Most painful gum infection (advice gratefully received)

[Todayiscool]

Hi all,

I have an impacted wisdom tooth that gets infected every few years (it's too wrapped in a nerve to be safely removed).

This time is an absolute bugger.

Started on Tuesday, I saw my dentist (emergency appt) yesterday, he prescribed Metronidazole - but it's just feeling worse and worse.

I've had five doses of Metronidazole (three a day) - but no improvement yet, if anything it's got worse.

It hurts up into my ear, and down to my chin and lips, all along the jaw. It hurts to swallow, I can only open my mouth about an inch (between the front teeth), it's just utterly brutal.

I'm taking co-codamol semi regularly (not quite daily allowance, but close to it), and icing my jaw (with ice, not icing) regularly. I'm allergic to Aspirin and Ibuprofen.

It's so bad I woke up and cried at 3am today, because the co-codamol had worn off and I was woken up by the pain (I am usually fairly stoical when it comes to pain).

a) should I worry? and
b) what else can or should I do?

I had this once. Woke and my neck was swollen. Couldn't close my teeth together as the mound of gum over the wisdom tooth was so swollen.

Antibiotics, salt washes, and painkillers.

I sometimes get a mini infection now and although it hurts like hell I can keep it away by cleaning very well it that area. Usually caused by food debris getting under gum

Same! Usually I ward-off a full infection when I feel it coming on with those tiny spiky toothbrushes, hot salt water, and Corsodyl. This time it really got me!

It's at that point in painful when I'm imagining my whole jaw is infected.

Haven't tried it myself but have heard that applying clove oil can help

I kept having the same issue

My dentist told me he'd pull the tooth once I'd had enough of it all

I eventually had the tooth pulled

Best decision I made

Someone should be able to remove it surgically if your Dentist can't

Yeah that time with my neck was a full infection. Awful. Felt like my entire head was infected down to my collar bone. And I felt just generally very unwell.

I think maybe I'd try to get more advice tomorrow. Wonder if you'll need another antibiotic or some other treatment?

Mine was caused partly by this flap of gum. I know they can cut that off and that can stop it coming so often. Grim but at that point I would have let them chop my entire head off 😂

Urgh, sounds awful! Poor you.

My whole jaw IS infected (long story, no money) and I rely heavily on this bastard mouthwash. I rinse often AND brush with it, making sure to brush it (gently!) around the edges or into the swollen parts. Only hurts the first couple of times so, if I keep it going, there's just the product's sting to put up with.

Wedging a dispersible aspirin against the sore bit helps with going to sleep. I also keep these Strepsils around all the time. They're both antiseptic and anaesthetic.

In the short term, if you can, take ibuprofen. Much much better for that type of pain

Get it removed at a dental hospital

have you got a fever or any swelling OP? My advice would be to call 111 or go to ED as you may need input from max facs if your symptoms are worsening and you’re systemically unwell. If you’re feeling ok other than the pain I would recommend calling your dentist again in the morning!

Naproxen is effective for tooth pain.
You have to get a prescription though (or buy Feminax, which is over the counter... if you have period pain, of course )

Ask to be referred to a specialist to discuss removal.

I'm the interim, Paramol (black packet) which is sold in pharmacies is the only thing that works out for me on dental pain. Alternate with ibuprofen or diclofenac (not paracetamol). I tend to take more than is recommended for pain relief...

Set alarms to wake up in the night to take painkillers on schedule - do NOT allow yourself to run out of painkillers in your system. That's the worst part of any day during this kind of thing.

I'm sorry, dental pain is just miserable.

Thanks all,

I'd love to whop it with Ibuprofen or Aspirin, but I'm allergic to both.

I already use that Listerine @GarlicGrace - I might give the area a good old brush with the Listerine on the brush, that sometimes helps. I'll also see if I have any Strepsils (or Bonjela might be good).

@BumbiG I'm not sure if I feel ill, I feel a lot of pain, and I'm very tired, and I've felt hot on and off all day (but I live in a very warm house, and it's been warm here, but my temperature has been reading as slightly elevated (37.5) not actual fever) - I definitely feel a bit grotty, but not properly ill.

Have you seen an oral surgeon? It sounds like it needs to be removed, surely someone has the expertise to do it.

For future prevention I use the interdental toothbrushes dipped in hydrogen peroxide if my gums are playing up. My dentist recommended it.

You might need another antibiotic, I had to have two different ones once before.

Good tip on Paramol, I'll try to source some of that tomorrow.

It was the dental hospital who said it'd be more risky to remove than to leave my wisdom teeth - I believe my trigeminal nerve (sp?) is wrapped around the root of the tooth, hence (I guess) the pain now, and also the risk of removing it.

The dentist did suggest they could file the tooth down and seal the gum around it, but that they prefer to avoid that too for infection/decay reasons.

4 weeks ago I had a tooth out due to an infection that spread down my neck and under my jaw, iv never felt so ill- bless you. The pain is endless. The antiseptic strepsils with local anaesthetic helped a little, corsodyl chlorhexadine helped, but naproxen and codine were the real saviours. I know all these were mentioned above, but I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone and it really will get better. My dentist arranged the removal for me within hours of me seeing him again as 2 corses of amoxicillin hadn't touched it (allergic to metronidazole). And despite dry socket after and surgical packing twice, iv not looked back, as the pain with dry socket was nothing compared to the wisdom tooth infection. Bless you, hope you are better soon and good luck!