How do I know whether I need antibiotics for this?

[Kitchendoctor]

I’m in awful pain with a wisdom tooth. I’m not sure whether it hurts because it’s on the move or if it’s a bit infected.
I’ve been swishing with warm salty water and taking paracetamol, but it doesn’t help much.
My cheek doesn’t look swollen, but the intense aching is radiating around that side of my head and towards my ear.

It’s been so many years since it caused me any trouble I can’t remember if I took antibiotics last time. How long should I wait it out? Been nearly 3 days now & not sure how much longer I can stand it.

Call your dentist they should br able to advise over the phone. If it doesnt feel hot no swelling then its unlikely solved by anti biotics. It sounds like toothache rather than infection. But seriously call your dentist.

If you press gently on the gum around it, not directly on top of it, does it hurt? Is it more of a throb or an ache? Does it intensify if you lay down? If it does and it's more of a throbbing then I'd say abscess. Is the tooth through at all? If its partially erupted then try flossing it. Go deep under the gum line on all sides. It might be infection caused by trapped food debris.

Yes it’s impacted/partially erupted and a bit sideways. The gum to the back & side is a bit inflamed & loose. I wouldn’t be able to get any floss in there but have been going over it with electric toothbrush even though it hurts like hell.

I called the dentist & they said try giving it a couple of days before they give antibiotics. But difficult for them not having seen it.

I was in the same pain last week. My cheek was swollen and hot to touch.
My dentist gave me antibiotics straight away.
The swelling has gone but the wisdom tooth is still giving me pain on and off.
I got paramol from the chemist which has helped.
Can't wait for my dentist to reopen and the the bloody tooth out.
Dental pain is the worse.

From the sound of it I think its infected but from food debris. Sounds like what happens to one of mine, its a bastard to clean because it has an extra tooth jammed up against it. I floss viciously and it usually settles. If you can't get floss in there, how about interdental brushes? They come tiny if you look at the different sizes. Might make it easier to get under the gumline a bit.

Seasalt gargle and cloves help

@ParkheadParadise
Was your cheek swollen on the outside or inside?

I poked around with a little teepee thing last night and made it bleed . I could lift the flap a bit and think it looks a bit whitish on the underside.

Also tried dabbing some TCP on but that is bloody foul. I expect every meal for the foreseeable will be tainted by the taste of that stuff.

@Kitchendoctor
At one point it was swollen outside and inside.
Antibiotics have helped with the swelling outside. It's still slightly swollen around the wisdom tooth inside.
My cheek outside is red and warm. Dentist has told me to phone back if the swelling on the outside returns until then just take painkillers.

Scrub with corsoydyl gel with a soft toothbrush