In horrendous pain, need advice

[shakeyospeare]

Yesterday I went to the emergency dentist s with what I thought was an abscess. I couldn't swallow, had swelling and a white sore around my wisdom tooth, had pain around my jaw, into my neck and around the back of my skull. Couldn't eat or drink.

Dentist says it's an infection and gives me five days of amoxicillin - he couldn't give me anything else because I'm breastfeeding. He said I should start feeling better pretty soon after taking the antibiotics. That was 18 hours ago.

I've not slept. I got up at 4am to take more painkillers (30mg of codeine and a dose of paracetamol) this hasn't touched the pain. It's worse. I can't move head without it being agony. I can't swallow or open mouth.

What do I do? Ride this out today? Expect things to ease up?

I can't think straight because of pain

I'm sorry I don't have any advice but I hope the antibiotics kick I soon and you start to feel better.

Go back to the dentist and ask for help

I feel for you. I had an abscess a few years ago and I genuinely thought I was going to die. I had two lots of antibiotics at the same time and the infection broke on the 4th day.

Ring your dentist for more advice.

Spoke to dentist and there's nothing they can do - won't see me until at least tomorrow afternoon as not had antibiotics for long enough. She said, even if you're in excruciating pain, there's no point until tomorrow.

So tempted to grab a pair of pliers

I really feel for you, that's awful. My sister had similar when she was pregnant and, on the plus side, she said childbirth was a doddle after a tooth abscess!

Sounds horrible. Could you try and put a heat pack on your face/neck to try and give you some comfort?

What about co-codamol?

yy co-codamol

clean teeth
salt water rinse
pace about
shout a bit

:)

the anti bs will work - i did all of the above on a rotation

its horrible but it will get better soon

I'd take childbirth over this any day!

I've got a heat pack on but it's not doing much good - better than nothing though!

I have co-codamol and am keeping up with taking it regularly - on one hand I feel very fuzzy but it's not touched the actual pain.

I'd try and sleep through the next few days but I have a feral toddler and a tonne of deadlines - think it'll be a case of getting through 30 seconds at a time. And leaving the pliers alone.

I also feel for you. The abcess I had was the worst pain I ever had, worse than childbirth or gallstones honestly. If your face is all swollen it will be even more painful.

The antibiotics will help but they may take a day or two to kick in. I would take 60mg of codeine u to 4x daily, 1g of paracetamol up to 4x daily and 400mg of ibuprofen u to 3x daily. You can take all of these at once if needed as they often work better when taken together. If that doesn't take the edge off, go back to your GP. My dentist gave me dihydrocodeine but I don't think they're allowed to prescribe anything anymore, so it will have to be a GP job.

Heat or ice packs may help, also swilling warm salt water in your mouth. Hope it eases off soon.

@roomba thank you. I've been a bit loathe to increase the codeine because it's pretty strong, however, I don't think I have a choice. I'll add some ibuprofen into the mix too.

I never knew toothache could be so painful, bloody awful!

Has anyone had them removed?

Yes, I was completely out of it with the codeine, but it did work. I remember my DP was chatting to me when it kicked in, and he just looked at my face, laughed and said 'the painkillers have kicked in, haven't they?'

I didn't have my tooth out, but my access was caused by the end of a fine needle being broken off in my gum during a previous root canal. I had no idea it had happened until I got an abcess two years later! So it depends on the cause tbh. Your dentist can advise you when it's settled down a bit.

Try paramol painkillers black box only think that ever worked for me and I have had nearly all my teeth removed over the years

Is it a partly erupted lower wisdom?
You should definitely monitor your body temperature also, because worsening mouth opening coupled with difficulty in swallowing can be sign of facial cellulitis. A&E if your temperature rises. Some people occasionally need to admitted for IV antibiotics +- incision&drain + extraction. So do keep an eye on your symptoms.
Practical things to do:
1tsp salt dissolved in mug tepid H20. Swish & hold around the area Aim for at least 6mugs per 24hrs.
Ice pack /frozen peas wrapped in a thin tea towel hold onto area for up to 60secs. Absolutely do NOT apply heat.
Get an interspace brush, long handle with single tuft, ideal for cleaning under gum flaps of part erupted wisdoms.
Pain relief: ibuprofen -max 2400mg per 24hrs. Co-codamol 30mg/500mg-should be able to take 2tabs every 6hrs. Alternate Pain relief on at least 3hrly basis. Don't take together, less effective. Swallow some yoghurt 20 mins before each pain relief dose. Do not be tempted to take on empty stomach-don't want to add vomiting to the mix.
Yoghurt is prob easiest to get down with restricted opening (trismus) and swallowing issues(dysphagia).
Try not to lay flat -prop head on multi pillows-at night, facial swelling increases in supine position.
Possibly your dentist might need to add metronidazole to your existing amoxicillin; if you've got some cellulitis symptoms & signs-needs must etc even when breastfeeding.
Hope you feel better soon; it can be horrible. (Am dentist btw; lots of hospital & ooh experience).

I had this a few weeks ago over Christmas it is the worst pain but once the antibiotics kick in they will work (took 3 days for me).

Can you take cocodamol? The doctor can prescribe much stronger ones than can be bought.

Don't apply heat, the blood going to the infection will make it much worse.

Salt water rinses and corsodyl.

Souble tablets swilled around the mouth and orajel helped me. (Not sure if you can use either).

You have my sympathy, tooth pain is the worst.

In all seriousness, how about cutting up a garlic clove in to a slice and rubbing the slicentre over it. Works wonders for toothache. Would be worth a Google for an abscess

Thanks so much to you all for your replies.

No heat - I stopped that earlier as it didn't work so I'm glad I didn't continue that!

I've been doing salt water and corsodyl and alternating the pain relief - mouth feels like it's throbbing and I can taste something gross so maybe the infection coming out?

I can't believe tooth pain can create earache and a sore throat - never again will I minimise it.

If the pain is still awful tonight, would you say it would be worth calling the doctor for more pain relief? Absolutely don't want to go if unnecessary.

Thanks again, everyone. Feel like a right moany cow but jeeeeez!

Can the dentist numb it for you so you at least get a couple of hours pain free?

Op please be aware Corsodyl will stain your teeth badly, well it did for me about 6 years ago. I looked like a 40 a day smoker!

it sounds like you are over the worst of it

Dentist won't see me until tomorrow at the earliest as not been on antibiotics long enough.

Oh, really? Urgh! What's in it to stain teeth?

Not sure about being over the worst of it, still feel like I want to stick my head in the oven but tomorrow's a new day!

Not to patronise you, all of this advice is great, but please don't try it all because a lot of the suggestions all contain paracetamol and you could be working your way into a liver transplant if you combine them all!!

So maximum of 1g (2×500mg) paracetamol 4 hours apart, 4g per day, whether that is in the form of paracetamol, Cocodamol (codeine - either 8/500 or 30/500) or Codydramol (dihydrocodeine).

Also avoid layering NSAIDs so ibuprofen and aspirin shouldn't be taken within 8 hours of each other.

Is the mouth wash stained my teeth. It may have changed since I used it but the hygienist had a field day trying to clean them. They are still stained now!

Sorry I meant is it this one? This is the one that stained my teeth.