Can getting your teeth cleaned lead to an infection?

Question

I had my teeth cleaned on thursday for my 6 mo. visit and everything turned out to be fine. When I woke up the next morning my gums were swollen in my mout, particuraly in the back of my mout (I do not have any wisdom teeth they never formed). During the day the swelling in the front of my mouth went down but the back of my mout got worse, and I noticed that there appeared to be a flab of skin hanging over my tooth, and it was very red and inflamed. Eventually I could barley eat anything and my jaw and ear started to hurt, and I felt a great pressure right below my jaw. My mom got me this syringe that helps clean out debris in your gums and I used it and felt a BIT of relief in my mouth, however my ear still hurts, and I still have pressure under my jaw. Could the dental hygenist tore my gum and I got food stuck in there and it led to an infection? If that is possible can an infection in my mouth lead to an infection in my ear, and if so should I go to my dentist or my family doctor to fix this problem, or will it clear up on its own (BTW I AM STILL IN LOTS OF PAIN)? Will they have to stich the flab of skin down or cut it of, or will it go away on its own?

Answer 1

Definitely My husband always has to take antibiotics before a dentist touches his mouth. Learned through experience.

You should get some antibiotics now, and next time, get a 'script before you go since you are likely prone to these.

Oh, and can't say about the torn skin - depends on the extent.

Answer 2

You may have a separate condition not realted to the teeth.Or your wisdom teeth may be breaking through now.Use listerine, and brush gently.The flap will heal itself, But I would see a doctor, just to be sure.

Answer 3

Obviously something else is going on here....you probably have some underlying infection due to poor oral health, hence the gum flap....my experience is that poor tissue health is an indicator, and those flappy gums are a result of all the stuff that was there and now cleaned out, and now has to heal.  

Use some warm salt water rinses, or a diluted hydrogen peroxide and water (50/50) and see how it does after a 48 hours.

Answer 4

There are always opportunistic bacterias present in your mouth 24/7.  The body does a pretty good job of fighting off these bacteria but when your immune system becomes compromised these bacteria can cause an infection.  I doubt this is the problem however.  If i remember correctly the mouth is filled with s. mutans and candida albicans bacteria if the hygienist tore the gums then these could have started a local infection in that area and your immune system might be having a hard time fighting if off.  The pain you feel in your ear could be referred pain stemming from the facial nerve.   The nerve leaves the cranium through the internal acoustic meatus before it enters the the different branches of the face.  this pain could be the result of an infection causing stimulation of the proprioceptors in one of the branches.  I would say that if it does not subside in another 24 hours then you would want to go back to the dentist.  They should be able to give you some antibiotics.  If it gets any bigger and starts to cause trouble with your breathing you need to get to the emergency room right away.  As for suturing the flap don't worry about it.  If its been longer than 24 hours the skin is pretty much dead and suturing it wont help at all.  For right now I would take some OTC Acetaminophene or NSAIDS

Answer 5

THE MOUTH HAS ACTUALLY MORE DIFFERENT GERMS THAN YOUR a**s. IF A CUT BY A DENTAL INSTRUMENT DURING A CLEANING CAUSED AN OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION THEN ANTIBIOTICS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR DENTIST.

THE LOOSE FLAP OF SKIN MAY NOT NEED A STITCH, BUT HEAL ON ITS OWN AF YER YOU START ANTIBIOTICS.