I bit my cheek the other day, could it be infected?
Question:
A few days ago I bit one of those scars pretty hard. And the bitten part rests right against the point of my "I" tooth (is it "I" or "eye"??)... anyway... it really hurts.
This morning I looked at it in the mirror, and it was really red with white in the middle. I THINK it's just red because it's resting against the point of that tooth and getting irritated, and the white is just because the skin is dead around the puncture.
Nothing came out when I applied pressure around it (Thank God cuz if it did I would be FREAKING out about how nasty that would be). Then again I have never heard of any puss coming out of mouth wounds/sores.
Anyway... if it is infected, do I see my doctor or my dentist??
Answers:
Ouch!
First of all, no need to panic. Take if from me I'm an expert at mouth sores. (I have a rare disorder that causes mouth ulcers when it flares up.) The reason your scars are raised or puffed up slightly is because sometimes when wounds heal, the scars will "keloid". (kee-loyd). That's normal, but sure get in the way when you're chewing sometimes. (I can't even chew gum for biting my cheeks.)
Your sore (also called an ulcer) is red with a white center. No, it will NOT leak pus or pop like a pimple. There is some infection, becuase our mouths are FULL of bacteria. The worst thing you can do is keep messing with it, and try not to keep "tounging" it. (natural habit). The white center shows that it is trying to heal. It's more of a protective covering over the puncture. Here's how to heal it up.
1) Swish with peroxide for about 30 sec, spit but don't rinse. You'll see a little "foaming" on the sore, that's helping to kill the infection.
2) Go to the store to the area where the Orajel and Ambesol is - usually by the toothpaste. There are several things you can get, some numb the sore, others have medication in them. Try to find one that you apply (I think Colgate or Crest makes it) with a q-tip type applicator. It's kind of like "superglue" for your mouth. It will seal over your sore and help heal faster since it rubs on your tooth. In a few days it will be gone.
If you're prone to biting your cheeks or lips on accident (like me), keep some of this on hand all the time.
Best of luck, and heal up!
Probably not infected. If you are really worried about it, get some antiseptic mouthwash and use a little of it on the wound. It will hurt when you apply it, burns pretty bad, but it will disinfect the wound fairly completely. If the problem persists, I would probably go see your doctor and ask for advice from there.
hey, don't think it would be infected, your mouth is the quickest healing part of your body, try salty water swished around in your mouth and if you are worried about it perhaps see the doctor i reckon!
no, only if you keep messing with it then yes
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