Hi,

About 8 months ago my left side of my face started to swell up and give me a lot of pain. I did go to see the doctor who said it was not a tooth problem which I think he is right as the pain was up in my top gum not on any tooth.

Anyway he gave me some very strong antibiotics and so I took them and the swelling went down around 3 days later. About three weeks to a month later I started to notice a small lump or something at the to of my gum left side near the back.

It's just got worse and worse in that I mean it was small and I would say although not very big it has been growing bigger but I have had no pain with it so I did not bother going to the doctors although it concerned me with it being there.

I decided to go to the Doctors today because for the last two weeks it has now started to give me some pain and swell slightly at times my cheek. The doctor checked my mouth said it was a growth and hopefully nothing sinister, but said it was not his field and I will need to see a dentist, he talked about mouth or face surgery which worried me as I never followed up what he was meaning and as he said was not his field.

The growth is not round it's got edges so not a round shape. I can feel it more and feels bigger under the gum as well and hurts a lot when touched.

He gave me a spray mouthwash to use in the meantime said it will help a bit with pain.

I will be phoning to see a dentist if I can soon to just see what it is and thought I would ask here any ideas. I hope it is nothing sinister like he mentioned.

Thanks

Rob

Hello Rob

You need to see your dentist as soon as you can, tell them that you have a swelling in the mouth to stress the urgency (don't wait another two weeks or more for this) and get a proper diagnosis. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Vinod

Hello Dr Vinod, Update for you.

I went to the dentist two weeks ago and was told it was an abscess and to go back to him in 8 weeks due to me having some heart tests done at the hospital, he said it would drain on it's own.

A few days ago brushing my teeth I must of brushed the actual thing as it came off with quite a bit of blood. It was a white colour roundish like thing.

So I thought that feels better and just a rough sand paper feeling on my upper gum where the thing was. I now have another one starting to grow as i can feel a round nodule coming from my gum which pains to touch it.

Thanks

Rob

Hello Rob

The abscess appears to have discharged but it can build up again. Warm (slightlty) salted mouth rinses over the area done several times (several glasses) daily will help keep the abscess the draining. Your dentist or doctor could prescribe an antibiotic to keep it in check until the cause usually a dead tooth) is removed or treated.

Why the heart tests? Did you tell your dentist that you had a heart murmur?

Best wishes
Vinod

Thanks for that information Dr Vinod

I was told I needed an emergency appointment at the rapid chest pain assessment unit when I went to the Dr about the problem with my Gum the day before Christmas eve. I mentioned to him while at the doctors that since being put on 10mg amlodipine per day which I started to take in May 2009 that the daily headaches I used to get just vanished it was and still is a huge relief to be without them. So something in the tablet must also of helped with that for me.

The only problem I continue to have I told him was the almost daily pains that go up in my neck sometimes right in my head too, they last a few minutes or little longer then go. So he decided to check my blood pressure and did it about 3 to 4 times and on each arm. Listened to my chest and then made that appointment for me which came the same week just after Christmas, but due to snow there was no way to get there as it fell on the same day we had one of the worst days for snow and so traveling in the car was not a good idea so I canceled and the person on the phone said they would remake the appointment.

I am now still in the process of getting the appointment redone as every time I call I just get the answer machine and leave a message to rearrange the appointment.

I am going to give it no more than next week and will contact my GP again to sort it out if nothing comes.

He gave me a spray to use under the tongue when I get the pains. I don't like taking many medicines and that one although it does take the pain away it leaves me with a headache.

Best Wishes

Rob