AIBU to pull my own teeth out?

[bbcessex]

Helpppp... I have a tooth and gum abscess.. got given Metronizadole (?) yesterday lunchtime, 5 day course. So far, no improvement. Literally feel like extracting own teeth could be a good option.

I've never had bad tooth problems before and I'm in agony. Can sleep / eat / focus... arggh. Taking paracetomol & codeine but only have one day left of them as 3 day maximum does apparently.

Anyone got experience or suggestions? I'm used to antibiotics starting to work quickly.. am I expecting too much?

[sum1killthepawpatrollers]

no solution on the abcess and pain bit but id make sure to have some thrush treatment in the house as metronidazole can be a fucker for causing thrush, especially if its a strong dose.
from experience it took me about 24 to 36 hours from starting metronidazole to start having a good effect

[shakeyospeare]

I have just got through the other side of this agony - I extend my full sympathies to you!
Ibuprofen definitely helps with inflammation.
Did the dentist clean it? Antibiotics did bugger all but once the dentist cleaned all the infection out, I started feeling better.
I had some great help from the lovely MNetters - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2841318-in-horrendous-pain-need-advice? Hopefully, some of that will help you.

[Formerpigwrestler9]

I had a 5 day course of the same antibiotic for tooth infection last week, the pain didnt really go off much until day 4 but it did go, I hope you feel better soon

[Miserylovescompany2]

Hello

Antibiotics take at least 48 hrs to start working. For the pain relief you can also add ibuprofen. Try to alternate, don't take them all at once as they will wear off together. Don't get hung up on exceeding three days...

Mouth wash is good especially corsodyl , only use this for a few days as it stains your teeth. Also clove oil is good for dental pain, it tastes horrendous, but, it's effective. Last but not least, invest in some corsodyl toothpaste as well, it's really good stuff. (I sound like corsodyl's biggest fan)

[Callaird]

Oh god, I sympathise, I was about ready to rip off my head when I had an abscess. Agree with previous poster, it can take anywhere up to 48 hours for the antibiotics to kick in, fingers crossed it happens soon.

[PullUpsAreTricky]

yes you are expecting too much! Metronidazol takes at least 24-36hrs to have an effect- sorry. Where you offered no treatment for the tooth? The A-B's won't fix your tooth, just gets rid of the acute infection for now. Also ibuprofen works better for dental pain then paracetamol and codeine ( if you can take it )

[whitesklyer]

Not much use to you but Oooh had the same thing 5 years ago, was put on an antibiotic and it took a while for it to kick in (poss 2 full days - sorry!!!) , my abscess was due to a failed root canal . Will never forget the pain and would sooner go through childbirth again. Any chance you can ring your dentist and implore him/her to treat you sooner? The pain will probably subside by tonight, if you dislike the codine but need to take a brufen based painkiller try Neuorfen extra? Im not in the UK but maybe you can get a 600mg pack of brufen there? sorry for your pain

[PullUpsAreTricky]

were not where, should preview!!

[Callaird]

Oil of cloves helped when I had mine.

[bbcessex]

Thanks all.
I will add ibuprofen to the mix.
I am swooshing with Corsodyl regularly but will also get some toothpaste.

Dentist hasn't cleaned anything yet... it's not apparent which (if any) specific tooth has the abscess.. Dentist tapped all teeth in the location but pretty much the whole of my the back jaw area on one side is agony and/or alternates but no particular tooth seems to be the cause so dentist thinks general gum abscess (based on pain when poking).

I wonder if

[sobeyondthehills]

I had the worst tooth pain a few weeks back, it happened on a Sunday so there was very little I could do, in a desperate attempt, I googled natural methods and used a salt and pepper with a bit of water and put it on the tooth.

Pain disappeared very quickly, however it was only for about four hours, but in those four hours I was pain free. The bastard thing came back and I still had to make an app to see the dentist.

Might be worth looking at that

[bbcessex]

Is there any other way of identifying if root canal is needed?
Can an Xray show that?

[bbcessex]

sobeyond.. I don't know which tooth is it.. only the general area... suppose I could try it on all in the area...

[doubleshotespresso]

Hi I am currently in the middle of all this. Dentist gave me 5 day course of antibiotics which appear to have done nothing at all, as when I returned to extract the dentist was unable to remove it. Appointment was 2pm Monday afternoon and my entire face and mouth (with the exception of offending and agonising tooth) was totally numb until Tuesday lunchtime, when I looked like I had done ten rounds in a boxing ring - and lost.

Despite giving me the maximum anaesthetic allowed and drilling through said tooth and then injecting directly into the nerve and half-butchering me, he was unable to extract it and wanted me to go back 3 days later for him to repeat the process and try again. In the absence of any further antibiotics or decent enough painkillers I declined and requested a referral for hospital.

So I have been surviving on super-strength co-codomol left over from giving birth, ibuprofen in between and regular purchases of some magic stuff called Oralgel. This contains 20% anaesthetic and helps hugely but in small bursts.

I am also saying nightly prayers for the hospital appointment to come through!Feel your pain-literally!

[SomethingBorrowed]

Maybe go see another dentist... An abscess should be treated as an emergency.

[BettyOBarley]

Paramol for the pain - it's in a black box from the chemist.

[cantthinkofabloodyname]

Oragel saved my sanity when I had a dental abscess.

[bbcessex]

doubleshotespresso You poor poor thing.
God.. I hope you get sorted very soon.

Think I'm safe to say that I'm bad but I don't think mine compares with yours... how terrible for you.

I'm going to head off to the chemist soon with a shopping list.

[sobeyondthehills]

BBC I couldn't tell either, just which side of the mouth it was. Shoved it all over.

Hope you feel better soon xxxx

[AlwaysNeedTea]

I have never really stuck to the 3 days of codeine rule...It has got me through a couple of tooth issues, including when I needed root canal. i was also on metronidazole, which did take 48 hours to take effect. I was on Naproxen and 30/500 co codamol for 7 days and I am absolutely fine now. The 30/500 is prescription only though, the stuff you get in Boots in 8/500.

[bbcessex]

Am now sitting with a salt and pepper in my mouth... fingers crossed

[bbcessex]

Thanks Alwaysneedtea.. am going to the chemist later. need some pain killers that I can drive with some may be limited.

[Okite]

doubleshotespresso, I really hope it's different for you but I've been waiting for an NHS dental hospital appt for extraction since Christmas. When I called them a few weeks back about it, they said it was around 16-18 week waiting list at the moment. I got off the phone and cried and cried! I've got a private appointment instead but even that is a 2 month wait. That's for extraction under sedation of a root canal with a persistent infection. I've had 6 re-dressings of it and 5 courses of antibiotics so far just to keep it at bay while I wait for the extraction.

bbcessex, try hot salt water mouthwashes several times a day - as hot and as salty as you can bear. That's really helped me when the pain has been agonising.

[wishparry]

I had an absess.was worst pain.couldn't chew for weeks,went right off food.in the end I went to the dentist and begged him to pull my tooth out.
after that I was fine.

[Ohyesiam]

Get to a different dentist, it's an emergency and need s treating now.

Brest of luck with it