In AGONY- help!

Vashti

Wating for my dental appointment on Tuesday...and I will phone first thing tomorrow to see if they can take me as an emergency...but can anyone give me advice as to how to deal with this toothache..

I have an abcess in a rear molar and need a root canal, and I have been getting the occasional 'stoon' from it since I saw my dentist last week but nothing bad until this afternoon and now it is at a point where I really cannot stand it, and nothing is helping the pain.

My husband has some dihydrocoedine for his arthritic hip (he is only 42!) I am thinking of taking this to kill it until the morning...not that I am asking for advice or anything Ibuprofen isn't even touching the sides...cloves are useless, slooshing whisky just makes it worse...

Claudie

Sending lots of best wishes - I know how much an abscess can really hurt.

Not sure on the codeine - perhaps you can call NHS Direct and ask - they may also be able to help booking an Emergency appt.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=125&sectionId=7558

Have you tried an ice cold flannel on your cheek? Not overly medical but I find a cold pack usually helps with pain and/or swelling.

Good luck.

cheaporfree

Ring N H S Direct on 0845 4647 hope they can help

Vashti

Hi - thanks, I phoned NHS 24 this afternoon who told me to take ibuprofen for the inflammation and rinse with small amounts of cold water - spitting, not swallowing. The cold water helps alot for about three seconds...lol (ouch)

I just hate the thought of the loong dark night ahead with this pain..I will be at the dentist at 7.30AM tomorrow when it opens

hardpressed

Phone your emergency doctor, if your phone your surgery there should be a recorded message with the number, and ask for their advice, they will be able to tell you if you can take the codein. I've always found hottish liquid helps, seems to numb it for a while, the thought of something cold makes me shudder.
If it gets really desperate you can always go to A&E.

andipandi_2

Alcohol works but the next day-ouch ,try panodol

Justie

you need antibiotics - your dentist will prescribe them I would pop into the dentists and hang around until they can write you out a prescription

Nicki

Definitely don't take OH's meds. My mum did this once, also for toothache, and also taking dad's very powerful painkillers for his arthritis. It knocked her completely off her feet for a few days, made her feel very very unwell, and what's worse didn't even help with the toothache!

My understanding is that different painkillers work in different ways depending on the cause of the pain, hence why drugs like ibuprofen work better for period pains than they do for sore throats. Arthritis and toothache don't have a lot in common, so I wouldn't expect your OH's painkillers to be much use.

(He would also btw be committing a criminal offence by supplying you with prescription only drugs, which might well come out if you had a bad reaction to them and ended up in A and E)

Toothsmith

NHS direct should have been able to direct you to an emergency dentist, but I suppose you've been able to see one by now anyway.

Vashti

Thanks.

Didn't get a wink of sleep and was outside the dentist office when they opened at 7am. Didn't get seen till 8.30, but I am now nursing the aftermath of a root canal which was not the most pleasant of experiences but not quite as bad pain as the toothache.

Amoxcycillin and iboprofen, termporary filling in the tooth (tastes bloody awful) and back in a week.

kickstart_3

If it happens again ?? hold an ice pack against your cheek , it reduces the inflammation caused by the abcess and stops it from throbbing.