I don’t fucking understand this

[SoreToof]

I’ve posted before and still am not any further forward. I’m at my wits end and just don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve never been so miserable in all my life

i had an infection in my upper tooth root (the tooth was already filled) around a year ago and needed a root canal. I was in horrific pain- all across my cheek, my ear and my jaw and I couldn’t bite down on my tooth because it was excruciating. It wasn’t TN and I could pick out which exact tooth it was that hurt. There were nights I was up screaming and hitting my face off the wall it was so painful.

I had several antibiotic courses in the meantime but unfortunately nothing cleared it until I got the root canal. It was fine for a while after this and then the pain started again. Exact same tooth. I had several x rays and there’s no infection left, but I got another prescription at of antibiotics just to make sure it’s completely clear. It was fine for a week after I finished the dose and now it’s started hurting again- the exact same tooth. I can’t bite down on it at all without being in agony.

I don’t understand what’s going on with my mouth. My dentist is fantastic and I trust him and he was a bit unsure what’s causing it as tere’s no infection left behind, it’s been x rayed and the root canal was successful. I’m actually a bit frightened now, why is it still sore? Is it a problem with my face? What could it be if not an infected tooth?

I absolutely can’t get the tooth removed- because of the shape of my face and mouth it would be noticeable and obvious and I can’t afford to get it replaced with a bridge, implant or anything else. I can’t have a big gap in my face

i just want this all to stop. I’ve been in agony for almost a year and can’t keep taking cocodamol like sweeties.

Sorry but I think it’s you that isn’t understanding or at least reading my posts- I’m NOT throwing away money on a private dentist to do the RCT. I’ve said multiple times I have an NHS dentist. I can’t afford a private dentist for treatment like that. Maybe if you’re going to be rude about me, at least read my posts first?

But a root canal is what, £70 a time so if you have another one of those and it doesn't solve the issue then that's money wasted.

As I said above, i've been down the exact same path and the relief I felt after just getting the fucking thing out was immense - not only from the pain but from knowing I didn't face any more appointments and uncertainty from not knowing what was going on and whether anything was going to fix it.

A gap in your smile really isn't a big deal and it's not that expensive to fix one a bit further down the road. I hope it works out as constant toothache is just soul destroying.

You need to see an Endodontist. Can you get a referral? I'm in the US so we just pick up the phone, but I suppose with the NHS it's not that simple. At any rate, they do have better diagnostic tools than a DDS. Will your dentist refer you?

People with untreated dental infections are 3 times more likely to end up with cardiovascular problems. This is because of the infection getting into the blood stream via the dental capillaries, and thus into the bloodstream and to the heart.

I know you don't want to have the tooth extracted. But this isn't something to mess around with. My DH had takotsubo cardiomyopathy and after he recovered it was stressed to him how important it was that he get regular dental cleanings and care and that he needed to get to the dentist at the first sign of tooth pain.

I think you should go to bed. Or at least step away from the thread.
I get it; none of us want to lose teeth unnecessarily.

However:
You said more than once that there were no NHS dentists in your area.
Now you say you’re NHS.

You say you’re popping opioids, and are worried about ongoing infection, but you’re saying you don’t want anything more done to solve it, other than repeating what’s already not worked.

You say you don’t have any money to pay for anything suggested, but do have money to pay for root canal…,

If you’re not paying anything for dental treatment, the cost of extraction and a plate is not an issue. If you’re paying NHS fees, iIT’S STILL CHEAPER THAN EXTENSIVE REPEATED ROIT CANAL.

Maybe you’re the one who should read your own previous posts. 🤷🏻‍♀️

No I understand that but I feel like I can’t win on this post with some people. Posters are accusing me of being rude and not taking any advice, but they’ve not read any of my posts and their ‘advice’ is them banging on about me wasting money on private dentistry when I’m not and I’ve said that several times. Honestly I think that would frustrate anyone!

no doubt people will say I’m making excuses here but £300 for a bridge for example is just not an option. At all. I understand for some people they would just save but I know my financial situation and that’s too much and will be for the near future.

Thanks I appreciate it, sorry you’ve been through it too, toothache really is awful! It’s so frustrating that dentistry is so expensive!

Honestly you sound a bit unhinged.

i literally posted directly above your last post saying I can’t afford private dentistry and I have an nhs dentist. Maybe read before writing your rude comments?

yeah, a poster asked if I could go to another dentist, and I said there’s no other NHS dentists in my area. And private isn’t an option.

this is literally nothing to you, you don’t even know me, and you clearly don’t like me, so why even bother comment? It’s 1am and you’re commenting having a go at someone you don’t even know over something you don’t even care about, so why not just leave? It’s a bit sad if you ask me but you do you.

If it hurts when you bite down, doesn't that mean the tooth is higher than the other teeth?
Is it mobile?
I know you don't want it pulled but if you're looking to be pain free, it seems like it may be your only option.

If you can't afford treatment other than what is available through the NHS then I fear you are in it for the long haul unless you just get it extracted. You aren't going to see specialists in a hurry - if at all - without paying for them or without having insurance to cover the cost.

I know having a gap can seem like a big deal, but just think about whether you can put up with the pain for another 6/12/18 months or longer, and that's not thinking about the risk to your health of taking painkillers long term or of any infection spreading. In your shoes I would honestly just have it pulled and be done with it. It takes 10 minutes and a couple of uncomfortable days but after that you get your life back.

Oh I’m actually not sure but maybe! when I got the rct they tested if it was too far down by me biting onto something and it was ok at first, I can’t say I’ve noticed it feels lower than my other teeth but it definitely does hurt to bite down.

when I try to move it I think I can feel it moving slightly but I’m not sure if that’s just my fingers moving on the tooth and not the tooth itself. I’ll try it again in the morning and see!

Well, I started out sympathetic…. Then you’ve been deliberately obtuse. I’m bored, waiting for someone to get stitches at A&E, and thought my experience might help. But, you were rude to me in more than one post.. I’m actually now finding it more funny than anything. 🤣,
Toothache is grim, so I genuinely hope that it’s because of that, that you’re so short with people who set out with good intentions, and you’re not normally like this with people.

You most definitely are being rude OP, to numerous posters. And yes I'm still here, not because I enjoy upsetting you but because I'm interested in the discussion on this thread. Maybe I'll be in the situation of being offered a root canal one day and having to decide what to do. The world doesn't revolve around you, people are here for their own reasons. I posted to help you, but you're getting upset because you don't like mine or others advice. My advice wasn't to pay for cosmetic dentistry (which tends to be expensive), it was to investigate options for better pain relief or to have the tooth extracted. I'm certain there have been other posters with suggestions that didn't involve cosmetic dentistry.

Can you find the post I’ve been rude? Other than me getting frustrated with repeating myself several times that I can’t afford it (that’s great that £300 isn’t a lot to some people but it’s too much for me) to people who keep misquoting me that I have a private dentist when I’ve been clear that I don’t, aren’t reading my original post and are intent on making me out to be difficult? I think anyone would get frustrated at that.

Honestly continually commenting on a post where someone is clearly upset just because you find it funny is absolutely tragic and I’m not wasting anymore time commenting or replying to someone like that. That says a lot about the type of person you clearly are, I’m glad you’ve had a good laugh though.

Sometimes it isn’t obvious at the time but the filling is too high. I would get that checked. I know you are struggling but you really should get a second opinion. Waiting 6 months for an NHS root canal probably made things worse. But I appreciate it’s really hard and dentistry and access to dental care is a total mess in this country.

If it hurts to bite down it may be the tooth has a small fracture in it that the dentist can't see on an xray. Remember that xrays are taken from one direction only, so if you have a facture running in the same direction as the xray is taken it basically is impossible to see it. What will happen is that as you bite down the tooth will move slightly causing both pain and allowing bacteria back into the root and no amount of root canals, cleaning the root out and antibiotics will solve the issue.

Like I said, been there, done that.

Honestly, your first reply was pretty harsh and I was perfectly polite back. Most other posters managed to reply without accusing me of preserving my looks.

like I said, I can’t stop you commenting and it’s absolutely fair enough to keep reading especially when an infected tooth is unfortunately something that could happen to any of us, but to continually comment on something when you know you’re upsetting someone is a pretty shit thing to do. It’s possible to read without commenting. But at least you’re not enjoying it like that other poster, I suppose that’s something

and if by rude you mean getting irritated at saying repeatedly I DONT have a private dentist, I’m NOT throwing away money on private canals, I CANT just save up £300 for a bridge. Yeah that’s frustrating saying that several several several times

Yeah i think you’re right and I honestly wonder how much the delay has worsened it, as in if I’d been able to get it sooner would my tooth be damaged this badly. I’ll never know but I definitely think it wouldn’t be as bad. There was such a big delay because of all the catching up from covid, honestly if I had £300 spare like some posters seem to think I wouldn’t be spending it on a bridge I’d have used it so I didn’t have to wait over 6 months for a RCT! x

OP - This sounds awful. I'm sorry you are going through this terrible pain. It's no fun, and sometimes there's no explanation to pain when everything else looks okay. You may be best off getting the tooth extracted.

This might be completely irrelevant and not helpful, but I remember when my mum had terrible pain in one of her teeth and when she saw the dentist they offered her root canal or to pull the tooth there and then. My mum was really shocked, and the dentist was so abrupt with her that my mum didn't feel happy about it. After looking online I suggested she try listerine on her tooth - and it really numbed the pain! After 4 years she managed to hold on to her tooth, but needs it extracted now. Might be worth a try?

Yeah I think you could be right! I mean, I know absolutely nothing about teeth but it sounds likely from what you’ve said. It would make sense with it hurting to bite down.

i managed to go so long in my life without dental problems (other than the odd filling) and now this! Everything always comes at once doesn’t it and unfortunately it’s always at the worst time (thanks covid/lockdowns)

Thank you very much! I’ll go to the shop and get some listerine tomorrow and try it, I’ve never tried it before so absolutely nothing to lose! Sorry she needs it extracted now but 4 extra years with it is brilliant! Thanks for the suggestion x

Honestly, your first reply was pretty harsh and I was perfectly polite back.

No it was blunt, not harsh. There's a difference. Not everyone is fluffy. I found it incredible that you had available options but we're unwilling to take any of them. You response wasn't polite. No amount of "x" on the end makes it so. You accused me of telling you to get cosmetic dentistry which wasn't what I'd said at all, and you drip fed information that your GP had refused painkillers other than co-codamol and got irritated with me for not having the psychic powers to have magically known that. If you can't see that you were rude then I guess that's why you don't understand why you've had some harsh responses back from posters. Perhaps it would be wise to remember that most people on the internet aren't there to seek out people with problems to help them, although they may end up trying to do that. Most people are here because they're bored, have nothing better to do, looking for entertainment or distraction. Social media isn't a public service with you as the customer. I'm off to bed.

No worries OP. Put the listerine on a piece of cotton wool and keep it on the infected tooth for a while and see how that goes. Certainly worth a try. Good luck!

Actually you could try anbesol as well. I'm using that currently on my babies gums for pain. It numbs it

Literally haven’t read a word of that beyond the first 2 lines, anyone who wants to can go back and read your posts and see they were rude from the beginning. I’m done with saying the same thing to people several times who accuse me of turning down every suggestion when the suggestions they’ve given are completely wrong or arguing that I can afford it if I just save, or that I’m wasting away money on private appointments when I’ve said several times that I can’t afford it.

my frustrated post re the gp was in response to you saying I didn’t bother to read your post (I did, and I replied back politely that the gp won’t help for anything teeth related in my area)

it’s ok just to admit you were rude and say sorry x it can be hard I know x

Bye hun x

Honestly I’m considering driving out to a 24 hour Tesco and getting some right now! Never thought I’d be so excited to buy some listerine haha.
thanks again!

Oh I haven’t tried that either thanks! I’ll add it to my list! Thanks x