How can I cope with toothache..?

[youkiddingme]

My dentist retired a couple of years back and because I was too ill too go for a couple of checkups (hubby explained for me) I got dropped off the list when it transferred to a new dentist and could not get a place. My only income is disability benefits and I was ringing round trying to find an NHS dentist but all the lists were full. Then covid..

So last Tuesday I got toothache I couldn't ignore. By Wednesday I was pulling my hair out. Got an emergency appointment yesterday. I was literally at the end of my tether and so grateful when the dentist pulled a tooth which was broken, decayed and had a fractured root. She said I had another decayed tooth and she wasn't sure about a third. I can tell now the third tooth is cracked. I was in so much pain, my whole face and ear etc I couldn't tell her what hurt exactly. So she said phone this morning. She couldn't fit me in this today so sent me back to 111.
My next appointment is Sunday. But they said they might only be able to treat one of the two. (some sort of emergency treatment rules). Then I suppose I ring 111 and ask again and have to wait some more.
I'm struggling so much, taking the max painkillers they said I can. I'm really struggling to get through this, so tired from lack of sleep and desperate to get rid of the pain. What else can I do to get through this? (tried heat)

Anbesol extra strength. I've found this very effective in numbing pain. Also salt rinses and a good mouthwash such as Curasept.

Does your dentist not have an emergency service it can refer you to? Failing that, the out of hours should operate on a Saturday - can you phone again and say that the pain is intolerable and that you're worried about many painkillers you're having to take?

If the pain is so bad that you may need prescription painkillers, then you could consider A & E.

You have my full sympathy - but honestly you won't know yourself once you are out of pain. Hold onto that thought.

I had horrific tooth pain a few months ago. Painkillers weren't touching it.

In literal desperation in the middle of the night I put a couple of cloves between the affected gum and my cheek and it was like a miracle.

Clove oil would be better, but cloves softened and slightly chewed work as well.

It also seemed to calm the nerve as well as anaesthetising the area so the relief was quite long lasting.

Clove oil. Its a fucking miracle worker. Somewhat bizarrely wrapping bréad around a sore tooth for me has worked before too, I think because it insulates it from air hitting it.

I had an abscess last week and swilling water round the tooth constantly helped. Had the tooth out today and have post extraction pain to cope with now! Haven't they offered you antibiotics? They helped me a lot.

I feel your pain. I was struggling over Christmas and am waiting to have a tooth out. Just be careful with the painkillers. The ibuprofen I had to take has destroyed my stomach. I am in more pain with that than my tooth!

I ended up in A&E with unbearable tooth pain, which I'm not proud of. But they did give me antibiotics and prescription painkillers which did sort it out while I waited for the dentist.

Try a hot, very salty mouthwash every 20 minutes for a few hours. Make it as hot as you can handle and wash the salt around your mouth for 5 minutes or so (or until it makes you retch). Clove oil if you can get any.

I get on the salt rinses the second I get any sort of twinge now- it usually backs it into a corner quickly.

What painkillers are you actually taking?

I'm taking paracetamol and ibuprofen.
When you have to go via the 111 dental assessment team they warn you that if you take anything else the dentist can not treat you - so that's scuppered trying anything else.
I did try clove oil which I thought was helping a bit but when I admitted that (they ask a lot of questions before allowing you access to an emergency dentist) they said I had to stop using that and insisted it could be making my pain worse.
Not been offered antibiotics, will have to hang in and see what happens Sunday. It's the lack of sleep as much as anything else that's demoralising, it makes it harder to cope with the pain. I'm crying now but hoping the release might help with the tension headaches I've now got from the pain. I am doing the salt washes.

Thank you all.

Try Nurofen melters , break one in half and put it between your gum and cheek near the problem tooth, allow it to dissolve very slowly ( at lease 15 mins ) and repeat with the other half .
Go carful not to do it to often as they can cause ulcers as I found out to my cost years ago after using them for three days in a row while waiting for my wisdom tooth to be pulled

Orajel and Bonjela are very good. The former more than the latter.

@reefedsail

I ended up in A&E with unbearable tooth pain, which I'm not proud of. But they did give me antibiotics and prescription painkillers which did sort it out while I waited for the dentist.

Try a hot, very salty mouthwash every 20 minutes for a few hours. Make it as hot as you can handle and wash the salt around your mouth for 5 minutes or so (or until it makes you retch). Clove oil if you can get any.

I get on the salt rinses the second I get any sort of twinge now- it usually backs it into a corner quickly.

I shouldn’t be ashamed ( if that’s he right word ) of going to A&E if you are in pain. An infected tooth can be serious if it’s left untreated.

Why on earth weren’t you offered antibiotics? A week’s course before treatment should stop the pain on the first day. Extreme toothache is bad enough but if you have earache and a swollen face it’s a clear sign of infection which needs to be treated immediately. As far as temporary relief goes, I recommend you go to your nearest pharmacist and explain everything to them. They will be hugely sympathetic and helpful and probably recommend a different dentist. Good luck, I’ve been there, and when you are finally free from this tooth-hell you will be the happiest person on the planet bar none!

I have bonjela in the cupboard but they told me not to use any oils, gels or other topical treatments. Would they be able to tell? I'm terrified they'll say they can't treat me because I didn't follow the instructions.

Oh you poor darling, you must get antibiotics ASAP , is there anyway you can get to A&E or a walk in centre, you must have an abscess. Painkillers won’t work until the antibiotics take hold . Remember this will pass ☘️

When mine have been bad I used the max strength orajel (from a pharmacy), ibuprofen and Paramol (also over the counter). Helps more than standard paracetamol. Salt water mouth rinses too as hot as you can manage without burning obviously

My heart goes out to you- sounds like you could have dry socket from your first extraction! Hot water bottle in your pillow should help give you some relief so you can sleep!

It can makes things worse and can damage the gums. But if it’s severe pain then you might as well try anything you can. Just not tell them

There is probably puss or a bit of food caught in the socket where they extracted your tooth! Use an ear bud to dab it gently to clear any crumbs or puss out..this should give you a lot of relief! Ring an emergency dentist in the morning ...they should want you to email pictures to see if it is dry socket and will either get you in to pack the socket with a clove dressing or will give you a prescription for an antibiotic! It happened to me last March ...worst pain ever! Hope u get sorted ASAP🤗

You poor love. I know you tried the clove oil but perhaps try brewing cloves and using the tea/brew will help.
( Bring about 6 tablespoons of them to the boil in about 2 cups of water then simmer for about 15 mins.)
Once it's cooled down to a comfortably warm temperature, take a mouthful and hold it in the affected area.
I've found this brew works as good as, and sometimes better than clove oil as it doesn't burn the gum or tongue. You can store the brew in a jar in the cupboard.
I hope you get it sorted and feel much better very soon

Ooh, I have cloves, I will try clove tea, thank you. CatsBooksAndCoffee
Shoebedo -I was getting worried about the socket but I've been bathing it like crazy and the tenderness there seems to be subsiding and my face looks ok. It does seem to be the damaged and decayed tooth now. The pain is less but my resilience has run low - I just want sleep but I'm hanging in there. Will brew the clove tea then try bed again.
Thanks you so much all for the advice.

I'll try and get the paramol thanks Sinkgirl

I would go to a chemist today and either I buy co-codamol or dickofenic to swap with the ibuprofen. Any pharmacist would be able to help you with that and reassure you that a dentist will still treat you.

Diclofenic ☺️

There is another thread running on here about toothache....I've just had one out, but in the midst of my agony, my DP bought me a painkiller i hadn't heard of before....i remember writing the name of it on the other thread, but can't for the life of me remember its name....it might be Syndol.....but that works a treat. Hope its eased a bit this morning OP

What ever you do, don't lay down, as it hurts even more... sleep sat or reclined in a chair.