Hit me with your best toothache remedies!

[BearSoFair]

Been up since 6am with the worst toothache I've ever had. It's caused by an abcess, I'm on antibiotics then back to the dentist in a couple of weeks for a root canal. But please, please wise MNers, share your best toothache remedies I can try until then, or it's going to be the longest couple of weeks of my life!

I've got ibuprofen, paracetamol, extra strength orajel and clove oil (not all at the same time of course) but nothing is really touching it. Any thing else I could try?

Maybe call 111 to see if you can get an emergency appointment for stronger meds the water helps as apparently the nerve dying gives out gas which water soothes....

oh Christ, cold water water on my bad tooth when I had it, left me lying on the floor crying and howling. just the thought is bringing back tears!

Yes the cold water remedy lasts for a minute only then the pain comes back worse at the mere inkling of toothache now I'm back to dentist before it can get that bad it's the worst pain :(

I would try solphadine max , the dissolvable one. Put in luke warm water and swill around your mouth before swallowing.

no the cold water intensified the pain instsntly and the intense pain lasted a good while I couldn't stand or move! when it lessen slightly, I brushed my teeth, took more paracetamol and drenched it in clove oil to make it bearable. I would never recommend anyone put cold water on it.

a PP mentioned brandy, which reminded me I occasionally washed my mouth with whiskey which helped for bit.

OIL OF CLOVES

Sorry to shout but - as a PP has said - apply this to the area liberally with cotton buds. It’s anaesthetises it.

I’ve been where you are and omfg. Oil of cloves was my salvation. Please get some immediately!

Tried cold water, almost hit the roof with the initial pain surge but weirdly it does seem to have eased it now...definitely hurting less than when I first posted!

I'm sure there is tooth pain where cold water will make it worse. I'm using a water flosser and there is one area that hurts badly if the water is too cold but in my case the cold water was the only thing that brought any, if short-lived, relief. Even codein (which I had left from surgery a year ago) made no difference what so ever.
If the antibiotics don't help go and see a doctor. Any tooth infections can cause serious problems. A former boss of mine was hospitalized and put on intravenous ABs with an abcess.

I had a patient end up in hospital with an infection too. I had prescribed the correct antibiotics but patient had a friend who knew better so convinced my patient to take something herbal instead.

YOU need to go and get metronidazole. They always give amoxicillin first but if that doesn’t ease the pain they will prescribe you the other one. Do go back. I ended up in hospital for three days as the antibiotics didn’t work and I ended up with a swollen neck and not able to breathe properly! Tooth ache is the absolute worst pain in the world.

Raw garlic. Crush a clove and leave for 10 minutes to go sticky. Pack bits in and around the tooth. Burns like a bugger and stinks but it does work.

I put the bits that are left into a mug of boiled water and use that as a gentle rinse too.

Will try to get another appointment once they open again on Tuesday, fingers crossed. Thanks for the advice all, I'll ask about stronger/different antibiotics. A second dose of paracetamol seems to have taken the edge off for now, but DH has also been and picked up some ibuprofen and codeine tablets from Boots so I'm ready if it starts up again!

Antibiotics are not painkillers. Unless you still have swelling and/or a temperature then you do not need more antibiotics.

Antibiotics kicked in after 2 days I'd say but I think I had naproxen before that. Awful pain, hope it goes soon.

No, antibiotics aren't painkillers but if the pain persists it means that they are not dealing with the infection that is causing the pain.

Only thing that helps is two or three days of antibiotics hammering away at the abscess.

Nurofen plus it contains ibuprofen and codeine (I think it's the strongest does of codeine you can buy over the counter)

Igneococcus what it means is the source of the infection hasn’t been dealt with ie the tooth hasn’t been extracted or root canal at least started. More antibiotics unless there is swelling/pyrexia etc goes against the NHS guidelines.

What is she meant to do with the infection until the root can be treated?

Follow the guidelines cks.nice.org.uk/dental-abscess#!scenario

Nurofen plus (contains ibuprofen and codeine) and paracetamol as well (ask pharmacist for advice though)

If cold water helps, try biting down on an ice pack

Corsodyl rinses twice a day, plus rinses with warm salt water in between.

Dental pain can be hell

Emergency dentist. Extraction.

That's about it.

Oh I sympathise. Toothache of this magnitude is hell. I was ready to throw myself out the window to make the pain stop.

My personal remedy is Orajel Max (from behind a pharmacy counter only), alternate cocodamol and ibuprofen and a hot water bottle pressed to the offending side of your jaw.

I would try my very best to get to the emergency dentist though. I think you need more hardcore antibiotics.

Hope you feel much better soon .

See your dentist. You need that tooth numbing up and either extracting or starting a root canal treatment. If it's still painful with cold the nerve is still partially alive and antibiotics on their own won't sort the pain.

Having it removed.