Toothache worse than labour! Talk me off the edge

[mawof3soontobe]

Currently 32 weeks pregnant with DC3 and I hands down have the WORST toothache I have ever known in my entire life (and I've had a tooth knocked out accidentally).
Went to the dentist yesterday who gave me antibiotics as she suspects internal infection. I've now taken two full days of antibiotics and I'm taking the maximum dose of soluble paracetamol which isn't even touching it!
My poor DP thought I was in labour yesterday watching me pace floors moaning and howling like a deranged animal!!! I NEED RELIEF ASAP! How the hell do I get through this pain?! I would gladly give birth weekly over this! I have a very high pain threshold and have given birth twice drug free but JFC this is horrific!
Someone give me a remedy safe in pregnancy? HELP!!

The max pain relief you can take in pregnancy, by prescription, not off the shelf or even over the counter.

It is the only thing that will help

I had something like this. I also was given antibiotics because there was an infection. Luckily for me because it was a wisdom tooth, they pulled it. Is it a wisdom tooth that you can ask for them to pull out?

oil of cloves may help (you rub it on, not drink the bottle - which I know someone did once)

otherwise baby teething gel

I feel sorry for you, toothache is horrendous. Last time I had it and was given antibiotics and told to go back if not worked in 48 hours, so I think you should go back (I ended up on 2 lots of antibiotics and being admitted for IV antibiotics)

I would have happily agreed to decapitation when I had an infection under a wisdom tooth.

Are you gargling warm salt solution regularly? I found that helped. I read clove oil is good, but I didn't try that.

The antibiotics take a while to work because of the poor bloodflow to the area, or something. Not helpful when you are in agony.

Clove oil 100%

Just to add- Lister house is highly recommended

Omg that sounds awful

I know it sounds drastic but can they take it out? I had a tooth removed (one near the back) that was destroying me with the pain!

How about codeine? I’ve been given it by doctors in pregnancy.

It's a premolar so can see it when I smile hence them not being willing to pull it. I usually need G&A sedation for all dental work due to severe dental anxiety but when I went yesterday I would have gladly let her stick a needle in my gum for the relief! I actually could have cried at being sent away and trust me I will do anything to avoid dental work! The pain is so much more excruciating than anything I've ever known, I feel like someone has a poker hot thick needle jabbing right through my gum, jaw bone and into my nose and eye!! I'm taking the maximum dose of paracetamol you are allowed and have no other options left! The tooth isn't cracked and doesn't have an abscess visible so I can't see orajel or clove oil being effective if it can't make contact with the source of the pain IFSWIM.
I realise me posting this is a bit pointless but simply typing whilst I shake backwards and forwards moaning and sweating let's my mind think someone might magic me up a cure, it's the only thing keeping me sane

Oh OP I feel for you. I had excruciating toothache a few years ago, prescribed anti-biotics which didn't touch it at all. A week later I had to beg and cry down the phone for an emergency appointment, which they finally gave me with bad grace. Turns out I had pulpitis, which is inflammation of the pulp in the tooth. As soon as the tooth was drilled and the pressure relieved the relief was instant. I changed dentists afterwards, I couldn't believe their callous approach. Does the pain ease slightly if you bite down on something? Mine did.

Bonjela
Co-codamol (on prescription, obvs)

If you're in that much pain, have an infection and are pregnant I'd be inclined to go to A&E if there's no emergency dentist.

Icepack held to the jaw. It only works while you're holding it in place, but it does work.

It actually does offer some relief when I bite down on it but obviously when released the pain feels much worse! I honestly don't think it could get any higher on the pain scale!!! There's no out of hours dentist in my area whatsoever now due to NHS cuts. Is cocodamol definitely safe in pregnancy? I have some in the cupboard but I've always been told only paracetamol is safe in pregnancy

Omg you poor thing that sounds utterly dreadful!

How long till the antibiotics work did they think?

I had excruciating toothache a couple of years ago and I found holding a mouthful of room temperature water in my mouth eased it. It's obviously a pain in the arse as you can't talk and please don't try to sleep but it might give you some relief if nothing else works? No idea of the science behind it but anything is worth a try. I had the offending tooth out the following day.

She said by tablet seven I should start to feel relief, I've taken two full days now so six tablets. I've sat with warm salt water in my mouth but unfortunately it did nothing. I've just vomited with the pain which isn't ideal when I'm trying to get the penicillin into my system! I don't even care that it's a front tooth I would walk around gumsy for the rest of my life over this! I've grabbed a hold of the tooth several times fantasising about ripping it out

Yes co-codamol is definitely safe in pregnancy, also you may be able to take ibuprofen as well depending on how many weeks you are. Obviously co-codamol contains Paracetamol so don’t take them at the same time. I find holding cold water in my mouth over the tooth helps too. Definitely go back tomorrow to the dentist though.

I was allowed cocodamol during pregnancy for pain but I'd discuss with dr/midwife before taking.

You could have a bridge in the future to fill the gap if you do need it out.

You must get to see a dentist ASAP. As a previous poster said, it sounds like pulpitis, so drilling into the tooth and relieving the pressure, and a temporary filling being placed, is likely to ease the pain almost instantly.

You have my sympathies - I had the worst toothache when I was breastfeeding and my pain relief options were laughable. I nearly got hit by a car and thought that worst case scenario - at least I wouldn't be able to feel the damn toothache anymore! Clove oil was the thing that got me through, I put it on some gauze or cotton wool and bit down on it and that helped me a lot. Also not lying flat seemed to help a little as well.

If you are vomiting from the pain and pregnant I would call out of hours and get seen

Yes, co-codomol is fine (it is paracetomol and codeine, both of which are fine). Just make a note of how much paracetomol you have taken as you can only take 4g in 24 hours (4g is 8 500mg tablets) in case you have reached that limit. OOH GP can prescribe codeine. They will probably try and refuse and say it is not their reaponsibilty and to see a dentist - but you are in pain. I have had similar issues. In the past I went to A&E at 3am as I couldn't take it any longer. They gave me pain relief as maximum OTC stuff wasn't touching it.