Non specific tooth ache/ear ache/face ache

[MegGriffin]

Hello there. I have been in quite a lot of pain on one side of my face for about three days now. I am not sure whether to see the doctor or dentist. Although my teeth on that side of my face hurt, they don't hurt when I eat and my gums are not sore to touch. I also have ear ache, face ache and eye ache on and off. I have been taking ibuprofen and over the counter co codamol which is helping a bit but I have a feeling this is not going to get better on it's own. I have two questions really

1. Can you get sinus problems without congestion? 2} Has anyone got experience of this? Many thanks

I was going to say sounds like sinus to me, I had the same a few months ago.

Sorry for short sharp reply but DS is ill and being v demanding!

Sounds just like when I had sinus problems - my teeth actually hurt when I tapped them, although no actual gum issues - thought it was a tooth problem and went to the dentist. The xray they did showed how close my sinus cavities were to the tooth nerves - went to Dr and got antibiotics for the sinuses and it cleared up.

Sounds like what I have at the moment... am booked in for root canal tomorrow

Any discomfort when you eat something hot or cold?

If it is one side I would suggest going to dentist...I had similar last spring and it was a tooth.

It's a bastard painwise isn't it

Hopefully dentist can rule out any tooth probs and if so it may well be sinuses. But my money I'm afraid is on toothypegs.

THank you so much for that. I don't want to pay to see the dentist if I can go to the doctor. Did you have nasal congestion as I dont?

Well my teeth are sensitive to cold, yes. Damn, I really hate the dentist .

He is your friend now

He will x ray, after tapping your teeth, and if he finds which one it is he will numb it, drill it and take out nasty dying nerve. He will then pack with antibiotic stuff or steroid and close it up till you can get in for proper root filling - which by then will be a piece of cake as nerve is gorn.

Good luck. I hope you can get it seen asap. xx

sinuses.

Was once convinced a large filling needed replacing. pain seemed to be coming from exactly that area. But was sinuses. Mine not always congested, sometimes just hurty.

it should stop hurting v quick once nerve is out. Really after the injection you shouldn't have any more severe pain. It will be such a relief.

Sensitive to cold sounds like pulpitis ie dying nerve. Don't worry it can be sorted.

lol at all of us having a definite opinion on one or the other!

I love mumsnet. I know that nobody can really tell me except a dentist or doctor but being an ex dentist phobic (sort of cured except in these situations) I was wishing it was my sinuses. I really don't know what to do. Maybe I will see if I can get a dentist appointment although realy dont want to spend the money grrrr.

Hmm. I think if it were sinuses it might be more central? It's hard to say...the nerves in the teeth are very close to those in the face, nose etc.

I think it might be worth having a consultation with dentist, and agree he won't charge you for treatment unless it is necessary.
He will be able tos ee if there is inflammation from the x ray and a gp can't do that.
I think your gp will send you straight to the dentist to diagnose/rule out teeth. It would be a bit negligent to treat for sinuses without doing that first.
(though I might be wrong about that!)

If you don't go soon you will be looking at a course of antibiotics and possibly infection spreading into the bone, which you really don't want. Go today as emergency if possible...deep breath xxx

Flight - my pain was very one-sided - I could show you which of my upper molars was the issue - how wrong was I!!!

But, yes, Dentist first stop, asap (Sorry Meg)

Ah Ok sorry Mistle, I have never had sinusitis...tis always the teeth with me

I started with the pain on friday - a really dull ache from the front of my mouth right down one side to almost my ear.

Excruciating when I had anything warm.

Managed to get an emergency appointment on Friday pm, and she said pulpitus too. In the tooth that has a crown on - lucky me.

The first appointment I could get was the begining of March but since yesterday I have been in agony so have managed to get an appointment for this afternoon - tbh I am in so much pain right now I dont care what they do as long as they stop it from hurting. (Took 400mg of Ibuprfoen at 7.30, 2 co-codimol at 9.30 and the pain is starting to come back already)

I honestly believe that tooth ache is the worst pain in the world. In stops you from being able to think properly.

Roll on 3.20

My pain is not in any specific tooth but I keep holding, rubbing my jaw as if thats where it's coming from.

Good luck geordie, you will be so relieved when it's over.

Squeeze your teeth together, does it hurt?

Put your finger in your ear, push forwards towards face, open your mouth as wide as comfortable. Does that hurt?

One sided pain involving the jaw can often be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporomandibular_joint_disorder TMJ

TMJ

It does not hurt if I squeeze my teeth together. It also does not hurt if I put my finger in my ear and open my mouth. My jaw just aches and non specifically all my teeth at the back, top and bottom. The pain feels like its coming from the jaw/under the teeth but not a specific one. I have found myself clenching my teeth at times without being aware. I wonder if that may have something to do with it (clutching at straws)

Clenching would explain it. As would grinding at night, which if you are clenching, is quite a common thing to happen along side.

Thanks for that info. I dont know what to do about clenching as I dont realise I am doing it until I have been doing it iyswim although now I am aware I do this I have been trying to not do it . My teeth are not very good anyway and I have lots of fillings so it could well be my teeth. I think I am procrastinating again.

Funny you should mention the clenching thing - I tend to do that if I am stressed, as I said pain started on Friday - Thursday was a really horrible day so I reckon thats whats triggered it.

Dentist also mentioned guards to wear overnight.

I also have to wear ear plugs because DH snores so badly. I wondered if that could be causing ear ache? procrastinates some more. mouth guard for teeth clenching sounds delightful geordie.

you know what I hate my fecking teeth.

In the past year I have had

3 wisdom teeth out under general, with a suspected chipped jaw as a result.

1 crown

3 filings

and root canal work

People often comment on how white/straight they are but they are a total nightmare. If I won the lottery I'd have them all taken out and replaced with inplants.