To beg for a solution to this pain

[KyotoG]

I have an abcess in my mouth. I was in agony with it last week, visited dentist and was given antibiotics. They took about three days to kick in but went on holiday, big improvement over the weekend.

It started to get worse again yesterday but not painful and I have an appointment on Friday so just tried to get on with bog standard painkillers and the usual home remedies.

Tonight I am in agony. My face has swollen up again and I have been literally crying and screaming in pain. I have tried everything I can think of- ice pack, whisky, salt water, garlic, gently massaged my gum to see if it would ease any of the infection out. The whisky numbs it enough to take the edge off for ten minutes or so but nothing else touches the sides.

There are no pharmacies open and I cant get to A&E as I dont have a car and taxi companies arent open this late through the week.

Can anyone recommend anything that might help?

Dentists can prescribe strong pain relief, there is a dental formulary and they can write their own prescriptions. Any dentist that tells to to go to your GP for this should be reminded of this! Hope you get some relief today OP.

And no it hasn't spread, that's why it's so painful because the bacteria are multiplying and producing toxins in a confined space inside the tooth - similar to an ear infection when it is trapped inside by the ear drum.
If left untreated, yes then medical treatment may be required, but in this country this is (should be) quite rare.

tea mine never will, I remember feeling shit for taking up a GP appointment but I was rocking and crying with pain.

I agree with the PP who said they would take childbirth over toothache.

Hope you get something sorted today OP.

Bonjela or rinstead gel.

I had to wait 2 months for a root canal to deal with an abcess. Bonjela took the edge of it a bit.

@UnbornMortificado then they are in breach of their contract and should be reported. There is no way a GPs time should be wasted when dentists can prescribe for you. Nor should you have to wait in pain for. GP appointment.

Next time point them in the direction of the dental formulary www.sdcep.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/SDCEP-Drug-Prescribing-for-Dentistry-3rd-edition.pdf

Well I managed to get an emergency appointment but my mouth is too swollen for the dentist to do anything so I've been given another course of anti biotics.

I asked if she could prescribe some strong pain relief but she refused and said to continue with paracetamol. I've ended up buying some OTC strength co-codamol as my doctor refuses to give any treatment for dental pain so I don't see the point in going down that route.

Thankfully some of the infection seems to have moved further down into my gum so a bit less painful at the moment, fingers crossed it stays that way. I'm with the people who say childbirth is preferable to this!

Thanks all again for responding, I appreciate the advice.

Oh blimey, OP.
How do you mean it's moved further down your gum?

One thing you can also try is valerian as it's a muscle relaxant. It's herbal but effective and is great for relieving the muscle tension that you can get in your neck and shoulders with dental pain. It'll help you to sleep as well.
You poor thing - I do hope you're better soon.

This might be too late and you mentioned the gp wouldnt prescribe you anything but...
The non emergency number can arrange an out of hours gp telephone appointment. The gp can then fax a prescription of painkillers to your nearest pharmacy.

My husband had this and couldn't get rid of an abscess to get the dental work he needed. He ended up putting a hotwater bottle on his face till it burst. He was also

Sorry hit enter by mistake! He was also holding hot water in his mouth.

Indeed. The abscess can't always be treated immediately. Pain relief is what you need until it can be and it feels like you're just being fobbed off.

Get a different dentist OP. They can prescribe codeine (mine has plenty of times, sadly I'm prone to infection), and they are hugely irresponsible leaving you in pain.

Annoyingly a lot of GPs/walk ins refuse to prescribe anything for dental issues, so people are just left in agony. I have a stash of codeine tablets now just in case because out of hours dentists are unavailable and doctors won't help.

I honestly don't understand why toothache and earache are so dismissed as sources of pain, I have had operations, broken limbs etc and still the most pain I was in was from tooth/ear ache it's horrific. Hope you are feeling better op

OP,

Hope things got sorted properly in the end, and that you've remained pain-free since. Horrible experience for you.
What treatment was finally given?

When I've had this e.mergency entist killed the root them and there

Cheby GP's are not indemnified for treating dental problems and the GMC also makes it crystal clear that they should not treat

BMA guidance attached. I hope you managed to get your pain sorted OP