Toothache - HELP ME

[namechangedtohelpyou]

Sorry, this is my second toothache thread. I have severe toothache. I want to rip my jaw off. Even NHS 111 can't find me a dentist and I've tried everywhere within my area (and that's a big area). I've phoned over 60 dental practices. I'm stuck. I am a lone parent to an 8 month old. I am struggling as I am in so much pain. Can't even take decent painkillers as I am breastfeeding.

What now? I'm in agony.

Clove oil for now, get into your GP explain you cannot get an appointment anywhere. If it’s affecting your ability to eat it’s a doctors matter also, he should get you an appointment

I second clove oil, it really works, taste disgusting though.

Clove oil and if you suspect infection try some frequent warm salt water mouthwashes. If the issue is nerve pain/sensitivity try a thick layer of sensodyne and leave it on the area affected. Experiment with heat/ice over the jaw for pain relief. If you can find a tender spot on the gum or soft tissues nearby try moderate pressure for 10 secs or so and see if it relieves. Don’t do this more than a couple of times a day.

And I agree, see your GP. It’s disgusting you can’t find a dentist to see you.

I'm sorry OP, it's awful that you can't get seen! I swear by clove oil and Anbesol liquid/gel.

I hope someone comes along soon with some help with finding a dentist

Have you tried Oragel? It's a gel you can rub into your teeth/gums to numb them. In most chemists.
I don't know if it's safe while breastfeeding though

Do you have any idea what is causing the pain? Is the tooth broken, has it had any work done to it previously?

If it's a crack or break exposing the nerve, then clove oil on cotton or bonjela can help.

If it's an infection in the tooth or surrounding areas, then you really need antibiotics before they can fix it.

If you get completely desperate there are usually emergency walk in dental places. I’ve had to go in the past post wisdom tooth extraction when I ended up with a dry socket

Can you afford to pay privately?

I had an abscess once and had to go to casualty. They gave me antibiotics and strong painkillers.

Google tooth abscess. If you fit those symptoms I would take a taxi to casualty. You need antibiotics if it is an abscess.

I’m quite shocked that NHS 111 can’t find any emergency dental appointments for you .

Either GP or walk in centre but you will have to explain that you haven’t been able to get an appointment with any dentist in the area (they wouldn’t normally touch dental problems).

Also pop to your local chemist in the morning. They are good at helping with dental pain relief, although not sure what you can take if breastfeeding.

Until then warm salt water rinses will help if there is an infection there.

If you can afford it, it might be worth ringing a few private practices too. They can normally fit people in on the day.

Hope you get it sorted soon, tooth pain is awful!

Paramol. Bloody great stuff for toothache

How are you now OP?

Toothache is hell!
Have you tried the NHS dental helpline rather than just going through 111? 111 don't do anything in our area unless it's out of hours cover. But ringing a number given out by the number bellow at 8.30 got us access to emergency appointments when we couldn't register with a dentist, the dentist then took on the whole family.

The following ling is from the NHS website:
Problems finding an NHS dentist
If after contacting several dental practices you still can't find a dentist accepting NHS patients, you should call NHS England's Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233.

NHS England commissions dental services in England and is required to meet the needs of their local population for both urgent and routine dental care.

A GP can't help you with a dental problem. They aren't trained and therefore not insured for starters. When you call 111 do they not have an emergency dentist in the area? Have you tried ringing one of the dentist's out of hours to see if there's a number on the machine for emergencies? I know it's really hard to get a regular dentist but there's usually emergency treatment available

Tirozets work wonders at numbing the mouth according to Dh too.

Another vote for clove oil. Foulest tasting substance in the world but will numb you completely. Apply with a cotton bud (and have a cup of water ready to rinse after...)

You can take codeine when you are breastfeeding. Get some Solpadeine Max and take two, and then have 600mg of ibuprofen after two hours and then carry on alternating every two hours. And yes, Tyrozets or Orajel liquid on the affected gum can provide relief.

Don't recommend cloves as they can cause irritation to the gum.

@passmeabrew I agree a gp can’t help with a dental problem, however they can refer her to a dentist or an orthodontist for an emergency appoint, especially if it’s effecting her eating

If you do suspect an dental infection you can try the online gp services. I was desperate once and knew it was an infection due to previous experiences and knew dentist would initially prescribe antibiotics before treating. I had an online consultation reviewed by a gp after filling out a form and they prescribed antibiotics and sent prescription to pharmacist for me. They might also be able help re suitable pain relief. It cost £15 in total including dispensing fee.

It was on the basis that I was going to the dentist to seek full treatment but it was a life saver as my dentist had no appointments for 6 days and 111 said to just take ibuprofen until then.

Dentist said it had been a good idea as they could then get started on treatment straight away.

Best of luck OP

Clove oil did nothing for me. I tried it all. Even the piece of bread in your tooth one (I know it sounds daft but I was out of my mind with the pain).

Orajel Max is the thing that saved me from ripping the fucking tooth out with my bare hands. Got to get it from behind the pharmacy counter though. That plus max allowed amounts of cocodamol and ibuprofen. Hot water bottle against my cheek gave me a little relief too.

Try googling private emergency dentists in your area. It cost me £100 to see one but the cost of any treatment needed up to the £100 was included. I thought it’d be much more.

When dh has dry socket after an extraction clove oil was the only thing that gave relief.

Weirdly green tea helps, possibly the anti-bacterial action. Don’t use heat on you face externally as it may draw infection into the facial tissues. Cold packs may help the swelling,stay as upright as possible to let internal liquid drain.

Get a pack of solpadeine max (strongest OTC co-codamol) and a pack of nurofen plus (OTC codeine and ibuprofen) - you may need to visit two separate chemists.
Take 2 of each, that gives you roughly the same dose of codeine that the GP would prescribe.

Anbesol adult strength is insane for tooth pain, as is Oragel. Numbs the entire area.
Warm salt water gargled around the area can help.

If there's a crack in your tooth causing the pain you can buy a dental repair kit in boots and do a temporary filling on yourself. Easy to do and instant relief.

If there's any grim sort of pus coming out of your mouth you have an abscess. That can be extremely dangerous (I was hospitalised with sepsis due to an abscess) so you really need to see someone ASAP for some antibiotics.
My face swelled up to the double it's size and my eye closed up, I kept a warm water bottle on my cheek to draw the pus up and kept massaging it. The abscess popped and the relief was immediate; but it tasted absolutely vile. You must spit any or the puss out though, it's essentially poison.