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AIBU?

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Original poster

To SMASH my own tooth out my own mouth

102 replies

PottedPlant234 · 11/02/2022 11:35

Not literally obviously! Very dramatic title but it’s metaphorically exactly how I feel right now. Sorry for the long post but I’m so desperate for help or advice hereSad

I’ve got toothache and it’s getting worse and ruining my life. We initially thought it was a sinus infection but I’m certain it’s the tooth now. 2 courses of antibiotics haven’t helped it at all, and the pain is getting worse and I can feel it affecting a bigger area of my face now. I know which tooth the pain is originally coming from when the dentist tapped it to check. I’m taking painkillers everyday to cope with it but it’s getting beyond that now and I can still feel it over the painkillers.

The pain started off just above my tooth in my cheek as a dull ache but would come in waves of extreme pain and throbbing. Then the pain eases off after 10-60 minutes and goes back to the dull ache again. Then later on, another episode of extreme pain starts again.

When it’s a dull ache I can just about put up with it and get on with my life, but the waves of extreme pain are agonising. Nothing helps and I end up lying down sobbing holding onto my face. They’re happening a lot more often now, and it’s not just the tooth that’s sore now- it’s my entire upper jaw, lower jaw, cheek area and ear. It feels like my face on that side is throbbing and the pain has been enough to make me sick. My jaw hurts as if I’ve been punched and it sometimes feels tingly, as if it’s itchy inside it. My ear throbs and feels exactly like when I had an ear infection. It also aches on the hard bit of my head (sorry don’t know the exact word) directly behind my ear lobe. The tooth itself is more painful now too and I can feel it throbbing in my mouth. The other side of my face is fine.

I’ve got a root canal booked but it’s months away (nobody’s fault, dentists are just extremely busy right now) but the thought of waiting weeks nevermind months with this pain makes me feel so scared. I don’t know why I’m posting, I just don’t know what to do😭 I can’t afford private unfortunately. I was thinking of enquiring about getting the tooth extracted but I really wanted to avoid that if i could at my age. Anyone else been in this situation, did you wait for the RCT or just have it removed?

OP posts:
dentistattic · 12/02/2022 08:24

I'm wondering if this is indeed trigeminal neuralgia? You'd need to rule out dental causes completely. When that's done then perhaps contact your gp. Usually a short course of amitrytaline is helpful with TN

ItsCanardBruv · 12/02/2022 08:27

Those waves of pain seem quite indicative of TN. It drops me to my knees and when it’s been bad I’ve been terrified I’d have an attack at the wheel because I’m unable to do anything except clutch my face and wait for it to pass. I take pregablin now and it’s 99% under control.

It was the dentist who realised something wasn’t right when she touched my tooth with a gloved finger and i shot out of the chair squealing. She referred me to the dental hospital and I saw a couple of specialists there and like I said, about 30 x-rays.

maddening · 12/02/2022 08:43

Oralgel is a pharmacy mouth numbing gel, it might help you through

Toomanyradishes · 12/02/2022 08:49

Another one echoing trigeminal neuralgia here, when i get it it feels like i have tooth ache in every tooth on one half of my mouth (although i have one specific incisor that feels worse) plus ear ache, and it comes and goes in waves

Its really common to have teeth extracted with TN and then find out it wasnt the tooth all along

Original poster
PottedPlant234 · 12/02/2022 14:28

Just thought I’d post a quick update. I expected to spend today in agony like yesterday but surprisingly it’s not been too bad. There’s still a dull ache and faint tingling in my jaw, but not nearly as sore as it was yesterday so I’m so relieved! And no episodes of extreme pain so far today. Obviously I’m still going to go to the dentist and get it checked but it’s a relief it seems to be getting better.

Thanks for all the comments and advice I really appreciate it Flowers x

OP posts:
WishIwasElsa · 12/02/2022 14:46

Whisky/ brandy hold it in your mouth it will help to numb. Be careful though I had a bad tooth and a bad dentist who told. Me there was nothing wrong with me several times. Ended up on carbamazepine fro docs as they thought I had trigeminal neuralgia until I woke up one day with a hugely swollen face took a trip to A&E who were concerned about sepsis after some obs spent a couple of days in after that

WishIwasElsa · 12/02/2022 14:48

Sorry I forgot to put any punctuation in 🙈

Nisse23 · 12/02/2022 15:21

This can just mean the tooth nerve is finally dying. I had similar a few years back with a top molar. I had a root canal (instant pain relief when he took out the nerve) and a crown. The root canal was hideous. It was a good, private dentist with lots of experience but I had five roots in the tooth and they were super wonky.

Unfortunately the pain came back within a year and I needed an extraction. It felt squishy whenever I hit down. When it came out it was obvious it should’ve been extracted in the first place - it had a big crack below the gum line, which hadn’t been visible on x-ray. At least they didn’t charge me to pull it that time!

Don’t take no for an answer, and remember root canals aren’t always effective, especially if the tooth has lots of roots, sadly.

Original poster
PottedPlant234 · 13/02/2022 17:17

Just posting another quick update in case anyone is around. After yesterday I thought that the episodes of extreme pain might have finished and I was over the worst of it, but unfortunately its come back today with an vengeance Sad it’s a constant dull ache across my jaw and cheeks and intermittent throbbing in the tooth and on my face.

Previously I could eat on the tooth and bite down on it, and it hurt but wasn’t agonising, but now I can’t do that either because it just hurts too far much. It also feels as if the tooth is different to bite on and is sitting differently in my mouth but I might just be imagining that. When I got a new filling it felt strange for a few days- thats how this feels now.

The pain is still on my cheek and up into my ear, but it’s a lot worse in my lower jaw than it was the other day. It feels painful round underneath my lower jawline (sorry I don’t know how best to describe this) almost at the soft/fleshy bit under my chin, but it’s confusing because the infected tooth is an upper tooth. Still no swelling thankfully and my temperature was still around 95.5 so no fever either which is a relief.

It’s been an awful weekend but thanks again for all the good wishes and advice Flowers

OP posts:
billy1966 · 13/02/2022 18:27

OP,
Mine went up to my ear.
Never had pain like it.
The relief of getting it out was immense.
My private dentist told me I could be a month waiting for a private RC.
There was no way I would have lasted.
Thrilled that it is gone.
I couldn't face the drama of an extended period of pain.
When he removed it, there was no infection, just a crack.
4 natural births, and nothing came near it.
I was quite shaken and exhausted by the end of it.
I garggled with disolveable pain killers in the area and swished it, and then also took 500mg of paracetamol too.

I did this just before I went to have them removed...within 30 minutes and it REALLY took the edge off the procedure too as mine was upper back and the injection goes into your upper palate.

Best of luck.

Jjjaaakkk · 13/02/2022 18:29

Sounds like you have a dental absces

DrMadelineMaxwell · 13/02/2022 18:55

I'm another one questioning Trigeminal neuralgia. Your account sounds exactly like my TN when it first presented. To rule out a dental cause I had a tooth removed and, obviously, it did nothing to help.

Not being able to pin the pain down to one consistent cause is classic. Mine hurts in my teeth, my ear, my jaw, the join of my jaw and more.

Medication sorted it for me.

Original poster
PottedPlant234 · 13/02/2022 20:34

I did wonder about trigeminal neuralgia after so many people commented about it. It sounds absolutely awful Sad
The only thing I was unsure about was would this give me toothache in a specific tooth? I’ve got the pain across my face and ear and jaw, but I’ve also got a specific pain in my tooth too. I wasn’t sure if this was more consistent with an infection or not

OP posts:
coralblue · 13/02/2022 22:03

I have the exact same but I’m opting for removal in just over a week, have you tried panamol? It’s the only thing that helped me get any sleep but you can only have it for 3days. I’m now taking 500mg amoxicillin which is just starting to work (I had 250mg before Xmas) and I’m only taking paracetamol twice a day now. It’s the worst pain I’ve ever had. also holding cold water in my mouth worked for a few minutes of relief. I’d recommend ringing your dentist everyday to see if they have had any cancellations

Tumbleweed101 · 13/02/2022 22:27

I had a large painless abcess that constantly leaked from the gum and I was.getting constant sore throats and abcesses there too. I started falling over a lot and caught every cold going.

Had the large molar extracted and I didn't catch a cold for over a year, no sore throats, generally felt healthier. Didn't fall over again. It shocked me how much it affected my whole body.

Tumbleweed101 · 13/02/2022 22:28

I don't miss the extracted tooth.

cocodomingo · 13/02/2022 22:34

Try ice packs and get naproxen prescribed by dentist or gp and take religiously. Call nhs 111 and explain how the pain is affecting your sleep and you are being driven out of your mind by the pain..they should book you with emergency dentist who can do part one root canal ..they have very strict criteria so try your own dentist too so you can let nhs 111 know you have tried this first.

UniversalAunt · 13/02/2022 22:39

Hi@PottedPlant234, sorry to that you are still suffering such pain & discomfort.

Can you hit the phones tomorrow early to find yourself an emergency dentist?

Although you don’t have a fever, it sounds like you do have some intense inflammation &/or infection around that tooth.

Did the antibiotics help ease the pain before? As I mentioned, my dentist said that the antibiotics only suppress the infection, remedial treatments is required to remove the diseased tissue or tissue e.g. root canal or extraction. If there was no relief with the antibiotics, perhaps this indicates the neuralgia pps have mentioned?

Can you ring NHS111 for details of the local emergency dentist?
You do need to be seen.

This much pain, your body is struggling & send you red flags to do something now.

MrsSantaClausitback · 13/02/2022 22:46

Could’ve written this- I have the same waves of pain. Never known anything like it. I’ve been putting it off but just get to a dentist this week. Would take Labour over it anytime.
I’m talking 3 Nurofen express And that seems to keep on top of it, if I take them in time. If not, I’m crying on the floor snd can’t do anything. Good luck!!

TheFormidableMrsC · 13/02/2022 23:01

@PottedPlant234

I did wonder about trigeminal neuralgia after so many people commented about it. It sounds absolutely awful Sad The only thing I was unsure about was would this give me toothache in a specific tooth? I’ve got the pain across my face and ear and jaw, but I’ve also got a specific pain in my tooth too. I wasn’t sure if this was more consistent with an infection or not
I read your thread and thought it was trigeminal neuralgia. My friend has it, the symptoms you describe are identical. Go back to GP but be warned my friend has been told to "live with it"
Jjjaaakkk · 14/02/2022 07:23

You really shouldn’t have been told that. Go back,there are treatments

52andblue · 14/02/2022 07:39

I had this issue last year. I opted for an extraction. The dentist snapped the tooth off, leaving the live roots exposed. They sent me home in agony. Took 2 weeks to get an emergency patch applied whilst waiting for oral surgery at local hospital. That is due next week. My tooth was snapped off last August. I've been in pain & eating on one side of my mouth only since & the inside of my mouth is brown from the (now disgusting) patch & the special mouthwash i was told to use. Good luck OP, I hope you have a better time of it ! (sorry for vent)

StrawberrySanta · 14/02/2022 07:40

Call 111 for emergency dentist appointment, don't put up with it any longer

DrNo007 · 14/02/2022 07:45

I would have it extracted in emergency appointment. I have had a root canal in the past and it was never right—years of low level infection—finally had it out and had an implant (you can delay implant till you can afford it). Do not let your dentist fob you off, you are in serious pain and your infection could spread to dangerous levels.

Original poster
PottedPlant234 · 14/02/2022 22:54

Thanks for all the replies, I’ve read them all and appreciate everyone sharing advice Star

I’m so glad the weekend is over! I managed to go to the dentist today which was such a relief to get it checked. They said it’s definitely an abscess but there’s no swelling or lump on the gums thankfully so I think it’s maybe under the tooth so not as bad. I’m not sure of the exact details but it’s definitely an infection so I’ve got some more antibiotics to get me through until the root canal. It’s not for a few months but the antibiotics will take away the infection and pain in the meantime.

Thanks everyone for the advice you’ve all given, it was so helpful Flowers

OP posts: