I’ve had a toothache for 2 weeks. Now my mouth is swollen, and I feel weak. I felt the toothache bothering me in my sleep last night, and my mouth was very dry. After I woke up this morning, I went to the bathroom and saw that the the whole left side of my face is swollen. Also, my eye is almost swollen shut.
It hurts so bad to open my mouth to brush my teeth, and I have to sip water from a straw because I can’t open it wide enough for a cup. I am starting to feel weak, too. I am terrified of the dentist which is why I am in this mess. Is there anything at all I can do to make the swelling go away without going to a dentist? I have an antibiotic that a doctor gave me for an infection in my hand that would not go away. Can I get a refill of this and help the tooth infection? – Alyson
Alyson,
This is not something that you can treat yourself. You have a serious tooth infection that can spread to other teeth, your jawbone, and beyond. If you feel weak, the infection may already be in your bloodstream. Find a dentist who accepts emergency visits and likes seeing anxious patients. They will offer will understand your fear but also get you the help you need right away.
You can receive sedation to calm you for your dental procedure. The dentist will also give you an antibiotic to take after removing the infection. But you cannot get rid of the infection with an antibiotic alone.
If you need assistance, ask someone for help finding a dentist who will see you right away and offer sedation. You didn’t mention your location, but if you are nearby our office, give us a call.
Burba Dental Partners of Salem, Massachusetts sponsors this post.