To want dental advice? (TW, gross but no pics)

[DentalWoes]

I know advice is best in person but I'm desperate. I had a dental extraction that was unexpectedly difficult and gruesome. I have TJMD which has now flared after prolonged tugging and pulling and popping. It ended with the gum and jaw being cut to get a molar out. It may be a dry socket, my wisdoms were and it feels similar. My jaw is partially locked but what I can see is grey with pus. My mouth tastes like the smell of roadkill and I'm emetophobic, I have a fear of dental treatment so I'm very anxious and shaken by the whole ordeal. I can't sleep as it's so vile. If you had an infected wound you would clean it, not lick it, which is what I feel like i'm doing 24/7 🤢

The dentist is working in another practice today and the receptionist said topical antibiotics don't exist. Dr. Google tells me that there is such a thing. I can't tolerate oral ones (previous reactions). I'm doing saltwater rinses. Is there a good antiseptic that I could get over the counter, or somewhere online I could get a topical antibiotic gel to put on the inflamed pus-ridden gum? Will the infection likely start to heal itself by the time I see a dentist next week?

There’s a certain Corsadyl that’s good after any dental work, it’s in a round brown bottle.

If it is dry socket you wouldn't see pus. You need to go back and see the dentist.
Topical antibiotics are ok for some skin infections but no good in dentistry .

All of this is guess work but the socket may just need cleaning and dressing but you won't know until you go back to see the dentist.

You can't take any antibiotics? That's going to be a really big problem honestly. But I've never come across anyone allergic to all of them. Have you had allergy testing?

If you’ve got a dry socket you need it dressed by the dentist. Warm saltwater rinses before and after everything you eat is what you need to do but ultimately if it’s infected you will need oral antibiotics.

You definitely need to get seen by a dentist.

I had dry socket after a tooth removal and can only take one antibiotic, which I was told was not suitable for this

So, I had to do regular salt washes and take pain killers - took about a week to settle down

You might be unable to take some antibiotics. I react badly to one kind but not to others. If you know which one(s) you react badly to, it should be on your medical records.

Get it seen to asap.
In the meantime, gargle with warmish salty water or chlorhexadyl mouthwash (e.g. Corsodyl)

Disclaimer: I'm not a dentist but worked in the dental industry for a long time and have a clinical qualification – but this is not medical advice!

Hardly anyone is allergic to ALL oral antibiotics and if there's tolerance issues, they can usually be managed in almost all cases. If there's pus, you need to get back to the dentist pronto to get antibiotics prescribed. Do you have a list of ones that have previously caused a reaction?

When DH had dry socket the dentist packed it with swans of clove oil which helped while the antibiotics kicked in.

Is there no other dentist you can see? I'd want to be seen before the weekend.

I can stand the pain but I'm worried about the pus. There was one antibiotic that didn't cause breathing difficulties, rash, and extreme vomiting, but it gave me kidney issues (prolonged pain and bleeding and a stone, a rare but apparently possible side effect). I can't remember the name or date of it to request the same one. I'm disabled, quite rural, and not currently well with low blood pressure. There are 2 chemists, a B&M and a supermarket I could get to by taxi.

When my wisdom removals had dry sockets it was just the pain and locked jaw, I spent 10 days in bed with ice packs and got through it but they didn't have the pus and vile taste on top.

I think because the extraction has caused so much anxiety, I might be overreacting that the infection will become serious? Can it heal itself? I don't have a fever and I think the nausea is from the taste. There's no other dentist available. I've been waiting over a year to see the sedation clinic. Next week is the first emergency appointment for the dental practice.

Dentist here - If it’s dry socket, it will usually heal by itself even with no treatment, it might just take a bit longer than expected and be painful. Do not use corsodyl (not indicated after an extraction), continue with warm salty mouthwash as much as possible, soft foods, chew on the other side, painkillers - paracetamol and ibuprofen as per instructions on pack as long as no other medical contraindications. Oral antibiotics are not indicated for dry socket anyway because it’s not an infection, it’s just delayed and painful healing. I know it’s horrible because dry socket can often feel worse than the tooth did before an extraction but usually heals by itself in 7-10 days

Also, was the extraction to treat an infected tooth? Because when you take out an infected tooth, the pus will drain through the socket so it’s actually a good thing that you can see/taste pus because that means it’s coming out and allow your body to heal the infection

The tooth didn't have an abscess before the extraction. They used the drill to remove gum and bone to get it out and the 'cut' is very rough and the tooth behind it is exposed below the gumline now, the pus is touching that too. I don't know if decay or the removal process is the cause of the pus now, I've never experienced this before. Will the infection be OK to heal naturally until Monday?

It's slightly better than this morning. I've had mashed potato 4 days in a row and can't think of anything else I can eat with the awful taste. What is best to eat that won't harm the hole in the socket?

I think it’ll be fine before Monday, all the things that you described sound pretty normal (big hole, sharp edges, seeing tooth behind) after a difficult extraction. It may not be pus that you’re seeing but ‘slough’ off the blood clot. Carry on with post-op instructions and give it a bit more time. If you get a high fever or signs of sepsis then call toe dentist or 111. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

@DentalWoes how did it go? I had my tooth out last Thursday ( upper wisdom) has same foul taste in mouth and pjs or drainage. Saw dentist today delayed dry socket so it’s packed now.

@User37652 i had an upper wisdom tooth that had a decay removed the smell is awful too