Gum infection?

Question:

Ok the other day I had to have my tooth pulled because I was told by my dentist that the tooth could not be saved. The doc stitched my gums and sent me on my way with pain killers. I noticed a day and half later that the socket where my tooth was extracted was turning a pusy, moldy color (greyish, black, greenish-yellow), it had a bad odor, and a horrible taste coming from it. I know this sounds gross, but I really need to get answers. I called my dentist, and he perscribed me over the phone, penicillin 250mg taking 2 the first dose, and 4 times a day. My first day starting it was today. Do you think that the penicillin will help the pain, and cure the obvious infection? What should I do?! There is a hole there in the gum socket, and it doesn't look like it will close over...please help me!

Answers:
Like I said before in your previous question, sounds like you have a dry socket! They can happen after even the simplest of extractions. It's very common. Left alone, dry sockets will always heal. It takes a month or two, and the pain is persistent for the entire period of healing. It is better to go back to the dentist NOW who extracted the tooth and let him or her "pack" the socket. If it's a dry socket, a dry socket paste should be used and the pain should be relief an hour or so after the socket is packed. Within a week the socket should begin to heal from the bottom up and can be left empty without pain.

I would also ask him to take a X-ray to determine if there is a leftover root tip.

Let me know if you have any addtional questions.

Well you are right that you have an infection and the penicillin will take care of that. Make sure that you take the pills just as the doctor says. Once the infection is gone your pain should ease up as well. Stick to eating softer foods while the gum is trying to heal. Good luck! I hope that you start to feel better soon.

I had the same problem when I had my wizdom teeth pulled. It will clear up. It does take quite a bit of time for the hole to close in and you may still have an indentation where the tooth was. peroxide is a good thing to swish with. mix 50/50 with water and it should make it feel a little better as well. Good luck

The penicillin will begin to kill the infection and within a day or two you will get relief from the pain. The infection is causing some of the pain (besides the fact that you had a tooth pulled out!) because the swelling around the site of the pulled tooth is causing pressure in your mouth and jaw, and can sometimes even be felt in the neck. The pus and bad taste are results of the infection and will go away as the penicillin does its job.

Take the medicine as your doctor instructed and also pay attention to your progress and make sure to inform your doctor if you are having any bleeding or not getting any relief after a few days.

Also, ask your doctor if you are allowed to rinse with warm salt water. I don't remember if patients who've had teeth pulled are supposed to avoid rinsing/swishing or not so please check first. I do believe tooth pull patients are not supposed to suck through a straw or swish with mouthwash due to risk of irritating the socket. But warm salt water is also very good for reducing swelling and infection and can soothe the pain, and this can be done by stirring a nice spoonful of salt into a glass of lukewarm water and GENTLY letting it rinse your mouth.

Gum infection?

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