HORRIFIC toothache- sore face, ear and jaw

[Soreface]

I’ve posted previously about some dental and face pain I’m having. It’s really not getting better so I just wanted to post again to try and get some advice.

Basically, I’ve got an infection in the root of my upper molar. During the day the tooth itself is painful but not agony and I can eat on it- it’s only when a piece of food hits a certain spot or corner on the tooth that it really hurts.

It all started because I woke up with excruciating, throbbing pain in the entire side of my face. It woke me up from my sleep and I spent the night crying and trying not to be sick with the pain- it seriously felt like I had been smashed in the face and my entire ear and jaw on that side was excruciating.

I went to the dentist and I’ve got an infection and need a root canal which I’ve got an appointment for in a few months. I’ve finished the course of antibiotics but unfortunately the pain is still there. During the day it’s like a dull ache in my jaw and a throbbing ache in my upper cheek- almost below my eye socket which I’m not sure if it’s related or not. It also hurts in my ear and there’s a crackly feeling everytime I swallow- this has all started in the last week or so and could be completely unrelated but whatever it is, it’s really horrible

The worst part is during the night, the pain physically wakes me up and it’s the worst throbbing pain I’ve ever experienced. It was agony in my upper and lower jaw, as well as my mouth and ear and cheek on that side too. It makes me want to vomit it’s so bad and all I can do is just sob until it stops- weirdly painkillers don’t seem to help but the extreme pain randomly eases off on it’s own.

I really don’t know what to do but this pain is awful. During the day it’s bearable- I can deal with a little bit of jaw and ear and cheek pain, but during the night it’s horrific. I’ve tried sleeping in different positions and sleeping so my head is elevated on several pillows but nothing helps anymore

I really don’t know what to do to try and help this, has anyone else experienced this or got any knowledge about it? Thanks in advance x

I have been exactly where you have been only last year. Your post brought back the nightmare I went through. I had to have root canal surgery and nerves taken out to be free of pain. The pain lifted me of my feet and I was a mess. I took that many painkillers that 111 resorted to calling me every hour to check up on me, 2 days before root canal surgery was planned I was so distorted with pain I was slathering voltarol cream on my face and taking tramadol. It was a complete nightmare. You need to get on to your dentist as the root canal treatment is the only way to be free of the pain

That sounds awful! You have my sympathy. A frozen flannel might help relieve the pain a little. Just put a damp cloth in the freezer for a few hours, they get cold quickly.

And I'd go back to the dentist in case you need a different prescription for antibiotics.

I think you need to go back to your dentist to see if you need some more antibiotics, and/or if it is possible to bring your treatment forward.

May I add that from when the infection presented itself with the pain it took just over two weeks to get the surgery done. I see in your post you say you have the root canal treatment booked in a few months. I can't imagine living with that sort of pain for that length of time. Can you see if it can be sooner?

Can you ask for stronger painkillers? If not then take 2 x Solpadeine Max four times a day and 2 x Nurofen Plus three times a day. Spaced out as much as possible.

More antibiotics

Ask your foot indeed dentist for naproxen and omeprazole to tide you over
Orajel
Hot water bottle or one of those pads to heat in the microwave

You need to call the dentist. I had this (pre-removal, I had already had a root canal which had failed). I needed 3 courses of antibiotics to get the infection down and anywhere near ready for them to take it out.

Your GP as opposed your foot
That would be interesting

I've had five lots of antibiotics (during lockdown) to keep an infection at bay until I could get the tooth removed that was a couple of months too

Do you have clove oil? oragel? Are you salt water rinsing? Are you biting down on it in your sleep? (I do that its fucking horrendous with an infection)

Oh gosh I feel for you. I have been in pain since August, and only had a root canal last week- which failed 🤦‍♀️ I’m back in February for another attempt 😩 but apparently I have complex roots 🙄. That said it hasn’t been as painful since last week! I so hope you get it sorted, my dentist although it took ages to get the initial appointment said last week if I was in lots of pain to ring and they would see me that day, so worth giving them a call tomorrow. So sorry you’re going through this- toothache is horrible, really hope you get it sorted soon

I have been where you are and fainted with the pain. I had pain all down my jaw and one side of my neck. I was convinced I was going to die.

You need another course of antibiotics. There is probably a nasty abscess there that hasn’t quite been controlled with the first round.

Then warm water salt rinses. Often.

Hot water bottle on face helps with the pain as well as painkillers at regular intervals. But really you’ll need another course of antibiotics.

Can you afford to go private for root canal? It would happen much faster.

Have you considered tooth extraction? Most dentists will tell you to save the tooth, but if the pain is so bad and you can’t wait? Removal might be an option.

I have had root canal and it was no picnic. But it has saved my tooth.

Just have it extracted ASAP. I'm a dentist and couldn't be bothered with all that molar RCT faffing.
It shouldn't be visible unless you've got a mouth like Julia Robert.

couldn't be bothered with all that molar RCT faff on me~I hasten to add.

Thanks for all the advice and tips. I’ve read every comment individually but I’ll just reply to them all here. I tried to get a sooner appointment but unfortunately they’re completely full and nothing before then, even with the pain. They’re a great dentist and have always fitted me in for things before, so I know that if they’re saying they can’t this time then they must be absolutely booked solid! Off the top of my head the root canal is 4.5 months away.

I was considering just getting it removed and implanted or replaced in some way as the tooth already has a filling and had gone grey in appearance, but I hate the thought of losing a tooth before the age of 25.

The pain is bad but bearable during the day- it feels like a general aching pain across my cheek and jaw but at night it gets so much worse. It wakes me up and has me heaving to be sick with how awful the throbbing pain is. It’s like earache, jawache, faceache and mouthache all at once I was recommended cocodamol by the pharmacy for it but unfortunately it hasn’t got rid of the dull, heavy feeling in my cheek and jaw.

One of the comments mentioned teeth biting down during the night which is interesting because I’m an awful teeth grinder! It’s a relief that other people have had this and understand how horrible it is- I genuinely thought I was being a bit dramatic with it all but the only word I could think of to describe it was horrific!

I had this pain recently and when I went to the dentist the ex ray showed the tooth had cracked.

It was just before Christmas and I would be waiting a couple of weeks for the root canal privately.

I knew with pain i was in i would be self harming as I was rinsing with solapdol and chewing paracetamol 500mg every 4 hours, including during the night.

I told him take it out, I simply couldn't do a couple of weeks.

There wasn't any infection, so I can't even imagine what that pain must be like.

4 natural childbirths didn't come near this pain.

It was unbelievable.

You really have my sympathy.

I have never had a toothache in 57 years.

It was horrendous.

Just get it out.

Oh and dose yourself BEFORE the removal of it, it will make the whole injection into the roof of your mouth much easier.

Gargle with Solapdol or similar.

A private dentist offered to drill up through the tooth filling into the infection and drain it then temp fill it for £150 ready for the root canal (mine was a 4 month wait too, 2 months left to go )
I haven't needed to take them up on it yet but def worth a call if you can afford it.
Hope you get relief soon xx

find out the emergency dentist in your area by ringing 111 if your own practice won't see you, though if you ring your own practice that number might be given in their initial answerphone message. good luck

As others have said, get it taken out. Root canals rarely seem to work for very long but in the meantime get metronidazole antibiotics prescribed if you haven’t already. Amoxicillin is generally what they give out first and they are almost useless with dental stuff.

You poor thing, I had similar with a wisdom tooth. I had it taken out (last Monday, first extraction I've ever had and I'm 57!), but that was delayed by me getting Covid, and I had three rounds of antibiotics in 3 months. I have no advice, just lots of sympathy

I have a root canal in another tooth that was done 20 years ago, and it's still fine.

It needs opening up so that the infection can drain. I don’t know why dentists don’t seem to do this anymore. When I was in the same situation I had to ask the dentist to do it, she looked at me like I had two heads. Then I explained to her that I’d been a dental nurse for many years and knew full well that a 5 day course of antibiotics would do bugger all on their own. She opened the tooth up, took the nerve out and let it drain then.

Toothache is horrendous. Nothing else comes close to it imo.

@M1212

Just have it extracted ASAP. I'm a dentist and couldn't be bothered with all that molar RCT faffing. It shouldn't be visible unless you've got a mouth like Julia Robert.

Me neither. Get the bugger pulled.

I’ve been there, OP. Just get it taken out.

I was where you a few weeks ago. Had it pulled and will have an implant. It’s horrible pain. You have my sympathy.

Sympathies OP I've just been through similar: dry socket following a wisdom tooth removal and it was absolute hell.

Seconding having it taken out and going via 111 if your dentist can't accomodate you.

In the short-term I'd also alternate between cocodamol and the paracetomol version. I know you're not supposed to use codeine more than three days due to the risk of habit forming but I was told by one of the many dentists I spoke to that you can actually use it for up to a month.

Good luck.

cocodamol and the paracetomol version
The ibuprofen version I meant. Codydramol?