Hi doctor, I have a tooth at the very back bottom left side of my mouth that looks like it has grown into my cheek. When I move my cheek out the way it looks like there is an ulcer. It aches and I am struggling to brush my teeth properly. I also have come down with flu symptoms. I do not know if that is related to the tooth or separate.
Hi. How are you doing? I have seen your image (attachment removed to protect patient identity). This is pericoronitis (inflammation of gums surrounding the wisdom tooth). Your wisdom tooth does not have enough space to come out completely into the mouth and hence a part of it is embedded in bone and covered by gums that have got inflamed. Right now, since you have pain, do lukewarm salt water gargling to help with the gum inflammation healing. For severe pain you can take Ibuprufen 400 mg thrice daily after food for three days. If you have acidity, take Pantoprazole 40 mg half an hour before food once daily (preferably night). Do you have any lymphadenopathy (painful swelling) below the angle of lower jaw? Do you have difficulty in mouth opening? Kindly answer these and send me your X-ray (OPG or IOPA) of that tooth to guide you precisely. Since you have flu-like symptoms, you should also have antibiotics (Amoxicillin 500 mg thrice daily for five days). Take that painkiller only when you have pain, otherwise not required, but finish the antibiotic course completely. You can also apply Dentogel topically over the ulcer half an hour before food so that it does not hurt while eating. Kindly tell me if you have any medical condition or drug allergy to guide you with proper medicines according to your condition. If you have no medical condition or any drug allergy, then you can go ahead with these medicines. Coming to the treatment, it is advisable to get it removed as this tooth is not much useful in chewing. Instead, it will cause problems only and as you said brushing is also difficult there. Take care. For more information consult a dentist online -->