For about a month now I've been having horrendous intermittent toothache - by which I mean it really comes and goes. One minute I'm fine, the next I'm in total agony. Rather than being specific to an individual tooth, it seems to be the whole right side of my mouth that is hurting. The pain almost seems to be above and below my teeth - almost like jaw ache rather than tooth ache, I think. My right ear is also sore.
I went to the dentist, suspecting an abcess or something. She did lots of tests, x-rays, tapping teeth, subjecting them to hot/cold etc, but could literally not find anything wrong. She told me it was probably transient sensitivity, gave me some special toothpaste and sent me on my way. I wondered whether it was sinus-related but I don't have a cold and have stopped taking my hayfever nasal sprays, in case they were causing irritation.
However, if anything the pain is getting worse. I can't sleep through the night because the painkillers wear off and I need to have more. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen won't touch it, so I'm taking codeine, which I'm concerned about as I don't want to become addicted to it. But it's the only thing that helps. I'm so tired and irritable, and finding it difficult to concentrate at work, and I can't let it go on.
I just don't know what to do next - do I go back to the dentist and demand she does all the tests again, or do I go to the doctor to get something better for the pain and hope it just goes away of its own accord like the dentist thinks it will?
I'd really appreciate any pearls of wisdom anyone can offer - or even any ideas about what the problem might be!