swollen cheeks from a tooth infection

[bmoms]

My 9 year old just recently told me his filling feel out.  He was having pain over the weekend so Monday morning I schedule him a dental appointment.  come to find out the tooth was infected and they sent me to an oral surgeon to get it removed.  The night before that appointment his check had swelled and was turning red. So I called the emergency number and they called in a 3 day prescription for Azithromycin.  Saying that will bring down the swelling.  So I gave it to him that night and the morning before his appointment.  Coming home from the dentist he was screaming in pain so I called the dentist and they said that was normal because of the pressure from the infection and the novicane.  He has one more days worth of prescription-

My question is when will the swelling in his check go down?  It's still hard to the touch and feels warm.  He isn't running a fever or complaining of pain anymore.  But I noticed that the hole from where the infected tooth came out of has this white discharge.  Should I be concerned?  Is this normal?  Should I have the doctor call in some more antibiotics?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

The white discharge may be food.  If there's a yellow/white material inside the socket, its probably just part of the natural healing process.  It sounds like he's doing better.  I would keep an eye on  the situation but I don't think any more antibiotics will be necessary.  The swelling in his cheek may be a cellulitis so it will take some time for it to clear out.  Since the offending tooth is gone, the source of infection is gone and the body should be able to clear it out.  

[Jaquta]

Could the discharge be food debris or pus?

I would probably get it checked out.  The expert will be better able to advise.