Could one leave a tooth abcess and live to tell the tale?!

[dontmeanto]

I have a massive pus-filled (sorry!) abcess which has formed above a broken tooth on my gum. I'm able to control the pain with ibuprofen. I'm doing regular mouth swishes with warm salt water and Corsodyl.

It needs draining but I'm not brave enough. I'm breastfeeding my 3 month old and just moved to a new area, so registering with and then visiting a dentist is just not gonna happen til sometime next week at the earliest.

I googled for advice and have now freaked myself out with tales of abcess infections spreading to the brain and stuff! So, MN, am I ok to leave it for a few days or should I be taking it more seriously? Any advice on how to get rid on my own?

I've got one, I've had it for 2 years. It's more of a gum boil than a horrendous abscess so depends. It's rank but I've had root canals and nothing has helped so the tooth's coming out and then that will be that :-( Depends on the pain. I think realistically you can wait a couple of days

If you're not registered you can get emergency dental treatment

Please call the dentist,
nhsdentistlocator.co.uk/ I am not an expert but you may need antibiotics, you will feel so much better if you get it sorted. Some dentists open on Saturday mornings.

I had one, while away from home - thought it was 'just' toothache, but I was in so much pain I was eventually persuaded to phone NHS direct. Which led to an emergancy dentist appointment, and all got sorted.

Get an appointment, take baby with you if you don't have a babysitter.

AuntFini mine sounds like yours because unlike with a regular abcess, I'm not in horrendous pain (yet).

These things always happen on a Friday. Plus I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to get treated with a baby...I have no one to babysit and my partner works away during the week. Bleurgh!

Antibs and draining, sorry.

I threw up mine tasted so rank when they drained it (not helpful)

You need to get an emergency dentist appointment now.

Infection can spread and make you very very miserable. I was on k-pake for pain at one point. You can't take that kinda stuff and breast feed.

The faster you get it sorted, the better.

Ha, thanks Pantone!

Wondering if I could get emergency appt for tomorrow, so DP can come with for baby. Will ring NHS Direct now. Thanks, everyone.