Q:

Over the last few days I noticed an irritation on the right outside of my upper gum towards the very back of my mouth. It's very sensitive to pressure and there is a dull pain that seems to linger all day. I cannot tell if it is some type of external pain (on the skin of my mouth), or whether it is pain caused by a tooth(I have not had my wisdom teeth pulled), or something else(jaw muscles??). I was wondering if you had any idea what it could be, and if the SHC would be the place to go first if it keeps hurting.

 

A:

Yes, we can take a look at the Student Health Center, though if the problem is a dental problem, we would need to refer you on to an appropriate dentist. It is possibly an aphthous ulcer (canker sore) but some other type of gum infection or inflammation is possible around the wisdom tooth.

~The Doc