About tooth ache?

[WayfaringStranger]

AIBU to think that tooth ache is one of the worst pains ever? I've given birth, broken bones, had pancreatitis and now have a dental abscess for the first time. I've heard people say tooth ache is shit and thought "yeah yeah" but this is torture.

I'm drugged up to the eye balls on tramadol, codeine, paracetamol, ibuprofen and still, I want to jump off a very tall building. I've managed to get about an hour of relief but I know it will wear off soon. Aaarrgh!

YANBU! Toothache is the pits. Especially when it's a constant, nagging ache that just won't go away no matter what, and you feel like you want to rip your own face off... Or a sudden sharp pain that brings you to your knees... Horrible.

I feel for you OP!

YANBU, I developed dry socket after a tooth extraction, and I'm not joking when I say I still feel mildly traumatised by the pain.

What gets me is the unnecessaryness of the pain level. You're not in any kind of danger of serious illness or death.

I've had an abscess and dry socket and can confirm they are shit. Painkillers to fuck all. I'd quite happily give birth twice over one instance of proper tooth ache .

tooth ache and ear ache are what i wish on people who piss me off.
just today a bloke cut me up and i shouted i hope you get fucking ear ache.
i felt better after that (evil caccle)

YA so NBU

I've had a dry socket and the pain was indescribable. Also had an abscess and had to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours and I could tell when they were wearing off. As a pp said, I'd take childbirth over that any day.

Yadnbu. I had a wisdom tooth out which broke on extraction. Dentist left a fragment in the gum which caused an infection. The pain was worse than breaking my nose, nearly cutting my toe off and giving birth. I cried every night for two weeks until it cleared up. Just awful.

Elbow that made me chuckle

I have had problems with wisdom teeth and finally got them out. Pain and sickness was awfuk. Luckily no dry socket. At my emergency appointment for the lasg infection I had last year there was one woman with 4 abscesses in for treatment, she must have been in inhumane agony!

I think any kind of pain in your head - you just can't ignore it. Just had toothache cured by having a tooth out - can see why people used to have them all pulled out in advance to avoid toothache!

P.S. Hope you get it sorted soon!

Toothache and earache, both commonly complaints that are the worst pains imaginable!!! Years of triage taught me that!!!

See a dentist if you've not already. Any swelling there? Might be that you need antibiotics if there's an infection. Also do try to make sure you don't OD on painkillers, not only is it bad for your health but the dentist is unlikely to treat you if you're over the limit.

My top toothache tips? Keep your head elevated slightly as lying flat can make the pain feel worse. Also, not strictly a medical tip as such, but if you're gonna use painkillers then try anti inflammatories as opposed to opiates like tramadol....though opening up a 50mg capsule and dabbing some of the (horrid tasting) powder on the gum around the area works quite well!! Failing that there's always alcohol but again I'd bear the painkillers in mind here, it's not at all advisable to mix the two but I have before and I won't lie it worked a treat.

Hope you feel better soon at any rate!!!

Tooth ache and earache yes. Horrible, nagging pain where you can't switch off from it or concentrate on anything but the pain. They're both similar in that they radiate and you can't tell where the pain is coming from.

I had problems with a tooth when I wasn't registered with a dentist, I couldn't get an emergency appointment because apparently I wasn't an emergency despite it making me cry with pain every day. I needed a root canal in the end. I think I would say it was worse than labour.

Thanks for the advice and sympathy. I was awake most of the last couple of nights, so hoping that exhaustion will kick in tonight.

YANBU. I have long term problems. It destroys your life.

I've just finally finished root canal after a bout of toothache that lasted 8 days.
I first 'ignored' it for 3 days and hoped it'd go away.
Then I saw the dentist and got diclofenac and antibiotics.I was already on paracetamol and codeine that wasn't controlling the pain.
Couple of days later back to the dentist because the pain was getting worse rather than better,and found the infection was getting worse and needed more antubiotucs of a different type,which then took about 3 days to take me back to dull nag.

Its really made me wonder how people without access to modern medicine cope (and our pets).
Its exhausting and emotionally draining as well as agonising.
Couple of

I genuinely never knew it could hurt so much. Considered taking myself to A&E yesterday.

I currently have an abscess. My 5th one in the same place in 8 years. Original cause - botched NHS filling which caused tooth to crack. I've had 3 lots of root canal, one of which involved specialist equipment (which you can't get in the NHS apparently and which cost £1.5K). Hasn't worked. Original broken tooth extracted, next tooth along - no decay whatsoever - now dead because of root canal (which was also clearly botched) abscesses continuing because the gap from the extraction leaves the area more open to gum trauma. Told today by dentist (the same one that caused all the problems in the first place) that the only possible option now is to have dead tooth out and either a bridge (is that the right term?) or implants which will be better in terms of protecting me from further gum trauma-> abscesses but which you can't get on th NHS and will cost about 3 fucking grand. I can only assume they will be made of diamond and unicorn tears. £3k to fix an NHS mistake!! After years of frequent bouts of terrible pain. If I wasn't in so much agony I'd be hopping with rage. As it is I just want to curl up and die.

OP - teeth were a frequent cause of death before modern medicine. Those infections if not treated can be properly nasty.

Try to work your painkillers out so you can take a dose before bed,to give yourself the longest window for sleep.
I pushed through with pain at other times to do this,by using orajel,clove oil,sensodyne,anything I could use to dull the pain for a couple of minutes and give me hope!

Have had post root canal infections & dry socket after an extraction. Dental pain is shit. It's Hellish, anti infam's may help, head elevated, and maybe alcohol - although latter contraindicated.

You have all my sympathy, I repeat, it's shit.

Mary - dental infection may not kill now in the developed world; historically it did and continues to where access to effective care is unavailable.

OP, I've given birth, had kidney stones, major back problems ... dental pain is rubbish. Hope you're working towards a resolution soon

All that they said, plus warm salt water mouthwashes.

Have you any whole cloves on your spice rack? If so, hold one against the sore tooth for as long as you can bear it. Its really odd but it works. Also, try an ice pack on the outside of your face to reduce the swelling

I would advise seeing a dentist soon though, it sounds like a pretty bad infection

Yanbu. I had a dental abscess when I was 40 weeks pregnant. Giving birth was a piece of piss!

gently if you are so certain that your dentist has botched all this treatment, perhaps you should see a solicitor.

Try brushing with turmeric and coconut oil (or just make a paste with water), it helps with swelling.

I have given birth twice and for my sins am going to do it again. Both times so far I've HATED it. I have also had some seriously bad toothache in my life and have always said toothache is the only thing that comes close to the pain of giving birth. Hope you feel better soon