I have what seems to be a canker sore way in the back of all my teeth, on my left side, I cant open my mouth to at or drink because of the pain, my cheek is also swollen. My husband says its a canker sore but I cant really tell because I cant look by myself. So I dont know what to do, my insurance will stop in two weeks so want to get this over with.
Hello, if you have an ulcerated area from trauma or a virus, you only need to treat the symptoms. It will take time to heal and may last 1-2 weeks. Avoid irritants such as acidic and spic foods. Plan to keep on a soft diet, keep the area clean and rinse with warm salt water. Anti-inflammatory medication such as Tylenol or Advil may offer some additional relief. Try to avoid chewing on that side. Endocrine gels can be used to coat the area for temporary relief. Repeat episodes in the same location are possible. Infections can result in an irritation to the tissue. Abscesses can Chat Doctor.  Swelling indicates the spread of infection. Antibiotic can be prescribed to control the spread of infection and a diagnosis will determine possible treatment such as a root canal or extraction. Wisdom teeth can become infected and are located in the back of your mouth. Infections require a thorough evaluation with X-rays. You should visit your dentist to determine treatment necessary. Your described symptoms and having active insurance indicates that you should be seen by a dentist now.  Infections will get worse and be more complicated to treat. The best diagnosis involves a clinical exam. Thank you for your inquiry.