Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Toothache worse than labour! Talk me off the edge

155 replies

mawof3soontobe · 08/05/2019 19:23

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! Sad
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!!

OP posts:
springclouds2019 · 09/05/2019 04:54

Phew!!

Original poster
mawof3soontobe · 09/05/2019 04:55

@Flashinggreen 9am. My appointment wasn't till 2:15pm when I called on emergency two days ago, hopefully it's a quicker time this time around. I'll explain the measures I've had to take and hopefully that paints a picture of the hell I'm in

OP posts:
sfb182 · 09/05/2019 05:03

Hi, I’m a dentist and it definitely sounds like pulpits. (Which is inflammation not infection which is why antibiotics don’t work.) You need to have the tooth numbed and opened to relieve the pressure and then a temporary filling. It might not need to be removed if root canal treatment is possible (depends on the condition of the tooth/gum/bone etc...) It’s the build up of pressure inside the tooth that’s causing the pain. Cold water/ice sometimes helps, but you need treatment from a dentist ASAP. NHS 111 should be able to direct you to out of hours emergency practice but this usually means weekend, not overnight unfortunately. Call your practice first thing. Hang in there!

Flashinggreen · 09/05/2019 05:06

I hate it when patients do this but if you turn up at 9am they may try and squeeze you in earlier in the day than if you phone. They can also see how much pain you’re in...

ValleyoftheHorses · 09/05/2019 06:13

Another dentist - could you turn up at 8.30 (they will be there before 9) and say you’re happy to sit and wait -all day if necessary- as you know they will be busy. Be very pleasant and say “I’ve brought a book!”
You need it accessing and dressing- antibiotics alone aren’t going to help pulpitis. You need to be clear that you realise that the treatment will be under local only, if you normally have sedation the dentist may think you want it this time and that’s obviously not possible in an emergency.

jcq17 · 09/05/2019 06:17

A dentist needs to open the tooth and put a dressing in

Piglet89 · 09/05/2019 07:05

The state of pain relief in dentistry is inhumane. I find it bewildering. In no other medicine would this be remotely acceptable, for things to get to this point.

^ THIS.

How did you get through the night, OP? How are things now? What time is your dental appointment today?

Piglet89 · 09/05/2019 07:06

Sorry, was on wrong page. 9am, ok. Good luck for it, hope they get you out of pain. X

RedSheep73 · 09/05/2019 07:15

Poor thing - having had a tooth that needed root canal work I understand, it was the worst pain of my life. Go back to the dentist and cry?

BettyJune07 · 09/05/2019 08:34

Hope you get sorted Flowers

Prequelle · 09/05/2019 09:54

Hi, I’m a dentist and it definitely sounds like pulpits. (Which is inflammation not infection which is why antibiotics don’t work)

Bacterial infection is the main cause of said inflammation Confused

beenhereages1 · 09/05/2019 09:57

Fingers crossed you get it sorted today OP x

StormcloakNord · 09/05/2019 10:07

Aww I feel so bad for you OP! Hopefully you get it sorted ASAP and you're right, labour will feel like a walk in the park after this! Flowers

Original poster
mawof3soontobe · 09/05/2019 10:11

Dentist absolutely cannot fit me in today whatsoever and is reluctant to see me till at least tomorrow with the antibiotics! My only hope is waiting till five and calling 111 again. Thankfully I'm pain free right now but I highly suspect pulpitis as it seems worse at night! Therefore antibiotics are fruitless. All I can do for now is try and sleep and hope for the best tonight

OP posts:
sfb182 · 09/05/2019 10:18

, I’m a dentist and it definitely sounds like pulpits. (Which is inflammation not infection which is why antibiotics don’t work)

“Bacterial infection is the main cause of said inflammation confused”

Inflammation can be caused by several things: eg, stub your toe, break your ankle, knock your tooth; all trauma that will cause inflammation with no infectious cause.
The area becomes inflamed and wants to swell. Many tooth pulps become inflamed due to trauma/deep fillings that act as an irritant (sounds likely in this case). If it can swell, toe/ankle etc... this relieves some of the pressure/pain. In teeth it can’t, as there is a solid enamel shell that won’t allow swelling. Infection could be a cause, but often isn’t which is why antibiotics don’t take away the pain.
Any further info and I might have to start charging!WinkSmile

birdling · 09/05/2019 10:18

Gosh! How did you get pain free in the end?

sfb182 · 09/05/2019 10:19

Above was reply to prequelle xx

Myheartbelongsto · 09/05/2019 10:30

Go to the chemist and get some clove oil. It's the best thing ever for toothache, absolutely brilliant stuff. Stick it on a cotton bud and rub all around the gum and in two mins you won't feel a thing. I had a terrible toothache last year and this miracle stuff was sent from the God's as far as I was concerned.

It tastes awful but you won't care. Put a bit of lip balm, lipstick, baseline, anything in the corner of your mouth at the edge of your lip as it can dry out your skin.

Original poster
mawof3soontobe · 09/05/2019 10:34

The ibuprofen seems to be what calmed it down enough for me to sleep, I woke up feeling rather spacey to be honest! No wonder with the amount of painkillers I consumed. I suspect it will start coming back at the same time again tonight, not good!

OP posts:
Myheartbelongsto · 09/05/2019 10:34

Op just reading your posts about dentist not seeing you. I rang mine and begged them to take me as I'd taken 30 something paracetamol and when I told them that they couldn't get me in quick enough.

Original poster
mawof3soontobe · 09/05/2019 10:42

@Myheartbelongsto I told them I had been on the phone to NHS 24 due to accidental overdose and was delirious with pain. I was told there's just no feasible way of me being treated today and the antibiotics should start kicking in today.

OP posts:
DaffoDeffo · 09/05/2019 10:50

Can you go to a different one? It seems horrendous that no one will even look at you, you poor thing!

PorterBella · 09/05/2019 10:59

Is there an emergency dentist in your area, OP?

Myheartbelongsto · 09/05/2019 11:07

That is dreadful op!

Please try the clove oil, it's amazing!

RedBerryTea · 09/05/2019 13:10

OP this is horrendous. Go and sit in the waiting room at your dentist - they will have to see you. Shame them into it. As I said upthread mine said they couldn't see me for days and when I put the phone down I burst into tears and rang back sobbing to ask what I was supposed to do. They grudgingly said, can you get here for 8.30 tomorrow morning. They were so short with me when I got there and showed no sympathy whatsoever. I changed dentists afterwards but wish I had made a formal complaint. Any dentists on here, such inhumanity can't be normal practice surely?

Swipe left for the next trending thread