Hi, sorry to jump in like this being new and all, but I am waiting for my dentist to call me back (he's gone fishing) that's what I get for moving to a small town.

Ok, this is wierd, but here goes. I woke up yesterday morning and my left-side of my jaw felt like my horse kicked me. It was swollen and tight, I had limited jaw opening. I felt like I did right after TMJ surgery years ago.

I went in to look and forgive me for not being able to explain this right- but you know those thick stretchy pieces of tendon/tissue that help keep your mouth attached to your cheeks? Probably never noticed them before have you? Well, somehow, I had torn my left one off? I have no idea how, but now I have a very sore and swollen mouth and it looks like pockets of bacteria (white streaks all mucousy) are moving across the bottom of my mouth in front of my bottom teeth. I can barely talk, I am swollen on one side, and of course since it was Friday, the dental office was closed. I called, but it all a recording, so I just started taking some antibiotics and suffered silently. This morning about 3:00 a.m. I woke up in agony.

The discoloration of my gums and inside of my lips have advanced- I feel like I have a ping pong ball tucked in my cheek and the only decent dentist here is FISHING! I have a major infection raging right now and I am at a loss as to how it happened. It is not a toothache- I can deal with those, does anyone have a clue what the devil is going on?

I have no idea what is going on from your description, but my recommendation would be to get your butt to the hospital and see a dentist there! They do have them there! Or go to another dentist office that is open.....they will not refuse you!

I would go to the ER and see a doctor. This may be something that needs a doctor anyway. The ER will also know what dentist is on call, and they will see you if needed. I would not self-medicate with antibiotics either.

I've lived in small towns where dentists are at a minimum, so here's my advice... I would NOT wait for the dentist who is fishing. There has to be another dentist somewhere within a 100-mile radius of you. Believe me, better to make a long drive than to suffer needlessly until Monday, possibly making yourself sicker.