Anyone know about gum infection?

[Lemons1571]

About 3 weeks ago my gum started aching, one side, the tooth right next to a wisdom tooth. Anyway it has very slowly started to hurt a bit more, and now my cheek looks a tiny bit swollen. It also tastes a little odd, though there is no bleeding or discharge. Wonder if I’ve been a bit harsh with the floss! Do I need antibiotics? Bit scared of what a dentist might find!

If you have swelling you need to make an emergency appt at your dentist.

Yes you need dentist appointment.

My ExH had a stroke then heart attack because he ignored a gum infection. Please see a dentist toute suite.

Dentist appointment.
In the meantime you could make a drink with simmered lemon and cloves and rinse your mouth out a few times a day with salt water. It's not a cure but can help to manage while you wait for your appointment.

@Chicca1970 i have a dentist appointment in a couple of weeks, was hoping to hold out til then. How long did it take between start of infection and stroke?

I’m not sure - 18 months approx - he is also a smoker but when he was being treated in hospital over 4 months, the Doctor cited his gums as the main cause.

Don’t worry I’m sure you will be fine but gum infection needs to be taken seriously and monitored - good luck - I also have periodontal disease that has been really exacerbated by meno (I am 51) - I don’t smoke and have no other health issues - I have had to have extractions and I visit the hygienist every 2-3 months - I bloody hate teeth - so glad my 3 dc all have beautiful ones!

It sounds like a tooth infection rather than a gum infection. Gum infection results in overall inflamed and easily bleeding gums and a bad smell because you can't easily clean where the bacteria are.

Just go and ask the dentist, if you feel anxious about treatment they will probably not do it immediately anyway, you can always say no.

Try to get an emergency appointment.
I had similar, bleeding, swelling, pain.
I held off as I had a check up booked but got up one morning and I had a black shadow around my mouth, top lip and chin, rang the dentist and it was an infection, they sliced between the top of my gums and my top lip and sucked the infection out (great dentist horror story but I didn't feel a thing!) then put me on antibiotics, when I went to my local pharmacy to fill my prescription they rang the dentist because the antibiotics were so strong.
The shadow around my mouth was the infection seeping down into my face, the dentist said it was a good job I rang and didn't leave it.

If you contact the dentist and explain the symtoms they will give you antibiotics to get rid of it. They work very quickly . I had to get a prescription for anti biotics from the dentist in lockdown and they came to the door with it very cloak and dagger! But you must get it sorted ASAP!

Get seen asap. I had something similar, thought I could hold out until my scheduled appointment and it flared up. Horrific pain from an abscess and typically over a weekend so I couldn’t get seen.
try Orajel, rinsing with warm salty water and Cocodamol/ibuprofen combo if the pain gets bad