Help! I've got a gum boil!

[Ange1979]

Hi Everybody,

I'm almost 31 weeks pregnant and discovered I have a gum boil on my gum.

Just got off the phone to my Obstetrician's office. Receptionist told me the best thing to do is see my GP and get a prescription for a safe antibiotic.

Has anybody experienced this before??

I have had a gum boil in the past before, but can't remember if I went onto antibiotics or not.

I was on antibiotics for an acute case of tonsilitis soon after doctor found that I was pregnant, so I have been on safe antiobiotics during pregnancy before.

I'm a bit scared though! Anybody been here before?

Cheers!

[Olive]

do you mean an abscess from a tooth???? id recommend a trip to the dentist, but get AB's from however can see you first

[Ange1979]

do you mean an abscess from a tooth???? id recommend a trip to the dentist, but get AB's from however can see you first

Hi AJP!

Thanks so much! Well they say gum boils could be indicative of an abscess, however I'm not having pain at all. So it's a bit weird!!

Off to the GP today anyway.

Cheers,
Ange

[Janie]

What do you mean by gum boil?

I'd give the GP a miss, they know very little about dental matters, and don't always know how to adequately treat dental problems. Make an appointment with your dentist. If ABs are all that's required, then your dentist can prescribe them for you

[*Efjay*]

I have never heard of a gum boil... off to google LOL

[Janie]

Um, me either FJ and I've been a dental assistant for 11 years!

[*Efjay*]

looks painful!

[Janie]

Okay, I know what you're talking about now, we don't call them gum boils in the dental world, but that's okay

You definitely need to see your dentist. Yep, your GP might give your ABs, but this will likely pop up again, and you don't want it to be at an inconvenient time (like when days off having a baby, or with a newborn!), and it might well be very painful next time. GPs have NO idea about the follow up treatment that's required for dental abcesses/draining sinuses, so you will need to see your dentist for sure.

By all means get the script off your doctor, but don't put off going to the dentist. Try to do it before Christmas!

[Ange1979]

Hi There!

I'm off to the dentist this afternoon - thanks so much everybody!

Can dentists prescribe antibiotics? I just need antibiotics that are SAFE for me whilst I'm pregnant.

Is it safe to go to the dentist while you're pregnant? I sound so paranoid I know...but they have x-ray machines and stuff and I am so freaked out about the baby being hurt by it all!

[Olive]

hahaha sez!!! ange your not having pain because the infection is draining out of the gum, you get pain when the infection builds up and cant/doesnt drain.

we called kids abscesses gum boils

ange im on ab's at the moment whilst pregnant

[Janie]

Ange, your dentist can prescribe ABs for you, no drama. Make sure they know you're preg, and they won't do anything bad to you! No xrays etc. The dentist is perfectly safe during pg, as long as they know your pg. There are even local anaesthetics you can have etc while pg.

Good luck, let us know how it goes for you

[Ange1979]

Hi Girls!

Thank you so much for your insight and reassurance.

First pregnancy and all...plus the fact my fiance is in the UK finalising his divorce (I'm going through my own divorce too!) is all kinda happening at once! So kinda heightens any anxiety I guess.

But it's ALL GOOD!

Thanks so much once again and I'll keep you all posted! Will let you know how I go.

Cheers!

[Ange1979]

Hi Guys!

Just letting you know I got back from the dentist and it's an abscess.

You were right about why I'm not in any pain.

So I'm off to the dentist tomorrow and they'll put a hole in and insert antibiotic. Is that a root canal? They said it's root canal work. I've heard of them, but what are they??

Talk soon!
Ange