Dental problem (with photo)

[Moomoomoomin]

I think my impacted wisdom tooth is horribly decayed and that’s why it’s turned a horrific shade of grey/ black. I am really struggling with my mental health at the moment and the worry that I can’t get this sorted during lockdown and it’s going to turn into a big abscess that will kill me is keeping me up at night.

Is there anything I can do at all to the tooth to stop an abscess forming? Or to stop the decay from getting any worse?

Also the tooth is growing ridiculously so was due to be removed in a dental hospital. Obviously don’t know what will happen with this now.

Does it hurt? Keep it clean and gargle with salt water

Mines a similar colour but impacted. Touch wood it’s fine so far

Are you in any pain? If so, call your dentist and they will assess over the phone whether you need an urgent appointment or antibiotics etc.
If you're not in pain, its more likely that excellent dental hygiene will see you through til dentistry services go back to normal. But you can still phone through for advice if its reassuring. Most dentists aren't seeing people other than for emergencies but many are still contactable by phone.
Health anxiety is really common right now though and I sympathise. When you say you're struggling with your mental health do you mean in a general low-level sense or in an ongoing engaged-with-MH-services sense? If the latter, they may be able to offer some additional support.
Hope you feel better soon.

It hurts on and off. The dentist told me to gargle with hot salt water a few times a day, which I’ve been doing. It’s just shocking to see it look so much not normal tooth coloured.

CatOnLaptop I mean I’m concerned about dying all of the time. I had sepsis a while ago and nearly died and recently lost someone to coronavirus. I’m now convinced this tooth is going to cause an abscess that will kill me.

Surely you have tooth ache if it was horribly decayed. I think it just looks discoloured.

Or you would be like me and waiting for painkillers to kick in before there’s any chance to sleep due to wisdom tooth pain

Please don’t let problems that don’t exist keep you up at night.

So sorry about your health anxiety OP. It’s horrible. I had an impacted wisdom tooth and it hurt on and off but was always fine. Just make sure to give it a good clean. If it was rotting you’d absolutely know about it. It’s right at the back and hard to clean and most likely just discoloured. Please try not to panic.

The irony is that you stressing about it may cause you to clench which will make it hurt more. It won't necessarily mean it will have an abscess or need treatment but the pressure of the clenching will cause it to be painful.

Speak to your GP about your anxiety.

Moomoo, I'm so sorry you've lost someone to coronavirus. On top of your scare with sepsis I'm not surprised you're horribly anxious. This must be a reallt difficult time for you.
If you're getting mild intermittent pain the dentist's advice is right but if it starts to hurt significantly or continually, phone back. If lockdown is extended longer, phone back also as no one should suffer long term.
In the meantime it might be worth calling your GP to discuss if it's causing you so much anxiety, or trying a few relaxation techniques. Rather than thinking about worse-case scenarios, try to focus on each day as it comes, measuring the severity of your symptoms and matching them to the options available to you (e.g gargle or call emergency dentist) and then making a decision about the most sensible action. That way you might feel more in control as you're actively monitoring and responding.

My experience with impacted and infected wisdom tooth was very very painful. I was given anti biotics and the tooth removed a week later, no fuss. If it turns into an abscess you will know about it, you can get anti biotics very easily still, and you wont be left in horrific pain or immediate danger due to coronavirus. Stop worrying, You're following advice and that's all to be done right now.

If helps I've had a small abscess since jan waiting for a tooth to be removed and I'm still alive

I have no idea how it helps but a damp tea bag and hold it against the tooth in that area, it draws out the infection from the gum and is a natural anti inflammatory

Do a few times a day, I did and mines going down and nearly gone now..

Thank you. I know there is nothing I can do other than try my best to brush well and stop worrying. The advice on this thread has been really helpful.