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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Someone please help- in agony with dental pain

34 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 30/09/2020 12:09

At the beginning of lockdown I managed to get one of the very last appointments at my dentist before everything got shut down as I was having recurring dental pain. They identified that one of my teeth needs to come out but as they don’t do extractions they referred me elsewhere, I was told there’d be a wait so in the meantime I just had to keep popping paracetamol like tic tacs.
I never heard from the other clinic and the pain eventually went away by itself so I just left it.

My dentist appointment in August was cancelled, rescheduled for next week. Last week that was cancelled too.

However in the last few days the pain has come back with a vengeance. Paracetamol isn’t touching it- the longest it has worked for is half an hour. I called my dentist but they’re following the same policy as GP surgeries so I’ve got a telephone consultation what fucking good is that?? on Monday. They gave me the number of the clinic they’d referred me to so I called them (turns out they had my number wrong) and the earliest appointment I can get there is the 15th Oct.

I’m still breastfeeding DS once or twice a day so can’t take anything stronger than paracetamol, which doesn’t seem to be working. The pain keeps coming and going every couple of minutes and when it comes back it really is agony, to the point where I can barely keep still or think straight. I’ve tried swishing salt water which works while I’m doing it and for a minute or two after but that’s it.

What the hell do I do??

OP posts:
saynotofondant · 30/09/2020 12:14

That sounds awful, I'm so sorry.
I don't have any practical advice re. emergency appointments, but I remember that my dad took oil of cloves for a toothache and it numbed the spot for a few hours. (He misunderstood my mum's instructions the first time he tried it though and swished and ended up numbing his whole mouth)

bonjonbovi · 30/09/2020 12:18

Try clove oil on the tooth?

fromheretothemoon · 30/09/2020 12:20

Ring 111 and tell them it’s an emergency and you need treatment NOW. The NHS website tells you to ring 111 for dental emergencies.

It’s absolutely disgraceful that people have been left to suffer with dental pain because of Covid but it’s ok to go to the pub, shops, soft play etc.

I’ve also heard clove oil is good, plus I’ve used a cotton wool ball soaked in bourbon (any spirits should do). You would need to soak it again every so often but the alcohol helps deaden the pain (you could try and spit any liquid out because of bf).

Funkypolar · 30/09/2020 12:23

There’s a gel you can buy over the counter to temporarily numb the pain. Hopefully you can get it taken out soon, disgraceful that dental care has reverted to the medieval ages.

HoboSexualOnslow · 30/09/2020 12:25

Please don't try clive oil or whiskey. Check with a pharmacist about what you can take while BF, you may be safe with ibuprofen..why can't your dentist do the extraction? If your own dentist can't than an emergency dentist won't be able to either. Your own dentist really should see you as an emergency even if they just take the nerve out. I know they were advised not to do any aerosol producing treatments but they should have the correct PPE now. So sorry it's the absolute worst

Lockdownfatigue · 30/09/2020 12:31

You can take stronger painkillers while breastfeeding. Codeine can be prescribed but heck with your GP. The drugs on breast milk helpline will have info.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie · 30/09/2020 12:35

I've used Orajel before and it has numbed the pain well. I had to go to a chemist to get it.

foodtoorder · 30/09/2020 12:44

Use the 111 dental information service. It's very useful and what's its there for.
Can ibuprofen be used in breastfeeding? If so take along side paracetamol

ScoobySnacker · 30/09/2020 12:55

Orajel is good stuff and can be bought over the counter. Hopefully can be taken whilst breastfeeding!! Rinsing with salt water gives a little relief too. Hope you get sorted soon

AngeloMysterioso · 30/09/2020 12:57

I called 111 but apparently his system was just saying call my dentist within 5 working days, and not to apply anything to gums. He did give me another number to call, that chap gave me some other dentists to try and get an immediate telephone triage from but he said they may well refuse to help me as I’m not one of their patients and I do have a treatment plan in place, although
I don’t even know if the tooth that is meant to be coming out is the same one that’s causing my pain.

I can’t work out if it’s worse because it keeps coming in waves. It goes away for a minute or two and I think I’m getting some respite and then it comes back and feels like the whole left hand side of my head is going to cave in.

Found two probably far past use by date codeine tablets. So far no effect.

OP posts:
stayathomer · 30/09/2020 12:59

It's an emergency so ask can they take you or refer you to another dentist now. Tell themyoure not sleeping (their first question is always can you sleep or is it keeping you awake). A random one, but dry white bread helps,(as in eat it- I have no idea why but it does for me!) and something warm against your cheek. Best of luck OP, teeth are awful!!

PolloDePrimavera · 30/09/2020 13:00

I'm not a dentist but I think you need a root canal as you say you have waves of pain. I've had it, it is absolutely horrendous. This will sound so lame, but I remember brushing the tooth helped somehow and I don't know how. I remember totally understanding how people used to extract their own teeth in the olden days and I could have happily bashed my head against the wall... You poor thing.

jessstan2 · 30/09/2020 13:01

Is there the possibility you have an infection? In that case you need antibiotics and there must be a way of getting a prescription. Someone I know had the same a couple of weeks ago and got one.

I thought dentists were seeing people for emergency treatment. If you can't find one, go to A&E, they usually have an oral surgeon on call who will examine and prescribe.

All the very best.

MoonDelay · 30/09/2020 13:07

I had severe toothache whilst in hospital after c section so was already taking pain killers which did nothing, it was just as you describe. The only thing that gave me any relief was putting whitening Arm and Hammer toothpaste on the tooth, I have no idea why but it completely numbed the pain so I could actually think and not scream. The pain went away after a while but I need the tooth out at some point, dreading it returning 😫

50shadesoflunacy · 30/09/2020 13:07

It sounds to me like pulpitis (I've had it and symptoms are the same). It was excruciating and I said to my dentist that I would rather have gone through labour again with no pain relief. I would second what Moon suggests, call 111 and insist it is a dental emergency. Failing that contact your dental surgery again and insist you are given a face to face appointment. Good luck OP, I hope you get some relief very soon.

MatildaTheCat · 30/09/2020 13:13

No way should you have to put up with that. It’s disgraceful how dental patients have been treated- Covid or not, nobody would leave you in agony with a broken bone.

Call your surgery and insist on an urgent appointment to get proper medical advice. There are stronger painkillers you can take and I suspect you also need antibiotics but probably the extraction just needs to happen.

Don’t stand for this. Severe infection can lead to much more serious illness.

AngeloMysterioso · 30/09/2020 13:20

I’m on antibiotics anyway as I managed to get cystitis on Friday (not having a great week)

Called my dentist back and practically screamed down the phone at the poor receptionist- now got a telephone triage call at 4ish, she couldn’t be certain what time. Gonna be a long 3 hours

OP posts:
Ranoutofgoodnames · 30/09/2020 13:33

If at all possible I would try to find a private dentist if the triage session doesn't lead to actual treatment. I have had abscesses and the pain was beyond tolerable.

At the very least a private dentist would see you and prescribe appropriate antibiotics.

I do know many couldn't take this option but having had the pain I know I would have done anything to stop it. I hope you find someone that can help you very soon xx

onedream · 30/09/2020 13:35

Hope you get it sorted fast, it's a absolute disgrace, I had my appointments cancelled and have a tooth which needs drilling but by the time they can drill it probably will be so bad they will need to extract..I am eating on other side and being very careful for months now to not aggravate it and praying it will last until my dentist can treat me..toothache is the worse and especially now in this situation..

AngeloMysterioso · 30/09/2020 13:36

There’s also a chance I could be pregnant- DH and I are TTC and last week was fertile week (probably how I ended up with cystitis) which further limits pain relief options. DH ran to boots at lunch and got me some orajel, problem is I don’t know which tooth is hurting so don’t know where to put it

OP posts:
AngeloMysterioso · 30/09/2020 13:45

DH taking me to A&E I can’t cope

OP posts:
usernamegoeshere · 30/09/2020 13:47

Amazon sell Dentogel on prime, its Clove oil gel, the stuff is amazing, I put it around a few places as wasnt sure where the pain was exactly. It's a massive relief within minutes plus it seems to build up a bit and last longer/get better over time youd need to check about it with pregnancy though.

cologne4711 · 30/09/2020 13:48

You poor thing, I hope they can help you or get you help from a dentist.

Roomba · 30/09/2020 14:00

God, you poor thing. The worst pain I ever had, including childbirth, broken bones and spinal issues requiring surgery, was without doubt dental pain! I

The antibiotics you've been given for cystitis probably won't be the same as you need for a dental infection - GPS tend to prescribe quite specific types for cystitis. Leaving you in agony like this is disgusting, I hope you have some joy in A&E. It's insane, dental infections can be fatal if not treated, but it's treated like a minor thing like it's just fine for no one to see a dentist for months on end!

Hellohah · 30/09/2020 14:03

I have just got an appointment at my dentist on Friday. Give them a ring and explain, it can't just be certain dentists that are making appointments.