Unbearable toothache

[blibblibs]

I have an abcess and it's driving me crazy. I've never felt pain like it
I went to the dentist on Friday who took an xray and prescribed antibiotics but I can't seem to control the pain. I've taken all the paracetamol & ibuprofen I'm allowed as I've been awake since 4am with the pain.
Any ideas what else I can take while I wait for the antibiotics to work? It's making me properly miserable

[Badders123]

You port thing :(
Nefapam is a great pain killer if the dentist will px it
Also try soluble co codamol which you can swish round your mouth
Clove oil is supposed to be good

[reup]

Are you sure you are not me, I'm in exactly the same position but I can't take ibuprofen and co- codamol isn't touching the pain. I went to the emergency dentis on Friday and they couldn't see anything wrong and just gave me some toothpaste and mouth wash! Since the pain has been more,localised in one tooth so hopefully if I go back tomorrow they can do something.

[BatSegundo]

Clove oil is very good and the only relief I found when paracetamol and ibuprofen weren't working (was banging my head on the bed with the pain). I had to keep dabbing it on regularly, but it was like magic. God knows how you'd get hold of it as this time on a Sunday night though

[WhingingTulip]

Max Ibuprofen is 800mg three times a day. I found this helped me when spaced out with paracetamol (several abscesses in the past unfortunately). I'm allergic to codeine so couldn't take that. Red wine also helped although not necessarily to be recommended....

[blibblibs]

No chance of getting Clove oil this evening but will be the first thing I do tomorrow. Painkillers are giving me a headache too if that's even possible

[RosettaPebble]

I'm in the same situation OP it is truly horrible. The infection has spread to my ear and I'm climbing the walls. The only thing that helps is cold mouthwash. I have a fridge full of listerine. It's temporary respite but it's keeping me sane.

[Mrsmorton]

To answer pp and @yerawizardharry the reasons many emergency dentists don't do nerve removal are many:

-It takes time and there are targets to meet (set by accountants and commissioners)
-Patients often don't want actual treatment, genuinely the number of people who will say "what, you want to drill my tooth now?" is phenomenal. Generally they come in having self diagnosed an abscess (which is almost always incorrect, what they have is "pulpitis") and asking for antibiotics. Despite no extra cost, they don't want treatment.
-The race to the bottom is well and truly won in dental OOH services. I handed my notice in after having my contract changed so I would earn 20% less on Sundays and bank holidays than I would on normal working days. This has got worse according to my colleagues who now don't get paid but get TOIL with conditions attached. No one wants to work there so you end up with dentists who can't get regular jobs... infer from that what you will.

It has nothing to do with ethics or anaesthetic. In almost 10 years of every other Sunday and every bank holiday OOH work, I only had one patient I couldn't get numb and she had a complex medical history including the classic hyper mobility. Lovely lady, we all felt awful for her.

But I'm overweight so what do I know.

Hope you get seen soon.

btw, I wrote extensively about these issues in a long post called "dental chronicles" a while ago. I had to stop posting because I was being harassed by someone but there's some detailed explanations on there about different types of toothache.

[sammyjayneex]

I agree MRSmorton

Pulpitis happens first and then the pulpitis caused an infection/abscess later because it's dead tissue I've had a lot of dental problems sometimes feel like my world has ended.

[UnbornMortificado]

MrsMorton are dentists allowed or supposed to give out pain relief?

I'm just really curious mine doesn't and I've heard different answers on mn. Sorry you got harassed I've always found your dental advice spot on.

[Mrsmorton]

There's nothing on our "formulary" that you can't buy OTC*. We can prescribe more privately but many are reluctant to as we get so so many complaints and compensation claims that UK dentists are risk averse. So general advice is to ask the pharmacist I'm afraid.
*That may be with the exception of diclofenac... I don't treat patients anymore although I'm still registered and insured etc, just my job is non clinical so I'm a wee bit out of touch with new formulary.

The evidence available is that paracetamol/ibuprofen alternated are as good as codeine. The issue isn't really with the type of painkiller, it's how it can (or can't in the case of pulpitis) get to the source of the pain.

[Mrsmorton]

So to answer your question in short. Yes allowed to prescribe a fairly limited list, yes supposed to advise on pain relief.

[UnbornMortificado]

Oh thank you I'd never looked at it that way before.

Seems a bit shit for dentists, I've had a really bad reaction to a MH drug in the past. I wouldn't dream of putting a claim in.

[Haudyerwheesht]

I feel so sorry for you OP.

mrsmorton that's so interesting. I have commented several times about hyper mobility causing my sons issues with anaesthetic and both a dental surgeon and a normal surgeon had no idea what I was talking about!

[Mrsmorton]

I'm unsure if there's any actual evidence but anecdote for sure. Hypermobility and red hair!

You can almost always get anaesthesia though. It just takes time and sometimes innovation by dentist and trust from patient.

[UnbornMortificado]

MrsM knows her dental shit, she's always (from what I've seen) reassure nervous posters and answer any questions.

[Mrsmorton]

urban that's nice to hear!

[UnbornMortificado]

I was one such nervous patient ages ago

[blibblibs]

Thank you mrsmorton. Paracetamol is the only thing that takes the edge off it slightly but I'm having far too many of them.
I'm not in the UK so no NHS so not the same constraints on the dentist I saw but he did seem reluctant to do anything until I'd taken some antibiotics.
They don't seem to have made a blind bit of difference so what would your advice be?
My face feels but isn't swollen along with my tongue and my lips are numb, actually it feels alot like it does when you have an injection at the dentist and it starts to wear off but I have lots if pain to go with it.

[namechangeforthis123]

OP how's it going now? I really hope the anti-b's are kicking in! I had an abscess last year. at one point I found myself lent against the kitchen cupboards banging my head in agony.
clove oil and a freezing bottle of water held against the side of my fave helped as much as painkillers. I don't metabolise codiene, may as well pop smarties!
if you itch an old fashioned sleep inducing antihistamine will help.
Mrs Morton gave me some brilliant advice. I will always think of her and the other posters who helped me, with kindness. I sincerely hope you sleep tonight and the pain abets.

[namechangeforthis123]

OP how's it going now? I really hope the anti-b's are kicking in! I had an abscess last year. at one point I found myself lent against the kitchen cupboards banging my head in agony.
clove oil and a freezing bottle of water held against the side of my fave helped as much as painkillers. I don't metabolise codiene, may as well pop smarties!
if you itch an old fashioned sleep inducing antihistamine will help.
Mrs Morton gave me some brilliant advice. I will always think of her and the other posters who helped me, with kindness. I sincerely hope you sleep tonight and the pain abets.

[Anyhoooo]

Oh god, nowt worse than toothache! Its on a par with childbirth. I feel for you and hope its sorted soon.

[Mrsmorton]

When are you due back? If it's longer than tomorrow I'd try to get seen tomorrow!
Cold water can help as other posters have mentioned. Propping yourself up on pillows can help the throbbing as it reduces blood flow to your head.
Frustrating... get seen asap I'm afraid is my advice!

[Mrsmorton]

The numb feeling will go once it's sorted. Don't worry too much although it's unpleasant I understand.

[blibblibs]

Dentist here seem to work by going and sitting and waiting so I'll be there first thing.
I seem to have an abcess under an already crowned tooth, which was done in the UK many moons ago. Do they not take the root out before putting on a crown? And if they do why would I be in so much pain now? And tomorrow am I just best asking for the tooth, or what's left of it to be removed?

[UnbornMortificado]

Sorry your still suffering blibb. I don't know how common it is but like I mentioned earlier I have had an antibiotic not work before, it was metranozole (sp) if it's relevant. I only remember the name as they still managed to give me thrush < not envy.

The second lot worked within 24/36 hours.