Help please - toothache painkillers not working

[dahliaaa]

Has anyone got any magic advice.

I've got two teeth which need extensive treatment. (Both butchered by a 70's dentist who was later struck off.)
One cracked all the way through and needs root canal plus crown. I'm NHS patient but because the work needed is complex dentist (who I really like) said not covered by level 3 and would need to be done privately. Cost for both teeth £1500. I don't have at the moment and because pain had gone away we agreed I would wait a couple of months until had the money.

Unfortunately last night started with much much worse pain. No sleep at all last night. Tried alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen at work but didn't touch it all. Took 2x nurofen plus at 6pm. After about an hour started to ease pain a bit (enough to make it bearable but now as strong as before and unbearable.)

Rang dentist today but she was off and fully bookedThursday and Friday. Said they would call me tomorrow to see if anyway could fit me in anywhere. Added complication is that we are going away Saturday - Wednesday to see family. DH has inoperable and we really need a little break.

Sorry for the essay ! Can anyone suggest anything for tonight to help with pain? I've got fairly high pain threshold but sat in tears. There doesn't seem to be any swelling ...

Just realised that is so long no one will bear to read it Short version : in agony with toothache. Tried alternating ibuprofen & paracetamol - didn't work. Nurofen Plus not working. What else can I do tonight ? Thanks

Co codamol, clove oil, anaesthetic/benzocaine throat spray (on your teeth!), hot water bottle/ice on jaw, brandy.

Bit dodgy, but do you have any freinds/family who might be willing to share some heavy painkillers like naproxen, dihyrocodeine or tramadol?

Is there somewhere you can beg, borrow or buy clove oil and also corsodyl mouthwash? Put clove oil directly on tooth and gum. Swill regularly with corsodyl. Both those really help. Paracetamol and codeine too. Sympathies- been there and it's no joke

Black packet Paramol. Amazing.

taken with Prosecco is even better but I can't recommend that

Thank you both for replying.
I've got some listerine I think - is that the same.

Is paracetamol and codeine better than nurofen plus?
I'm just going to empty a drawer - think there might be old bottle of oil of cloves in back of it!

No one close by who I could beg steal or borrow stronger painkillers from.

Ooh never heard of 'black packet paramol' - it even sounds industrial strength !!

Agree with paramol, only thing that would touch my toothache while waiting on dental treatment. Alternate with ibuprofen.

The only thing I had in the house that touched the pain when I had a tooth that needed root canal treatment was sitting with a mouthful of brandy - I didn't swallow, just sat with brandy soaking the tooth.

You can buy stronger painkillers in small amounts from the chemist. Something like cocodamol or solpadeine ultra. You can also buy some pain killing gel for tooth ache. Anbesol liquid for mouth ulcers is also good on teeth.

Ibuprofen (N+) is better for possible infection.

N+ and paramol are the strongest things over the counter.

Another one for the black packet paramol!
Can only get it over the counter tho and what ever you do don't take over the recommended dosage in 24hrs like I did and couldn't even keep water down because if it
They do work wonders when taken correctly though

Is there not an out of hours nhs dentist near you? They Normally run 5:30-10pm
They should be able to help you x if they're back teeth would you not consider extractions? Will cost a fraction of root canal and crown x

There's a really good gel you can get off he shelf- or a stronger version you can get off a pharmacist- called oragel ( I think) was wonderful when my wisdom tooth got infected and it hurt so much I was ready to tear the tooth out myself! I got it in sainsburys. Hth

www.orajel.co.uk/toothache

This is the stuff! Makes everything lovely and numb.

Thank you so much everyone - have found a late night chemist open not too far away so going to throw myself on their mercy

Good luck I hope they give you something helpful.

I would recommend anbesol liquid too its amazing stuff.

Naproxen is sold as Feminax Ultra over the counter...

I am having the same problem. My regular dentist tried, but then referred me to a specialist. I am taking a spoonful of coconut oil whenever the pain starts and drawing it through and around that tooth, then spitting it out. It seems to work!

Apparently, coconut oil is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

I'm using it several times a day at the moment, while I get the money together for treatment.

Shockers sorry you are in same position. Very interesting about coconut oil.
I feel so sorry for people who just can't afford the treatment - we have had a lot of outgoings because of DH illness but I will have the money in a while whereas I know for some people that amount of money is just completely out of reach :-( I guess if totally desperate the option is just to have them taken out but these are not back teeth (only one back from front teeth) so not ideal.
Hope you get sorted soon.

Go to A and E. they will give you prescription painkillers u til you can see dentist tomorrow. (Ex A and E doctor here)

Hi, dental nurse here. If your tooth needs root canal work unfortunately sometimes the nerve becomes so inflamed painkillers don't really do much. I would advise as others have said try to contact out of hours dentist, and clove oil - its mostly made up from something called eugenol, which is a big feature in one of the most widely used sedative dressings dentists put in teeth that are giving trouble. Ask the pharmcist about good pain relief - ibuprofen or voltarol, co-codamol, that sort of thing, and alternate them. Eg if you can take each 4 hourly space them so you take one, then 2 hours later take the other, so your levels are always kept topped up. Obviously be careful not to get any with the same ingredient in case you accidentally take too many!

Hopefully something from chemist will help olympic ... but good to
Know it's there as option if I get really desperate.
If my dentist can't fit me in again tomorrow I think I'll have to ring around to try and find another one who would treat me. Was going to have to pay private rate anyway so wouldn't have to be NHS.

I've found the clove oil !!!!