In so much pain

[pizzaface23]

I'm awaiting extraction on a wisdom tooth and a molar. The molar is badly decayed, I saw the xray and although it looks fine on the outside, the inside just looks black. I'm in so much pain. The pain seems to be inside the tooth and gum but is radiating around the jaw bone and up the side of my face. I've been getting by with strong painkillers and am on day 2 of antibiotics prescribed by the dentist on Thursday.
I'm hoping that the antibiotics will kick in and this will improve. If not I have no idea what to do. The thought of carrying on like this for even a few weeks is terrifying. I have a 5 year old and a toddler and I'm just wiped out from the pain.
Has anyone else had this? Did antibiotics work temporarily? If there's no improvement by the end of the course I feel like I'm just going to pay privately to get them taken out. Can't afford it but can't afford to feel like this for much longer either. Will antibiotics help if the infection is inside the tooth? There's no visible abscess or anything like that.

Bump

Oh you poor thing. When are you booked to have it out? No specific advice I'm afraid only much sympathy, but hopefully more knowledgeable posters will be along soon. x

I've been referred to a dental hospital. Waiting to get an appointment but have already decided that if I still feel this bad after the antibiotics have finished then I will try to bring it forward by offering to pay privately (the hospital offers a mix of NHS and private treatments).
I'm just so sick of feeling so awful and I'm also worrying about the possibility of sepsis and the infection spreading.

Clove oil.
Pack it as
Much as you can

Pack it with what? There isn't a hole, it's like the inside of the tooth and the gum are so painful but from the outside it looks normal, no abscess, holes or open wounds. Can I just apply clove oil around the tooth?

Yes

I got it extracted privately. While I was waiting (I was actually on holiday)

• wheat pack in the microwave heated up on the side of my face helped

• drugs drugs and more drugs

• bonjela has lidocaine in it which is a painkiller and you can put it on the gum all around the tooth

Yeah I’d get it out asap. I don’t think extractions cost too much

While you are waiting for your appointment get oralgel - it will numb the area

Try Oragel. Its like bonjella but for grown ups. Completely numbed my gum.

My Dad was a dentist and he would not advise heat - if there is infection it could make it worse.

I'm really hoping the antibiotics will take the edge off the pain. I know it's not a long term solution but I just can't stand feeling like this for another week, never mind a month or more.
All I know is the molar is badly decayed inside. I'm presuming that's caused an infection in my tooth/gum. But now the pain is radiating up the side of my face, temple, ear and even sinus area. It's horrid.

Oh gawd I've been there, I really feel for you. What antibiotics did they prescribe? I needed two different types together when I had infections in my teeth and gums, worst pain ever, I found that out the hard way. You can fill out an online request with pharmacies like Superdrug or the Online Clinic, amoxicillan (not sure of spelling) never worked on my infections, I hope you get some relief soon.

Ps from Google re heat on infected tooth

It may be tempting to use a warm compress or a heating pad to ease your pain, but this is a very bad idea. The body's response to an infection is inflammation and swelling. If you add to the heat by adding a warm compress to your face, you can increase the swelling and pain. Instead, use cold packs.

Tooth ache is the absolute worst. I had an infected wisdom tooth and was literally rocking and threatening to hit my head against the wall as I was almost mad with pain. I even googled about people commiting suicide due to tooth ache.

You have my sympathy OP, it really is awful. Take all the pain killers you're offered (ask for morphine). In the end I paid privately for mine to come out. I've never felt such relief in my life.

Do not use excessive amounts of clove oil. My dentist advised that it burns the gums. OP I have every sympathy with you went through 2 extractions. The pain was so bad.

I feel you op. I have four impacted wisdom teeth and have had on and off infections and pain for the past two years whilst waiting on the nhs referral at my hospital. I must say, as soon as i had my referral appointment they pushed me to the top of the list and from the appointment to the surgery is within a month of each other. I’m finally having all 4 out next week. I really hope yours comes soon and that you feel better

I think it's an absolute disgrace that people are having to wait this long to have problematic teeth removed. Especially when they are getting such painful and potentially dangerous infections in the waiting period. Everything online reiterates how dangerous tooth and gum infections can be if they are left long term and yet hospitals are making people wait a year or more. I will end up paying if the antibiotics don't clear it up soon. But lots of people don't have that option.
The dentist has given amoxicillin for 5 days which doesn't feel very long for this level of pain but I'm only on day 2 so will hold out and hope for the best.
I work and have little children so it's really hard to have to keep attending these appointments. I just want it gone completely now. I wake up every morning in such pain.

Get cold compress on and painkillers tonight and get oralgel in the morning. Do salt or antiseptic mouth washes over the weekend and then chase up extraction on Monday x

I have been there many times with infections! Can you get hold of any strong co-codamol or tramadol from anyone that takes it? Sorry know you're not supposed to share medication but when you're desperate!! Just be careful with the kids incase you got drowsy. I had been in agony for days even after seeing the dentist and getting antibiotics, when I had nothing left and drove to the hospital at midnight in desperation, all I wanted was strong pain relief, didn't even want to see anyone as I knew I had antibiotics already, they gave me oral morphine in a syringe in the reception area and then I was out of pain for 2 days, it eventually came back and I went again as my own gp wouldn't see me to prescribe stronger tablets so the hosp gave me strong co-codamol.

You poor thing, I know exactly what it's like. But yes, it sounds like an infection, and yes, the antibiotics should kick in very quickly now, and you should start to notice a difference. I've been there 3 or 4 times now. Antibiotics always helped. But, it's only temporary. The tooth will become infected again sooner or later, so definitely prioritise getting it removed.

I was just going to post this, no heat but use an ice pack. I’ll be honest, I’d pay if you can afford to instead of trying to wait it out. Dental pain is awful, there’s no point in suffering if you can afford to have the tooth removed privately.

Edited to add it’s barbaric to make people wait to have extractions but I don’t think dentists are willing to extract a tooth when there’s an infection? I may be wrong on that but any tooth infections I’ve had I’ve been told to take the antibiotics first before they’d even look at removing the tooth.

I think you are right Trasania re needing to reduce the infection before operating, my dad is likely asleep now but I am seeing him tomorrow so will ask and come back

It sounds like pulpitis- the reason it’s so painful is the canal up the centre of the tooth is infected, but because the tooth is a rigid structure there’s nowhere for the infection/inflammation to expand to. (I’m not a dentist btw)

You have my sympathy, I had four impacted wisdom teeth one of which kept getting infected and it makes you feel so ill. Unfortunately I just had to wait it out for months on painkillers and antibiotics to have them removed so definitely look into having done private if you get to the point you can't wait any longer

I came across pulpits on google and it said antibiotics don't always work for this because they can't reach the infected area which is a bit frightening.
I've got a terrible headache this morning too, just feel awful.