Infection not responding to second course of antibiotics

[hatenighttime]

I think this is second or third post about this but it's driving me crazy.

I've had this pain behind my ear/under my jaw/around my neck area )when it's bad) for a few weeks now and it's just not going away.

The dentist took x rays and said it's 'a little bit of infection under the wisdom tooth' (which is partially erupted) and I had a 5 day course of metrodanizole prescribed of which I took four days, made me awfully sick and it didn't help the infection . I was then switched on to a 5 day course of amoxicillin which I'm about to complete day 3 of and to be honest the pain is still the same unless I take panadol every four hours.

I'm calling back to my dentist tomorrow morning if the pain continues till the morning but I'm at my wits end and so worried about it (I also have health anxiety, see my other posts), which doesn't help. But Is this pain even tooth infection related. Every other person I've read about or spoke to is saying their wisdom tooth infection had facial swelling or swelling in the mouth. Mine is literally in them areas I described and nothing in the mouth at all.

I have three young children to look after with no help and I am beginning to struggle a lot and snap at the kids , I'm so worried it's something else as the dentist didn't sound convincing.

[hatenighttime]

I forgot to add I've been on erythromycin for years for acne previously and stopped about almost two years ago and I'm terrified that I have become immune to all antibiotics.

Should I have mentioned this to my dentist ??

[hatenighttime]

Anyone ?

[Walkingthroughawall]

Why not take something in addition to the paracetamol to help with the pain.

Erythromycin is a completely different drug group to metro/amox so even if you had erythro resistant bugs (it's not you that be comes resistant, it's the bugs) then either metro/amox should still work.

[grasspigeons]

Hi there

I had a very nasty infection last year and had those two antibiotics as well - I think I had 7 day courses of each though and I did take metriondizole but it was a really, really horrible drug so I get why you struggled with it.

My dentist did some sort of cleaning thing (possibly cordysl flush?) and shoved some clove oil pack thing in my gum. Anyway the clove thingy was like immediate pain relief and things started to get better after that.

She aslo said to do salt water rinces regularly - like every 3 hour- but my infection was a bit more generalised in the gum rather than specifically under the tooth so that might not help.

[grasspigeons]

Do you have a temperature?

[hatenighttime]

No temperature grass. Just pain.

[grasspigeons]

maybe get a second opinion
there no pain like tooth/nerve pain

[nwnlsrs]

Sending my sympathy - dental pain is awful.

It sounds like if there had been an infection in your gum all the antibiotics you've taken would have cleared it up.

It sounds a bit odd but have you tried applying heat to the outside of your face where the pain is - like one of those wheat bags you can put in the microwave or just a warm flannel. If this takes away/relieves the pain it may be a muscular strain (from clenching / grinding teeth). I get it when I'm stressed and sometimes I don't even realise I've been tensing my jaw. Might be worth a try?

Hope you feel better soon!

[lljkk]

I had painful wisdom teeth (not terribly painful, I still have 3/4). They hurt on/off for a few yrs.

Wisdom teeth tend to ache as they come in regardless of infection.
I'm not sure that infection is anything to do with your pain.
How old are you, How long ago did they start erupting?

[letsgooutandfindsometrouble]

With any tooth infection NEVER apply heat as recommended above, it will aggravate the infection and actually make it more painful when you take it off.

You need to;

Keep your head elevated including when you go to sleep,

Cold compress in area that's painful for 15 mins then off for approx half hour, repeat.

Regular warm salt water mouthwashes for a minimum of 30 seconds

If you can take them, alternate ibuprofen with either paracetamol or co-codamol every 3-4 hours.

Wisdom tooth infections are notorious for being difficult to treat

Although it feels as though you have had lots of antibiotics in terms of wisdom teeth that doesn't necessarily mean you should now be clear of infection.

Metronidazole is normally the best antibiotic for this type of infection room but sometimes it doesn't work first time and needs an alternative/additional dose.

Try not to stress about it as stress and over exertion will raise your blood pressure which will also increase the pain.

[hatenighttime]

Thanks for your messages everyone.


Ive just turned 34 and to be honest I've never even noticed my wisdom teeth coming in. I've never had toothache before and didn't know what all the fuss was about.

And boy do I know what all the fuss is about now.


Just taken some co codomol (30mg/500mg).

Was taken into hospital yday as had a massive panic attack when the pain was at its peak. Doctor has prescribed me propanol (sp?), and signposted to counselling/bereavement counselling services.

[hatenighttime]

I know I need to get myself in for some kind of cbt/counselling but as it's self referral I just keep thinking let me deal with this infection first and then look at the forms. I know I need to deal with this ASAP though as advised on other thread.
I didn't want the other lovely lot on there thinking I keep starting threads and ignoring advice given.
Just getting a response on the forms is something like 6 bloody weeks though so yknow. It is abit offputting.
Maybe I could pay for something in the meantime.

[NotClear]

I thought ibuprofen was best for tooth pain and earache?

If you take co/codamol (remember the "amol" means it has paracetamol in it, so don't take that separately!) 4 times a day regularly, for example at 06:00, 12:00, 17:00, 22:00, then you can also take ibuprofen 3 times a day, for example at 09:00, 15:00, 20:00. So overall, you'll have some form of pain relief at
06:00, 09:00, 12;00, 15:00, 17:00, 20:00, 22:00 which I'm sure will help.

I hope it's sorted soon, toothache is really nasty.

[SureIusedtobetaller]

Could the tooth be removed?
I had constant wisdom tooth infections and although having them taken out was vile, it was instant relief.
If the infection is under the tooth the antibiotics may not have reached it I think.

[hatenighttime]

I'm going to ask when I call in inabit.

[hatenighttime]

@NotClear i think that's a brilliant schedule of pain relief and will be following it . Thank you.

[hatenighttime]

So the infection is clearing up apparently ! But the dentist has noticed that I am grinding my teeth someone mentioned that on my very first thread . Possibly the first post even.

Bloody love this place man.

[hatenighttime]

So yday was a very bad day, I was in absolute agony and had to go to the walk in centre.

Was given another dose of amoxicillin and metro together now but was also told that the pain is nerve pain because of the way the tooth is coming in. I don't know how a non-dental , non specialist doctor could come to that conclusion but there you are.

When I asked for stronger painkillers, she said the antibiotics would 'lessen the requirement for analgesics'. Even though she figures it's not an infection.

I'm so down about this whole thing. It seems as though no one really seems to know what's going on, and I'm considering going back to my dentist One last time and then possibly going private to get to the source of the problem and then to extract most likely.

[shewolfmum]

Oil pull?

[Lougle]

Poor you! I agree that you shouldn't put heat on your face if you have a tooth infection. It can draw the infection out through to your face, which is never good. Clove oil is meant to be amazing for tooth pain.

[hatenighttime]

I've been recommended oil pulling by someone else as well actually . Might have to give it a go.


So I made a private appointment with a bupa dental centre today and the dentist gave me a sheet of six fillings that I need but he doesn't think any of these are contributing to the pain?? And he reckons it's atypical facial pain syndrome. Even though I told him my face isn't hurting and has referred me to the dental hospital.

So I'm still here. In pain. Topping myself every day with co codomol and ibuprofen.

I'm going back to my gp tomorrow to ask for an mri scan as dr google tells me it can show up a trapped nerve. Which I do believe rbis is nerve pain. There's no swelling or pain in my mouth.

It's driving me fucking bonkers now

[welshmist]

My colleague ended up with four courses of antibiotics before the dentist could even start to treat her. Unbelievable, she had such a bad stomach for a month.

[Jorah]

You sound as though you have a common or garden root infection a d need a root canal. The pain is horrible you have my sympathies. I had two lots of antibs and dihydrocodeine and it didn't lesson until day 6.

[Jorah]

*lessen!

[hatenighttime]

welsh my dentist is now saying the infection has gone (or almost gone 'just carry on with the mouthwash as antibiotics are not nice for anyone' NO AND NEITHER IS EXCRUCIATING PAIN