I’m worried about my husband. He hasn’t been eating, which is a huge sign something is wrong. I asked him about it and he said he injured his gums and right now it hurts to eat. I peeked at it. It looks like a pimple to me, not an injury. He said he’s putting an antiseptic on it. I think he should see a dentist. What do you think?
Evelyn
Dear Evelyn,
If it looks like a pimple, it is likely your husband has an abscessed tooth. If that’s the case, he has a tooth infection and this is a dental emergency. His antiseptic won’t work. This requires a root canal treatment.
Try not to let him put this off. We’ve heard of patients just getting antibiotics from their doctor, but that isn’t how a tooth infection works. All the antibiotic will do is temporarily slow down the infection. Eventually, the tooth dies, then there is no way to reach the infection with the medication because there will no longer be blood flow.
These infections will spread. Our jaws are close to both our brain and our heart. If they spread to either of those, then it can become life-threatening quickly.
I’m not trying to frighten you, but there were too many people who died from tooth infections last year because people don’t realize how serious they can be.
If He Doesn’t Have a Dentist
If he calls his dentist and lets him know what is going on, he or she will get him in quickly. I do realize not everyone has a dentist. Many Americans avoid the dentist either because of anxiety or financial reasons.
If your husband doesn’t have a dentist there are dentists who will treat people with a dental emergency even if they’re not an established patient.
If it’s anxiety which keeps your husband away, he should see an emergency dentist which offers dental sedation. This will give him an anxiety-free appointment.
Sedation dentists have changed lives of people who’d otherwise never dawn an dental office door.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.