My gum hurts in one spot in the back of my mouth?

last friday i went to the movies and i felt a popcorn kernel shaving lodged in between my teeth in the back of my mouth. i tried to pick it out and thought i was successful, but later that night i still felt some tension back there. i tried flossing but nothing came out and i hoped it would just come out by itself. its been 4 days now and my gum still hurts, but it doesn't seem that the popcorn kernel shaving is even there. its tender to touch and when I chew food it hurts to have the food even slightly bump that area. I don't know what to do! should i wait it out? should i see a dentist? could it be something else thats causing the pain??