Tooth pain - emergency dental appointment/scared!

[newnamenellie]

Woke up last Thursday with a niggling, low-level toothache in my back bottom molar. No swelling, not tender to touch (although maybe a slight bit at the back of the tooth, not when biting or eating at all). It's continued in this way and I've held of making a dentist appointment as I'm booked in for a check up in a week's time.

Yesterday, the pain had moved along to the adjacent teeth, in particular and was more in my first front tooth (sorry, don't know technical terms).

I've been sleeping okay, but now getting worried about what the hell is causing it as it's obviously not going away. My teeth are generally pretty good, I'm 47 and only ever had two fillings (in the last five years).

I've managed to get an emergency dental appointment this afternoon, but wondered if anyone could reassure me - I'm nervous!!

Oh my goodness, tooth pain is excruciating. You're doing the right thing and hopefully the dentist will be able to do something to relieve the pain either today or very soon. I totally understand the fear, but you are doing the best thing you can do by going to get it sorted! Good luck!

Thanks @coffeeisthebest, roll on this afternoon!

If you don't grind your teeth, it sounds like possibly an abscess if it's very painful. That'd be a root canal (which is actually no worse than a filling, maybe even easier).

I had something similar. It felt like all the teeth down one side must be going bad. They weren’t, it was my gum. A big clean from the hygienist and a lot more flossing from me made them better - no fillings. Good luck this afternoon, I hope they sort it for you.

If it's an infection they may give you antibiotics. Maybe you need another filling?

@wildcoasts it's not very painful, but I'm aware of it, especially now it's moved along to a different tooth!
@staggersaurus that's interesting re the gum. I can't understand why my tooth/teeth don't hurt to touch/bite - thought they would it was an abscess?? Either way, something's not right! Glad yours was easily sorted.

@niceupthedanceagain maybe, although the two fillings that I already have are in a different area (top jaw)...

[quote newnamenellie]@wildcoasts it's not very painful, but I'm aware of it, especially now it's moved along to a different tooth!
@staggersaurus that's interesting re the gum. I can't understand why my tooth/teeth don't hurt to touch/bite - thought they would it was an abscess?? Either way, something's not right! Glad yours was easily sorted.[/quote]
You'd know if it was an abscess, believe me. It's really the worst dental pain ever. Sometimes you can just sit and wait for the pain to settle a bit. Painkillers don't touch it. So probably not that then.

Hopefully just a sensitive tooth with referred pain to the other teeth. Good luck.

If it's the early stages of an abcess they will give antibiotics before doing anything else.
Try rubbing sensodene rapid relief toothpaste all over (about £5 a tube)

Okay, so this is a mystery!

Just back from dental appointment and absolutely nothing found - exam and xrays all clear. Dentist did say though that she had had another emergency patient earlier today with exactly the same thing and it was after having Covid recently. I had it 3.5 weeks ago...

Could you be grinding your teeth at night?

Hi OP, what happened with this? I'm in a similar situation and going to try to get an emergency appt tomorrow

Hi @YukoandHiro

Turned out to be nothing wrong, the dentist x-rayed and could find no cause for the pain, but said it could be related to having Covid a ferw weeks earlier and that other patients had been in with the same thing.

Mine settled down shortly after and hasn't come back. Hope you get yours sorted!