Help with toothache

[lynbrown]

Over the holiday period I had an ache in my jaw which i thought was toothache. I saw the dentist last week and she Xrayed it and said there was no decay, and it could be receding gums. Since then its got more painful and is getting me down. I rub on Bonjela and sensitive toothpaste but neither help much. However, its not 24/7. During the morning its not too bad but is always worse by night time. Right now its throbbing.

[annadomino]

You poor thing, bonjela wont help at all.
You need ibruprofen 400, or liquid neurofen. Even oil of cloves would help. Try the other 2 first.

[boomster]

Hi lyn, I sympathise, 'cos I had similar agonising throbbing and swollen gums last Saturday afternoon and through most of the night. I gargled with Lysterene a few times, at intervals - this had a 50% numbing affect and took 2 Neurofen fast painkillers at 4 hr intervals (but not more than 8 in 24 hrs). Still a bit niggly on the Sunday so continued as before. Now by Wedsnesday, all seems much better but still mouthwash morning and just before bedtime. Hope this helps.

[lynbrown]

Im off for the nurofen now - thanks.

[Sade]

Do try clove oil! Try not to swallow it, but if you can just apply it to the tooth it will help. Also go to a different dentist. I have an NHS one who said the same as yours but it may be worth visiting a private dentist for a check up (£35 ish) and see what they say.

[burbie]

clean you teeth twice a day with sensodine toothpaste, it does work after a few days.
dont rub the toothpaste on, use a toothbrush, it reaches the areas better.
my problem was more to do with drinking hot or cold drinks

[bravejordy]

I can completely sympathize with you, lynbrown, I had a throbbing toothache on New Year's Eve/Day and thought I may have to resort to seeking the help of an emergency dentist. The annoying thing is I'd seen my regular dentist just before Christmas, who'd asked me if my back tooth was giving me any trouble, but at the time it wasn't. Fortunately I'm already taking co-codamol for my arthritic knees, and these seem to be helping alleviate the pain in my tooth. The tooth in question isn't giving me any trouble at the moment, except when I chew with that side of my mouth. I went back to see my dentist today, who x-rayed my tooth and said she thinks the problem is with my gum and not my tooth. Long story short, she's given me a 5-day course of antibiotics to see how things go. I think she's hoping to save the tooth even though it has had fillings in the past, in fact, it was filled by a different dentist eight months ago who told me the tooth might need a root canal if the filling didn't take. It does feel like some of the filling has come out but this new dentist doesn't think it needs a root canal so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what she decides to do. I hope everything goes well with you, please keep us posted.

[carlton23]

I swear by Orajel, as it numbs the gums and every thing it touches, just like a Novacaine injection.

[lynbrown]

Thanks all. I took 2 syndol ( no nurofen) and they stopped the pain, allowing me to fall asleep. This morning, its OK but I am on tenterhooks waiting for it to start again. Going out for lunch - so hope all is well once i start eating. Lots of good support from AB readers, as ever.

[donnaanna]

lynbrown, be carefull, it may be deeper problem.

in my case it was the bone under the teeth that has been damaged due to previous dental treatment such as pulling out wisdom teeth 15 years ago. The bone was not getting enough blood for loooooong time, has been slowly rotting and getting my health down, quietly causing constant infections of tonsils, throat and ears and throbbing pain around the whole head which was difficult to localise.
finally last november I had a blister on my gum, which burst prompting me to go to the dentist. he wasn't particularly good - did the x-ray but it was slightly pissed and surprise, surprise it has shown huge black hole where my jawbone should have been. it was opened, cleaned, bone was cleaned as well by taking chunks of it out to make sure all of the dead tissue was gone, then drains and stiches, then masses of antibotics.
I was told it is not rare problem but hugely undiagnosed as nobody does x-ray of the jaw - they always do your teeth and miss it!

have a look at this:

http://www.healthcare...net/JBcavitations.htm

[J9PUR]

I would suggest a return visit to your dentist is in order. It sounds as though you may be suffering from pulpitis (an inflammation of the pulp within a tooth). This will not show on an x-ray. The lack of evident decay on an x-ray is not an exclusion of problems with that tooth. A tooth may be giving symptoms although it has a completely normal radiographic appearance.

[jno]

this happened to me once. The pain got so bad over the weekend I went to another dentist (my usual one was closed), who said I needed root canal treatment and provided it. Problem solved. I never went back to my old dentist, but the moral is that dentists may miss things and a second look, or a second opinion, can be useful..

[Psybbo]

Rub Sensodyne toothpaste on it (my dentist's advice for a tooth whose root was becoming exposed). It works and I've used the toothpaste ever since

[Booldawg]

I once had toothache so bad I couldnt sit still with it for a whole weekend; I had to keep moving. Even walked 5 miles in the dark, cross country to the pub.

After a while no pain killer or oil of cloves would help. I even tried swilling neat vodka. Oddly enough the only (breif) respite was offered by swilling with warm salt water.