applesauce, food that will go down without chewing, and then rinse with warm water. If you smoke, stop. It's never a pleasant situation to be in if you get a dry socket from inhaling off the cigarette. Also, don't drink from a straw.

Good luck, I know that's got to be painful!

Answer 4

Most dentist would prefer to not to extract a tooth while it's infected. We usally prescbibe an antibiotic to make the infection go away & then take out the tooth. Teeth that are infected are VERY tough to get numb.

Answer 5

I ENTIRELY AGREE WITH sweet_sensation ABOVE. Thank God someone has common sense.
You are seeing nothing more than normal tissue sloughing. If this was a wound on your outer skin you'd have a dry scab, but in the mouth you only get soft tissue that turns whitish.
There is no infection present, and please stop using Listerine-type mouthwashes. They are next to useless for wounds.
When you see the dentist on Monday you might ask him/her for a plastic irrigating syringe to wash out any food that will get stuck in there until fully healed. The food particles won't cause infection, they'll just be annoying.

Answer 6

It sounds like what you're seeing isn't infection, but actually a scab of sorts. It looks different than scabs on the skin on outer parts of your body, because it's in your mouth.

Did your oral surgeon or dentist give you a needle-less plastic syringe to rinse the sockets out with? If not, go to your local pharmacy and ask for one. Usually they carry all shapes and sizes. You'll want one with a long tube (to reach all the way to the back of your mouth), and a fairly small opening.

Vigorously (but don't use too much pressure) wash out the sockets where your wisdom teeth were. Do this several times a day, especially after eating.

The best thing to use as a rinse is a solution of salt and warm (not hot) water. Mix 1 teaspoon of water into one cup (8 ounces) warm water. Fill syringe with solution, and use to rinse sockets. Repeat until solution is gone, being careful not to touch the extraction site with the syringe. Do this several times daily.

If you're still concerned about infection, or have any other questions, be sure to call your dentist or oral surgeon. Good luck!

Here are some other great tips from http://www.advanceddentaltechniques.com/

Care of Mouth After Oral Surgery

1. Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours after surgery.
2. Keep fingers and tongue away from socket or surgical area.
3. Use ice packs on surgical area (side of face) for first 48 hours, apply ice 20 minutes on — 10 minutes off. Bags of frozen peas work well.
4. For mild discomfort take Tylenol or Ibuprofen every three to four hours.
5. For severe pain use the medication prescribed to you.
6. Drink plenty of fluids. (Do not use a straw)
7. If the muscles of the jaw become stiff, chewing gum at intervals will help relax the muscles, as well as the use of warm, moist heat to the outside of your face over these muscles.
8. After the first post-operative day, use a warm salt-water rinse following meals for the first week to flush out particles of food and debris which may lodge in the surgical area. (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Mouthwash can be added for better taste.)
9. Diet may consist of soft foods which can be easily chewed and swallowed. No seeds, nuts, rice, popcorn, etc.
10. A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Bleeding is controlled by applying pressure to the surgical area using small rolled gauze for 90 minutes. After that time remove the gauze and then you may eat or drink. If bleeding persists, a moist teabag should be placed in the area of bleeding and bite firmly for one hour straight. This will aid in clotting blood. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding still persists call our office.
11. We suggest that you do not smoke for at least 5 days after surgery. Nicotine may break down the blood clot and cause a "dry-socket".

Answer 7

Continue to take the antibiotics, it should clear up an infection. What you are seeing may just be from healing. You can get a lot of pain, swelling, and some drainage after having wisdom teeth pulled.

Answer 8

Agreed that go for hot salty water mouth rinse, because it always help to reduce inflamation and thus pain too. I dont believe its infected yet visit a doctor to show your concerns. Well the most important thing i wanna mention here that hopefully you had taken a full jaw X-Ray if not then you must take one and discuss with the doctor if there is any other infected teeth you have......normally such teeths have a black shade in X-Ray...in case if there is any single must go for root canal to finish it there otherwise people who keep on removing teets one by one have to loose all their teeths one by one.

Answer 9

Its not infected. The color thing you are seeing is because the "sore" is in a constantly wet environment. Don't mess with it. DO NOT use mouthwash. Brush regularly and rinse with warm water. Your dentist gave you antibiotics as long as you take them as directed and take them all you shouldn't be worried about infection. Take the pain meds your doc gave you regularly and give him a call Monday.

Answer 10

That yellow-whitish thing in the hole is the mucus/dried blood plug. Do not bother that, it is supposed to be there.
If it comes out, you will have a dry socket and the dentist will have to pack your cavity with cotton and it will get very painfull.
When you swish mouth wash around it could loosen that plug.

Answer 11

Antibiotics take some some time to work, the alcohol in the mouth wash might be doing more harm than good, try rinsing with some salt water instead, good luck.

edit, antibiotics kill of good bacteria as well as bad,,, your just killing off more good bacteria by using the alcohol.