Dental abscesses

[Bridecilla]

I was due to get a tooth pulled last week (booked a few weeks ago) after going to the dentist for the first time in 30+ years after lovely support on here.

Obviously my appointment was cancelled.

I think i have an abscess or something. If I explain I'm hoping someone could advise?

The tooth is raised and I jarred it the other night. The pain was excruciating and lasted for about 5 hours (I took and am taking ibuprofen and paracetamol) felt like a stabbing / trapped nerve 9/10 pain

2 days later I'm down to probably a 7 or 8/10 throbbing pain and my face is a bit swollen.

Does it sound like an abscess? Can I ring and ask for antibiotics do you think?

[Bridecilla]

@danni0509 yes, I'm awake in pain again. Going to beg for something stronger as soon as they open!

[Mrsmorton]

@danni0509 I reckon after 6 days you're almost in the clear!! Like you said, upper is a good sign, are you a smoker? I think you can probably relax. I've not practised for a while but I did practise for a long time so I think I can comment. Would be happy to be corrected by another MN dento though!!

[danni0509]

@Bridecilla have you only had amoxicillin so far?

Yes deffo ring. I had to and they prescribed metronidazole after the amoxi.

@Mrsmorton can I ask please, what are the chances of getting dry socket after 6 days (7 tomorrow) really worried myself stupid over it. It's an upper tooth aswell I read they are rarer to get dry socket, I'm not in pain really, just a bit of twingey / discomfort but I think I had that previous when I had tooth out.

Thanks x

[Bridecilla]

My course was only 5 days. Still pressure around the tooth and up to my ear.

Can I ring 2m and ask for more? Not sure that's allowed?

[TJH130]

@Bridecilla Hi - not so bad now its cleared up and hopefully will stay that way until the dentist reopens.

I've found after taking the full 7 day run it was still a couple of days after until it stopped hurting completely.

I was told to take a pain killer with the Amoxicillin for pain relief

[Bridecilla]

@TJH130 how are you doing?

I had some pain free time last night and was hopeful but woke up and it's killing again :(

My antibiotics run out today so I'll be ringing for more (can you have a double course? Can I ask for something stronger than amoxicillin?)

[TJH130]

I'm not a doctor or dentist and this isnt medical advice.

I have a broken tooth, the dentist prescribed me Amoxicillin for an infection and its cleared it up, for now, but this is the second time.

I find for the pain the only thing that works is Ibuprofen however that has the effect of then causing ulcers in the throat - I really need it removed but there's no where at the moment thats prepared to do the extraction.

I really feel for you @Bridecilla and hope you get some relief from it soon. xx

[Greenteandchives]

Mrsmorton my teeth are generally very sound and I have been to the dentist and hygienist twice a year all my life.
Bridecilla that’s what I’m doing now. My dentist prescribed diclofenac painkillers but it didn’t help at all so I am just doing whatever helps.

[Bridecilla]

@Greenteandchives I'm on BP meds too (amlodipine and lisiniprol) and didn't know about not taking ibuprofen??

What's safe to take? I've been alternating nurofen and paracetamol

[Mrsmorton]

Maybe this will be the prompt everyone needs to do more prevention in all aspects of health.

[Greenteandchives]

Thank you danni. I can’t help feeling that the neglect of significant other areas of health care is going to have some consequences further down the line.

[danni0509]

Forgot to say, I had an abscess and had 3 lots of antibiotics which didn't work.

[danni0509]

Bless you @Greenteandchives I genuinely feel for you, i wish I could help.

I just had to pay £400 to have a tooth removed on Monday and travel 3 hours to have it done. I'd been on this urgent dental hub list since the 25th March and nothing has been set up!

Terrible terrible times.

My tooth was a broken tooth that had died (turned an off colour) that had been infected 7 years ago and I'm now missing it (eye tooth at the front of my mouth) I look like something out of jeepers creepers and can't believe I'm missing a very visible tooth.

No idea when I can get it replaced so will have to make do not talking or smiling.

I feel like I've been filled in, and I'm scared to death about getting a dry socket. I am struggling to talk and dribbling like mad because I daren't suck up incase I dislodge blood clot.

It's been a miserable month x

[Weedsnseeds1]

Do you have cloves ( the spice) tuck one in your cheek next to the tooth to numb it a bit, while you wait for the antibiotics to kick in. It does work

[Greenteandchives]

I’ve had metronidazole. No change. Getting worse.
I’m on bp medication so shouldn’t really take ibuprofen, but I’ve had to anyway. All I can do is keep swilling cold water around my mouth. I spend a lot of time in the loo.

[danni0509]

Hot as you can stand (so you don't burn you mouth) Salt wash 4-6 times a day.

Sleep elevated on a pillow.

Take pain relief regularly, don't wait for pain to kick in, pain is easier to prevent than to stop.

Nurofen standard dose is 400mg but it is safe to go up to 600mg per dose.

Keep on and on and on at the dentist, phone daily asking for urgent hub updates make sure your squeaky wheels are heard or you won't be taken seriously.

[RingtheBells]

I had a swollen face and abscess about 6 months ago and had 2 antibiotics to take, I think it was the ones that danni0509 mentioned, it took about 3 days for swelling and pain to subside. I had the tooth out a couple of weeks after starting antibiotics.

[danni0509]

Can you get nurofen plus or paramol. Don't take both together.

I would do nurofen plus and paracetamol together.

Or

Paramol and plain nurofen together.

[danni0509]

@Bridecilla & @Greenteandchives have you both had amoxicillin? You might need metronidazole.

[Greenteandchives]

Me too Bridecilla I feel sick with pain and it feels like my face is going to blow open at any minute. Nothing has worked so far. I am on day 5 of the antibiotics.

[heathspeedwell]

Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time.

I think you need to call the dentist again and ask their advice, you shouldn't have to be in pain like this for so long.

Good luck!

[cosmo30]

Antibiotics normally take a day or two to get into your system. I've taken them ones before they made me so ill but hopefully they won't you. I've had an abscess on my wisdom tooth before, my face swelled up bad I looked like a chipmunk, and had to work like it 🙄 hope the pain goes soon

[Bridecilla]

I thought I knew which tooth it was butim honestly not sure, it's the whole right side of my jaw. I've just had a cry on dp (which freaked him a bit as usually I'm quite tough!)

[MehitabelWhurl]

There should be emergency places open. My friend had an extraction the other day. Not at her usual surgery but they referred her. Same day treatment.

[Bridecilla]

How long would antibiotics normally take to work? I'm on day 6 of pain, day 4 of antibiotics and it's still really painful (probably a dull, constant 5 or 6 out of 10)