Wisdom tooth agony

[Clocktickingg]

Anyone up? Currently experiencing the most excruciating wisdom tooth pain that has caused my face to swell and is making sleep impossible. I am currently waiting for a callback from 111 and trying to refrain from cutting my own head off.

Woke up this morning with some discomfort, booked an appointment online for Tuesday at the dentist, dosed up and went swimming with the nephews. Big mistake. By the end of swimming I was crawling the walls of the car, dosed up again when home, phoned the emergency dentist who couldn't see me til tomorrow at the earliest. I've spent much of the evening trying to control the pain. I applied a hot water bottle which I've now learned you shouldn't do so I've switched to an ice pack but I've now reached the max paracetamol for a 24 hour period, I've run out of ibruprofen and I can't cope. Just called 111 in utter desperation and waiting for callback. My face is now huuuge.

Any tips on how to cope enough to not saw my face off?

Have you tried gargling with salt water? It can help ease it a bit.

I feel so sorry for you. Toothache is the worst.

I haven't but that's a good idea! Off to boil the kettle. If nothing else it'll kill time. I called 111 an hour ago and they said they'd call back within 2 so hopefully soon. Not sure what I'm expecting them to do exactly but I think I definitely need antibiotics and I'd sell an organ for stronger pain relief at the mo

Don't have the water too hot just room temperature. You definitely need stronger painkillers, paracetamol won't cut it.

Thank you, you're so nice. Feel a bit tearful. DP is asleep in the other room (looking after toddler DNephew who we're minding) so I'm all alone with the dog and this crazy pain.

Warm water has definitely helped a bit. Struggling to open my mouth wide enough to get much in but it's definitely making a small difference

you're so nice

Not everyone would agree with that

Hope they get back to you soon. No matter how bad you feel tell them you are worse so they give you something for it!

Definitely rinse with warm salt water, rub some cloves on if you happen to have any, tastes nasty but numbs it completely. Try get hold of some ibuprofen asap, it will help with swelling, hope you get seen soon as there's no pain like it

Ouch, I’ve been there several times with my stupid impacted wisdom teeth and the pain is horrendous, you poor thing. I was in your position a couple of months ago, it’s amazing how quickly it becomes unbearable!! I tend to repeat saltwater rinse and then antibacterial mouthwash regularly and dose up on ibuprofen but nothing will help as much as antibiotics. I hope they call you back soon, it is so miserable! Massive hug from a fellow sufferer! X

Update: 111 insisted I came to A&E and I'm now waiting to be seen by the doctor although the nurse warned me they can't do anything for teeth. Everyone being so kind and tbh I'd settle for some stronger painkillers at the moment.

Have you got any child nurofen at home? Use that until you can stock up on proper ones if you don't get any joy at A & E, just multiply the dose to match what the adult dose is. This may sound daft but I found Feminax Ultra brilliant for toothache as they have Naproxen with the paracetamol. I would think the emergency dentist will just give you antibiotics to cover you until you can see your regular dentist.

Corsodyl mouthwash several times a day to flush round that area. Clove oil applied directly to the area. Strong painkillers. Those are the most effective things to manage it until you can get it seen to. And when you do get to the dentist, push for the tooth to be extracted; don't be fobbed off because an impacted tooth is always going to be a problem. The dentist probably won't want to do this while the infection is there (it can make the numbing injection less effective) but I would get rid of the tooth asap.

I suspect 111 are concerned about infection, as I understand it tooth infections can spread quickly and lead to sepsis so right to be cautious. They should also be able to give you some decent pain relief!
You have my sympathy, wisdom tooth pain is the worst! Hope you're feeling better soon and can get some sleep.

Still no dentist appointment but the hospital were SO lovely. I think tooth pain is a great leveller- everyone kept saying 'ohhh it's the worst isn't it?!'

Sent me away with amoxicillin and codeine which I'm hoping will tide me over until I see the dentist. My face has continued to swell- left cheek now resembles buzz lightyear...

Thanks for all the advice. When I finally see the dentist I'll insist it comes out asap

I'm glad you got seen and got decent painkillers. Once the antibiotics get to work you'll feel much better. Keep gargling in the meantime!

Crawling towards dentist appointment at 9am. No sign of improvement on amoxicillin and every dose of codeine, paracetamol and ibruprofen gives md about 45 minutes blessed relief before the pain comes hurtling back. My face is ENORMOUS. Sent a picture to a couple of colleagues today who were really shocked.

Just don't know what to do with myself. I'm sitting in bed, sobbing and waiting for half an hours time when I can take the next lot of medication. Honestly considered going back to the hospital earlier. I am normally incredibly stoic- what is wrong with me?!

So sorry OP. That sounds awful. Hope the night goes quickly for you and that the dentist can help in the morning.

Oh bless you OP. I really feel for you - I am getting a wisdom tooth out tomorrow after having had bouts of severe pain on and off over the past month! Like you, I am normally pretty good at managing pain but the tooth pain had me climbing the walls and in tears like nothing ever has before. One thing that weirdly helped a bit was putting a piece of rolled up soft material between the lower and upper teeth and biting down on it (not hard - just enough to hold it in place). It was like the weird feeling of it being there distracted my brain from the pain a bit. But that may well not work for you if you are struggling to open your mouth. Hope your appointment tomorrow goes well and that the night passes as quickly as possible for you.

Op I've had similar in the past, what helped me was Anbesol. It numbed the pain instantly. Even childrens Anbesol quite strong. Worth a try!

Hope your appointment went well OP

You're all so lovely. Somehow got through the night and saw the dentist this morning. He was quite shocked at the state of me I think. Said it was so swollen he couldn't really examine me but he's given me another type of antibiotics to take in addition to the ones the hospital gave me and I'm seeing him again Thursday when hopefully the swelling will have reduced enough for him to see what's going on!

Thought I had turned a corner painwise this lunchtime but then think I got a bit cocky and talked a lot on the phone and now I'm struggling again just hope I'm not in for another rough night. I neeed sleep.

Also MAJOR thank you for this. Found some in the medicine cabinet at 3am and it did take the edge off!

Also hope your op went well Mystery!

Thanks @Clocktickingg , it went v smoothly. Big relief to have it gone finally! Gum feeling a bit sore now but a minuscule level of pain compared to what the toothache was like. Hope the dentist can help you more on Thursday.

Oh I feel for you OP! My daughter is currently in a battle with the dentist to get her wisdom tooth out after days of pain. No luck so far and she looks like a hamster.
Codamol and Orajel have been great for the pain, and chlorhexidine mouthwash for swelling.
Hope you get some proper relief soon.

I ended up in hospital for two nights when my wisdom
tooth got infected so I’m glad you were seen. My neck and face had swollen so much I was struggling to breathe. Fingers crossed tomorrow the antibiotics will both start to work and it all becomes a little bit more bearable.

Sending hugs, I have two impacted wisdom teeth waiting for removal 😬