Wisdom teeth pain - advice?

[Teaandflapjacks]

Hi ladies,

Does anyone have experience with severe wisdom teeth pain in pregnancy? I was meant to have them whipped out (all four as two are impacted) under GA, but fell pg. I saw the hygienist and dentist a couple of weeks ago for a deep clean and check up - all looked fine, but they were worried one of my wisdom teeth would move and cause problems - it has! It is total agony, and paracetemols are totally pointless, they have done nothing to help today - i guess because it is swollen, and obv. can't take anti-inflamatories. I am sure it is infected since that side of my face is swollen and - sorry TMI - but when I brush or touch with tongue - it tastes awful. I thought i had tonsillitis coming on as the right side of my throat is also extremely sore, but I just looked at throat with torch and tonsils don't look swollen, but right ear is sore - I assume because all linked. I am still getting bozts of sickness, which doesn't help. Can you get teeth taken out while pg? Do antibiotics risk the health of the baby? I apologise if this sounds obv, but i live in germany and I wont be able to ask all the q's properly in german that I would like to out my mind at ease.

Thanks in advance for any tips/help!!

Hi, if they are giving you loads of problems, your dentist may take out the worst offender under local anaesthetic whilst pregnant, but it's really tried to be avoided as impacted wisdom teeth removal can be a difficult/lenghtly procedure and we try to avoid all stressful treatment in pregnancy.
The antibiotics I would normally prescribe for badly infected wisdom teeth is metronidazole, again normally avoid it in pregnancy unless really necessary.
Final option is perseverance with beautiful cleaning (even if agony), very regular bathing in corsodyl mouthwash (hold in on the sore tooth and keep it there for a few mins), and paracetamol (even though it won't touch it like ibuprofen!)
Sorry I can't be much more help, but thought if I let you know what I'd do, you have a bit of an idea of the options!

Racheld33 - thanks, you are a star - I have administered corsodyl as I had some anyway, using mini torch to see (!) and cotton bud repeatedly - worked like a charm, then rinsing on top with it. I keep on top of the cleaning and flossing anyway. I applied some bonjela with a cotton bud, then had a minor panic that this wasn't allowed in pg - so I checked net doctor (as there is so much conflicting advice on this) - it was just a tiny amount, and I am 18 weeks, it says to avoid at the end of pg, I will probably steer clear of it now anyway. Anyway, this, with the corsodyl, more paracetemols and a warm drink has helped enormously. Really hoping to try and avoid antibiotics if I can so fingers crossed for good old corsodyl.

i have this and its been going on for weeks. been in tears almost everyday as the pain is so bad. my doctor put me in antibiotics which seem to have helped but not solved the problem. try a hot water bottel on the side of your face! parrcetamol are rubbish but take the edge off it taken every 4 hours

good luck hope it clears up soon.

I have just had a horrible infection due to wisdom tooth so I feel your pain. I was given corsodyl gel from dentist but that and paracetamol didn't touch it. was in agony, couldn't sleep, face started swelling and developed earache so was prescribed co-codamol and some antibiotics ( both safe in pregnancy).
I was advised to be careful as if infections continue to worsen they can get to the stage where they can cause problems with the pregnancy. no doubt this would be a really extreme case but worth thinking about, particularly if there is a treatment which is safe during pregnancy.
hope you manage to get it sorted.

I had an infected wisdom tooth with ds1 and had to take antibiotics to clear it up. Doctor and dentist both felt it was important not to have a pregnant woman in agony and there are antibiotics that are really very safe to take. When pregnant with ds2, I got meningitis and had to have fast amounts of drugs (antibiotics via a drip and very strong pain relief). I worried myself sick about what affect it would have on my baby but I had to be treated. And both my boys are absolutely fine don't suffer. X

Thanks ladies - it has got worse overnight - cue 4 am in tears in bathroom saga. Paracetamol doing naff all now, neither corsodyl - but at least that is cleaning it. I looked at it this morning with my trust min torch and it is now weeping (sorry TMI!!) so def infected. Off to dentists later and will take what they suggest! My ear is now throbbing and I can helpfully hear my own pulse all the time - a lovely side effect! Did anyone have a sore right side of throat with it (which ever side tooth was) as mine also feels like my right tonsil is really inflamed - I assume it is all linked, but my FIL now also has tonsillitis, and we were together a few days ago at a family gathering. I expect if they give me antibiotics, that should help the tonsils anyway. What fun!

i dont have a sore throat but my gland on my right side is HUGE and very sore when touched. i do have awful earache tho.
hope the dentist helps!!

I just thought i would do a quick update for the other ladies - I went to the dentist and she cleaned it thoroughly, drained it, and used a piece of gauze with antiseptic and pushed that right into the gum to clean it (no words for how painful with pain relief this was), and this was meant to stay in overnight, but came out after 4 hours (!). She told me to use corsodyl, and camomile tea to rinse round the tooth, plus paracetamol - no antibiotics or codeine - I did ask! Plus sage sugar free sweets - the dosage is low with sage (too much not safe in pg) and helps heal.

But TBH this has now got A LOT worse, and I have a headache starting from my cheek, a throbbing tooth, very sore right side of throat (it is the lymph system hence why it feels like tonsillitis - the same system affected) so I am going off to the emergency room now as it is really weeping and just horrid, and I am worried the infection may harm the baby etc. Hope you other ladies are faring better than me!! :-)

I meant to say without pain relief!!

Tea and flapjacks that was the point I was trying to make sweetheart. You being in this much agony is no good for anybody. I am not in any way flippant about the use of drugs in pregnancy but I am sitting here feeding and staring at my perfect six day old and he is fine despite all the antibiotics and pain relief I had to have in hospital. I think you are really in need of something to clear this up.

Try warm salt water rinses several times a day, using splea salt, not table salt. I cured my toothache this way - for some reason pregnancy sets my wisdom teeth off. However it doesn't sounds as bad as yours!

Dirtymistress - I totally agree - I would happily take them now, but they won't give me them!! I asked twice now to two different dentists - and got forceful german DH to ask too. In Germany everything is under lock and key - you can only get paracetamols from a pharmacy and have to ask for them behind the counter, you can't get any codeine (i.e. paracetamol and codeine combo) without a prescription (which they won't give me!) and they won't give me antibiotics - unless a total 'last resort' - I don't know what this would be - three teeth falling out? So I have to go back every two days now for this cleaning/draining business, which they won't give a local for as apparently it is 'quick', and this iodine gauze they shove in your gums.... :-( Also, when you give birth there is no gas and air here, and they will give an epidural, but you might have to stamp your feet a bit to make sure you get it if you want it. It's all teas and herbal remedies first. Sob!! So now I have to use salt water or camomile tea, paracetamols and wait for Monday. Although, having said all that, today it is getting better. I remain hopeful! Thanks for your help :-) x

Oh my, you poor poor thing. I didn't register you weren't in the uk. I really hope it gets better speedily then. Any dental related pain is the worst. Childbirth infinitely preferable. X

Lol - my MIL said that to me when she heard about my tooth, I thought she was joking, now I am not so sure...

Try soluble paracetamol disolved in some warm water and then hold it in your mouth over the painful tooth. It won't kill the pain but it will give some relief by acting as a local anaesthetic.