Toothache in pregnancy. Help

[Sheera1]

Hello,

I lost a filling at the start of lockdown on a tooth that has prev had root treatment. It started to ache a bit and managed to get a temporary filling back in. Since then it has got really painful with it definitely being that tooth and pain spreading up my face and into my ear. I did call the dentist back ytday but they close on a Friday afternoons and told me to call on Monday or NHS 24 if the pain was too much.

It is not pleasant but hoping to wait till Monday. What am I allowed to take in pregnancy? I was told no ibuprofen. I did have headaches around 20 weeks that didn't shift and triage told me to take co-codamol so I guess it is ok to take?

I am thinking it is an absess and just read that can be bad when pregnant as it is an infection. I really don't want to go to the dental hospital where they will likely yank it out (my prev experience with them) but will it be ok to Monday. The dentist did know I was pregnant and mentioned absess as a potential reason and said wait till Monday. Thoughts and pain-relief options?

Meant to add I am 27 weeks pregnant.

Is there a private emergency dentist you could find in your local area? I'm not sure with this type of tooth pain, I have wisdom tooth problems which I have to do salt water rinses for and if it gets bad I've been prescribed metronidazole which I'm yet to take. Xx

I'd call nhs 24. My own dentist was closed on the Monday (during lockdown) but their number gave the county's emergency dental number. I phoned it and that wonderful woman I spoke to sent an antibiotic prescription directly to my local pharmacy to be picked up that afternoon and booked me into my local dentist for two days time to get it pulled out. (Or root canal if possible but I declined as the tooth was just a lot of filling by then.)
The dentist told me that if a root canal tooth gets infected then there's not a huge amount they can do but extraction will solve the issue for sure so I would be prepared for that to be the first option.

I hope it feels better soon.

Id contact nhs24 and go to the dental hospital. I am absolutely terrified of the dentist and I had to go during lockdown at 17 weeks pregnant as I cracked a root canal tooth that then went into an abscess. They were amazing, I got antibiotics to sort the infection first and a follow up 3 days later to have the tooth out. Last time I needed a tooth out, I needed sedation at the hospital as I'm so bad with the dentist but they were great. The extraction was no where near as bad as I thought it would be and the relief afterwards was amazing. X

Thanks all. I am annoyingly on a trip from hell. Against my better judgement we came 100 miles for a birthday overnight and had a land slip so it took 4 hours and my car died and is stuck here! So think will need to wait till Monday and suffer till then. Was just worried about absess infection and baby. Now needing to get a lift back tomorrow from a really bad driver which is giving me the fear and my car is stuck here in a tiny place with crap garages. Not the best day. Should have stayed home but it is my dp's sister so felt we had to come. In pure misery 😬. Will try the salt wash. X

Codeine is given in early stages of labour if you want some mild pain relief so I think it's a fairly safe option in pregnancy, though as you say ibuprofen is out. If it's just temp relief til Monday I'd try solpadeine/plus as you can only take it for 3 days max. Then investigate re infection on Monday. Hope you get home safe!

Nhs24 will still see you wherever your are, in the short term they would at least be able to provide proper antibiotics for the abscess

Thanks all. Might give them a call then. Will they not want me to see a dentist first?

Hi OP. I was told by my dentist that they wouldn't take a tooth out during pregnancy. It will be antibiotics and then the tooth can come out if need be after baby is born. Don't suffer in pain over the weekend. You need antibiotics ASAP, so call 111 and see an emergency dentist. Explain that you are pregnant and suffering with the pain and they should prioritise you .

@Sheera1 they might, but they do have an out of hours service.

Re having a tooth taken out in pregnancy, 2nd trimester is preferred but it's fine to have a tooth taken out (obviously if pain is bearable or if infection isn't an issue). My abscess would've come back - it was safer to have the tooth out for both me and the baby

Thanks all. Called NHS 111 and they are seeing me tomorrow up here at the dental hospital here. Couldn't go through pain for next 12 weeks but hoping not an extraction. I am just 3rd trimester and at 27 weeks prob depends who you ask if it is 2nd or 3rd. Hoping antibiotics. It is a wisdom tooth too and not much of it left as it was a huge filling so extraction could be very tricky. Sob! Thanks for all your help.

I only managed some eggs and ice cream today 🤦‍♀️😁

@Sheera1 Hiya, iv had a similar issue the past few days. Have an ongoing issue with my wisdom tooh which id booked to have taken out in hospital in May but they cancelled due to Covid. Im 23 weeks pregnant atm and have just had another gum inflammation/infection around the tooth which was so painful. I rang emergency dentist and they prescribed antibiotics as infection can be quite dangerous for baby if not treated. You can try 111 or emergency dentist if you can. Also try clove oil/Dentogen as this helps with the pain alongside salt water rinse. Iv also read that pregnancy can trigger tooth pain/issues due to the hormones flowing around your body and it can also cause gingivitus. Hope it gets sorted soon x

Hi. I’m 7weeks pregnant and my wisdom tooth pain has flared up again. Tried salt water and paracetamol but still painful. Is it safe this early on to go to the dentist and get antibiotics?

Good luck today @Sheera1 - antibiotics will at least sort the infection to protect baby. If it's an extraction, I promise the relief you'll get will be worth it x

@Maybe3ornot depends on what's causing the pain, but I'd suggest a trip to the dentist is the starting point. You can take antibiotics during pregnancy, but you must tell them you're pregnant so that they can check what they're prescribing x

Thanks all. Preparing myself for coming back with stitches and an extracted wisdom tooth as worst case scenario. Last night was awful so very glad I called them and seeing them in 30 mins. Xx

Tooth is out. Came out quite easily. They were really nice tbh. Feeling a little shaky but ok. Fingers crossed not tok much pain now. Thank you all xxx

@Sheera1 glad it wasn't so bad, couple of days and you'll definitely feel the better for it being out x

Feeling a bit wrecked at the moment and was sore after the anesthetic wore off. Getting a bit better. Hopefully by tomorrow will be much better x

How are you feeling today @Sheera1? I've had two upper wisdom teeth out this pregnancy ( and may need a lower impacted one out also)so I know how you feel. Just make sure to start the hot salty mouthwashes today, they really do help and use ice packs whenever necessary. Was yours an impacted tooth or 'normal' wisdom tooth? Its typical these things happen during pregnancy isn't it!

Hi ya. Not sure of the difference. Think normal. It was fully out the gum. Was removed due to an infection under it. I am ok. Was very sore after the anesthetic wore off. Managed to sleep a good bit. Did a salt mouthwash today and good advice. I am ok when painkillers have been taken but after about 2 hours they wear off. Weirdly my temple hurts and in my ear. It is already better than the toothache before it though. Lost half a stone! Only eating soft food and not a lot of it. Drinking lots of water. Xx

We pick our timing well don't we? 🤦‍♀️😁

Rang dentist, not seeing patients but explained about infected wisdom tooth and that pregnant. They prescribed me 500mg Amoxicillin 3 times a day for 5days. They said it was safe during pregnancy but other people have said that it’s quite strong a dose? Slightly worried now 😟

@Maybe3ornot double check it with a pharmacist. My pharmacist wasn't concerned about amoxicillin (can't remember the dose though) x

Yes and maybe ask Midwife. If the dentist is saying they won't see you that is not good. They should be seeing emergency appointments. They might not be able to do much as can't use drills due to aerosol but they can refer you to dental hospital who can do more things. They can't just leave you with an infected tooth and pain esp when pregnant. Call nhs 24 and see what they say. They should do an xray to see the issue to determine a course of action. Antibiotics may just delay a needed procedure and leave you longer in pain. This is what I was told this weekend. X

Thanks everyone, seeing Midwife today for booking in appointment. The antibiotics seem to be doing the trick but will check with mw to make sure dentist was correct