Question:
I've decided to post this because it is a big concern of mine. A
few days ago I started getting a toothache. It is pretty bad, finally
saw a dentist yesterday, he gave me Hydrocodeine for the pain and
Amoxicillin for the infection (if it is one). But I remember that I
had had the pain before in the same area, and had noticed (when passing
my tongue in the area) that the gum was sore and always in the same
place. This has happened various times, but the pain eventually
subsided. On previous occasions I would take my Zovirax pills and that
helped it go away. This time I did not think of it, and just went to
the dentist. Now I'm wondering if this is an outbreak of oral Herpes.
I have been found to have both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Has anyone had
similar circumstances?
Answer:
It could just be gingivitis if it is just along the gum line. Plaque is
the most common cause. Your dentist should be able to tell you.
Well, you know, it *could* be...especially if Zovirax seemed to help it. I
haven't had those symptoms myself, but I have heard of it. Next time you have
that kind of pain, take Zovies and see what happens. If it helps, that would be
a clear indication.
Besides, your answer mirrored mine as that was the cause of my
blisters on the gum. I also had blisters higher on the gum line from
an infection in an area where I had surgery previously.
It's a good thing Tom and Pauly brought up the subject of gingivitis.
I really didn't know what the hell it was. I did a search in
Dogpile.com on it and came up with some really good info.
The best site was Healthyanswers.com
that info can be viewed at:
www.healthyanswers.com/adam/top/view.asp?filename=001056.htm&rdir
I also found another site that said gingivitis occured in children with
herpes. Found that interesting.
I'm going to make an appt. with a dentist now to have my teeth cleaned
and my "pockets" checked!!
If the dentist didn't say "eewwww, hepres" it probably isn't. My dentist says
he can spot a herpes outbreak a mile away. He sees A LOT of them. And I don't
think it's specific to my dentist--I mean, they all spend ALL DAY with their
hands in peoples oral areas, right? So, if the doc didn't mention it, my bet
would be that it's not herpes.
Also, just cause zovies helps doesn't necessarily mean much. Remember, most
herpes outbreaks will go away without drugs. And the placebo effect is a
powerful thing--taking sugar pills that the patient thinks is a med causes up
to 30% of the people to claim their symptoms decreased in intensity. I'm sure
the same would apply to having it help with a herpes outbreak that's not a
herpes outbreak, doncha think?
Course, then, it could also just be oral herpes. lol... only a positive
culture could be used to totally put the matter to rest.
