I would love to just rip out my tooth!

[Tippytoes]

I have had toothache since Saturday - got an emergency appointment on Monday at dentist. He couldn't locate which tooth it was but said it sounds like it is dying from what I described the pain to be like. Either will have to have it out or root canal and then crown. He sent me away with some gel, just in case it is my gums. Well, we are now on Wednesday and I am going round the bend with the pain - comes like contractions - every 10 minutes or so and lasts for 5/10 minutes. Anyone else had this and do you know how long it takes for a tooth to die. Dentist said it will become more obvious which tooth it is, but as yet it hasn't so no point in going back as he won't do anything until we know.

I know this pain so well - and I really feel for you. You need antibiotics to get rid of the infection - not the normal amoxyllin type, but one that begins with 'met.....'. You can't drink alcohol with it.

I found holding a piece of cottonwool soaked in whisky over the gum gave me some relief.

For what it's worth, I have had these abcesses on several teeth, and had a number of root canal fillings which have been crowned.

Do feel for you.

Thanks for your replies.

Yes he did take an x-ray - didn't show anything up, which is why he is reluctant to treat any one particular tooth - he just said it would become clear soon which one it was, but I can't carry on like this waiting for it to become clear.

He did say he was going to give me antibiotics, but then changed his mind and gave me the gel for my gums which looked a bit tender. Its not even touching the sides of my pain, sure it is a tooth rather than gums.

Think I will turn up on the dentist doorstep at 9am tomorrow morning to get him to look again.

he should have given you some antibiotics i had amoxyllin they took the pain away until i had filling.

go back and get antibiotics - sounds like you have an abcess - I have had one and can sympathise - pain killers don't seem to touch it.

If it is an abcess you need amoxycillin (metranidazole is used for infections of the gum). It sounds more that the tooth is dying (when the nerve dies in a tooth it becomes hypersensitive and reacts iyswim) an abcess doesn't happen until the tooth is dead and the dead tissues become infected. Sometimes tapping the tooth or applying something hot or cold can show you which tooth it is. Take paracetamol every 4 hours and Ibuprofen every 4 hours (staggering them by 2 hours) this will maintain a higher level of medication is your system hopefully making things more comfortable . HTH

Yes will definately go back tomorrow and if he still can't locate which tooth, then ask for some antibiotics. He did do the tapping on each tooth and applied cold water etc., but still wasn't clear which tooth. I was convinced it was one of 3 on the top, but now my bottom teeth seem to be throbbing too, but think thats just the effect of the pain.

Just to let you know, I had my tooth out this morning - so far so good, so hopefully we have got the right one out! I couldn't stand it any longer, so turned up on the dentist's doorstep first thing this morning. Luckily, he saw me first before anyone else and I convinced him to whip it out. So hopefully no more pain now!