25 years old & can’t swallow tablets, & have an unbearable toothache. HELP

[lucymart777]

So, I currently have the worst toothache I think I’ve possibly ever had (going to ring and book a dentist appointment for tomorrow) but for now I need something to take the pain away, I have taken nurofen lemon meltlets and they have done nothing. Is there anything else I can take that isn’t a tablet, maybe something I can dissolve in water or melts on the tongue? Need something strong as I can’t take this anymore.
I’m from the UK so would have to be something available here.
Thank you!

Thank you for all of the advise guys, rung my dentist and they could only offer me an appointment for Monday 14th :( absolutely useless, gonna salt water rinse and keep dosed up on painkillers for now

I can’t swallow tablets either. My trick is to bite little bits off them then get a mouthful of soda (the fizziness helps), stick my head back and swallow. If I think about what I’m doing I gag so I try to not think.

They can prescribe liquid codeine -I’d phone Gp.

Chew mouthful of food, pop tablet in and swallow. That's how I get my dd to swallow them. You don't need to chew the tablet up, just swallow while with chewed up food.

I think a week is too long to wait. Especially if you have an abscess. Isn't there an emergency dentist in your area?

Just chew the tablet. It will taste like death but it’ll be down.

Try swilling neat alcohol around your mouth and then spitting it out. I have an ongoing toothache at the moment waiting on a filling and this works for me

I also struggle to swallow tablets. I manage by swallowing them with a spoonful of yogurt.

I was told off by a dentist when I delayed going because he said the infection can turn very nasty (presumably he meant sepsis?). I wouldn't put off going if I were you. Forget that dentist and find an emergency one, or a large practice you can transfer to. If you give a rough idea of your location, perhaps we can recommend a good one, or large clinic where you might get seen tomorrow.

You can buy a pain relief gel in pharmacy called orajel it contains a local anaesthetic and is quite good. Definitely look for an emergency dentist there is often one in the hospital.

You can buy a mouth wash in the chemist called difflam (it's really for sore throats) but you can use it as mouth wash! It's good for numbing pain.

You need to ring 111 for an emergency dental appointment if that's the soonest your dentist can see you.

Look for a school of dentistry if there's a nearby University. They usually do drop in pain clinics you could try in the morning.
Most, not all, but most big hospitals have a dental pain clinic out of hours for an hour or 2 in the evening. See can you find one.
Ring your own dentist first thing. They tend to keep emergency pain appointments for exactly this.
Clove oil or sensodyne Toothpaste are good to rub around the gum. I know you're not sure which tooth but you can spread it.
Dispersible cocodamol, you can have one tablet if you're only 40kg, out of hours gp might be able to prescribe a liquid alternative.
Definitely ring your dentist first thing. You do need seen ASAP to exclude an abscess.

Good luck. Toothache is the absolute worst.

Nurofen melts

You need to call your local emergency dentist, they should be able to see you tomorrow but you may have to sit and wait. Good luck toothache is awful.

Try Anbesol, ideally the liquid type

Have you ruled out it being a sinus problem? You could try a decongestant spray.

Hope you manage to find an earlier appointment, OP, but in my meantime I second the recommendations for solpadeine. It's soluble and tastes disgusting but it works and you can alternate it with ibuprofen.

Soluble Solpadine. It contains paracetamol codeine. Amazing stuff. Tastes horrible so I always have a biscuit or some chocolate afterward. But it really works. You can buy it over the counter in any pharmacy.

You have my sympathy! I also am a non tablet swallower. A few years ago I had a bout of very very bad tonsillitis to the point that I couldn't sleep for 3 days straight. The doctor prescribed me soluble co-codamol. I can't remember the dose but it was stronger than you are able to get over the counter. It was a miracle worker. Knocked me out too which was an added bonus!

Could you ask for some suppository painkillers?

Try anadin extra soluble, but not in conjunction with paracetamol you've already taken.

Get some orajel.
It's fantastic stuff

Just an update guys, managed to get an emergency dental appointment this afternoon (had to pay privately though) I’ve got an infection and will need to go back for root canal once infection has gone :( been given antibiotics.

Glad you got examined and really hope the pain is under control.

speak to a pharmacist about soluble painkillers and read this www.nhs.uk/conditions/problems-swallowing-pills/