Extream Pain

[Missec]

Ok, I have a major tooth ache.

Hard to eat, hard to sleep, hard to drink.

Question is, does anyone know anything I can do for the next couple of days until I see the dentist?

 

[69Strat]

The only think I know of that is available without a prescription are tooth type gels that contain benzocaine, which numb the area. Cloves are something else that can be used. Frankly, I have not found either of them to be very effective in dealing with a serious toothache. Hope you feel better, soon.

 

[sjfh]

Ibuprofen worked for me

 

[VICTORIADON]

A cinnemon clove will work, but it will also kill your toothes nerve and can can affect your gums, seek a dentist as soon as possible.
If you hold the small end of the clove to your pain, it will go away.
If the tooth that is bothering you is not a front tooth, it is a lot cheaper to have it pulled than having it filled.
I found out the hard way that dentists, like everyone else, have their own adjenda. By the time a dental "surgeon " saw me, my teeth had done so much damage to my jaws I needed major help because my dentist "thought" the only treatment was filling cavities.

 

[Orlandude]

Besides the Oragel or other like products (there are several available at the pharmacy), take aspirin or an aspirin substitute for any pain. If the tooth begins to abcess or you have any kind of swelling, don't wait. That means an infection is present. Tell the dentist office right away. An abscess is considered a "dental emergency" and he should have you come in immediately for antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

 

[hermanding]

oil of cloves - or cinnamon cloves - for some reason - seems to be of benefit - until you can go
ding

 

[dexyboi86]

try to skeeve some vicodin or percodan from a friend or relative, assuming you're not allergic to painkillers.

This is not a flame, but do not do this! Prescriptions are a controlled substance for a reason. Do not take anyone else's meds.

That aside, the advice people have given is very good.
My advice/summation (in this order);
1) Oil of Clove
2) Orajel
3) Acetominaphen (tylenol) or Ibuprofen. NOT asprin

If you are in extreme pain, take a double dose of tylenol or IB. It may knock you out, but it will help. If there is any swelling, get help immediately. As mentioned earlier, this can be quite dangerous and requires immediate attention.

 

[SilverRRCloud]

IMHO, extreme pain calls for urgent action.

Go to your dentist or to an emergency dentist and see what needs to be done.

Well-meaning as we all are, only a trained dentist can help, when it comes to anything 'major'.

SC

 

[dexyboi86]

Oh great, tell people not to take prescription meds then tell them to take double doses of tylenol.

After working in a hospital and seeing many ER cases, I know this is safe. Heck, they even gave me a prescription in the ER once for "Naproxen" in a large dosage. What is the primary ingredient in Aleve? You guessed it!

"Do not exceed 6 caplets or tablets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor"


Okay, maybe you as a non-medical person have to reccomend only single doses.

 

[jockboy01]

Actually, naproxen and tylenol are quite different. And Adidasluvr is right in that you shouldn't exceed the normal dosage of tylenol (which is acetominophen). I highly doubt you ever saw anybody in the ER you worked at give more than the recommended dose of tylenol... that would be considered malpractice. And no physician would ever do that.

Ibuprofen and naproxen... that's a different story, different drugs, different toxicities. So those can be exceeded under a doctor's care.

 

[jkdenim]

Bathe the area in warm salt water (don't go too crazy with the salt) and go see a dentist now! The salt water will keep the germs at bay before your appointment.

 

[oz_doc]

After working in a hospital and seeing many ER cases, I know this is safe. Heck, they even gave me a prescription in the ER once for "Naproxen" in a large dosage. What is the primary ingredient in Aleve? You guessed it!

"Do not exceed 6 caplets or tablets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor"


Okay, maybe you as a non-medical person have to reccomend only single doses.

wow talk about bad advice, these drugs are completely different one is incredibly hepatotoxic, do not take more then the recomended dose of acetominophen/paracetamol. Naproxen is not even vaguely the same drug. Take your advice from medical journals and drug instructions.

As for the OP's problem, the advice here so far seems good, oil of cloves helps some people (to tell you the truth im not even certain how, I might look up its chemical structure to try and find out), otherwise try a commercial oral anaesthetic from your chemist although they are better for ulcers and other superficially painful lesions.

Back to dexybois advice I am quite sure I've seen more acetominophen overdoses in our ER then youve seen deliberate prescribed acetominophen overdoses where you work, and if not your hospital should be shut down.

 

[Missec]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the post.

I have done the following. every 4 to 6 hours.

1. 2-200mg ibuprofen
2. Vitam C with antioxident 1000 mg.
3. Mouthwash - just letting it soak.
4. Heating pad

When I wrote the first post this am, I hadnt had any sleep for over 24 hours from the pain. I didnt think about the clove or salt water rinse.

So thank you all for the quick response in this matter.

 

[dexyboi86]

My apologies, it was a complete oversight.

I know I personally have been given large doses of naproxen and ibuprofen, but I cannot say that I have taken or have seen administered large doses of acetominaphen.

Yes, I realize they are completely different drugs. But in a moment of carelessness, I applied one meds instructions to another.

But I still say don't share prescriptions.

 

[JayHew]

Just for gp purposes some general rules should be followed:

1. Tylenol or Acetaminophen should be used with caution as a lot of over the counter meds have it in them and an OD is possible, but also taking it and having alcohol shortly or even a few hours later can cause problems. It is not an innocent drug and causes a lot of liver problems. Also it is not a great pain reliever or anti-inflammatory drug.

2. If you are allergic to aspirin, do not take Iburpofen and use caution with naproxen.

3. Generally, if needed, the maxium effective dose of Ibuprofen is 800 mg three times a day or every 8 hours. Has the same effect in pain mediation as taking 60 mg of codeine. Eat something with it, don't take on an empty stomach. All NSAID medications decrease prostaglandins, which mediate pain, but also are the driving forces for the stomach and kidney to operate correctly.

4. Naproxen (Aleve) is a good drug and has the same problems as above. If pain is severe, taking a one time dose of 750 mg will allevate pain enough sometimes (depends on the individual) to allow passing of a kidney stone.

5. Aspirin is still a good drug, but caution is needed. All seem to be aware of its ability to cause bleeds in the stomach, so eating something with it helps, but taking it with an antiacid is best as it releases the active ingredient in much higher dosages and more gets to the body system beyond the first pass through the liver. DO NOT exceed 16 tabs a day as Aspirin is audiotoxic and will produce ringing in the ears and eventually hearing loss.

5. Clove oil is effective in relieving dental pain if there are cracks in the tooth and it can get into them. Use only on the tooth and keep it away from the gums as it will cause a chemical burn if it contact the gums for a prolonged period of time. Cinnamon the same.

Usually with a lot of dental pain it means there is an abscess at the base of the tooth, in other words, infected and will likely require a root canal or having the tooth pulled. You shouldn't delay getting to a dentist and having the problem taken care of as soon as possible, otherwise the infection can spread and worse case, infect the bone.

FYI only.

 

[hermanding]

dude, did you get to the guy?? how's everything
ding