Help! I've run into a problem

I’ve got a problem..

My tooth was killing me—pretty sure it's a molar. It looks black, and whenever I clenched my upper teeth against it, the pain just spiked. Now the actual ache is gone, but the gum underneath is swollen. If I press it with my tongue, it hurts, and my cheek is starting to puff up too.

It's getting in the way of my tongue, but I'm hoping it just goes away on its own. I've dealt with this before, where my cheek swells up and the area under my jaw near the molar gets sore.

I've been terrified of the dentist since I was a kid, and honestly, I don't have the cash or anyone to talk me into actually going. P.S. I'm 19.

Anyone know what to do? It's been three days since the pain started, and this thing hitting my tongue is starting to get on my nerves.

Honestly, if it doesn't hurt yet, the anxiety about going to the dentist stays just as intense. You might as well just sit there and wait until the pain becomes unbearable and your head starts throbbing from the stress. 🤦

I mean, being terrified of the dentist these days is honestly kind of ridiculous—it’s not like they’re actually hurting you while they work, and most of them don't even have that crazy, intimidating look in their eyes anymore.🤣

🤷

Look, Ronald Vaughn5, quit talking nonsense... if you don't have any actual, intelligent advice to offer, then just stay out of this...

And as for you, young man, George Scott3, there's nothing left for you to wait for... just get yourself to a dentist and get that tooth fixed already...
It’s clearly getting under your skin...
The issue isn't about how much you're pushing your tongue against it; the problem is that the tooth itself is infected.

Look, Dr. Miller, if you’d just take a second to actually read my previous post properly, you’d see that both of us gave him the exact same advice—I just happened to use a much more aggressive tone because, as he put it, I’m quoting him here:

no amount of money or anything else is going to talk me into going to see him (the dentist)

And honestly, you shouldn't be waiting around either... just get over to the dentist and deal with that tooth once and for all.
I highly doubt that little comment is going to give him any extra courage.🤣

I think he finally gets it. 🙂 Closing this thread...