REALLY bad toothache - please help?

Question

I've got a really bad toothache, it started this morning and it's got worse through the day. It's there all the time and it's really really sore. I've already taken ibuprofen but it hasn't done anything to the pain. My mum's going to phone the dentist first thing tomorrow morning to get me an emergency appointment, but what can I do until then? I'm 14 years old. The tooth already has a filling in it from a few years ago, so I don't know what's wrong with it. Can it get a cavity even though it's already got a filling in it?

Please tell me how I can get rid of this pain, even just for a little while..........

Answer 1

I have the same problem with my tooth that has a filling. It hurts one day and not the next. I think it could be that part of the filling has came out and is causing air to get down in the cavity of the tooth. The filling will probably have to be filled. If you have a heating pad that really helps if you lay your cheeck on it. And if you don't have a heating pad, then get a wet wash cloth and put it in the microwave for about 45 seconds. The heat will really help. About the ibuprofen, assuming I don't know how much of it you took, it is safe to take 4 tablets of ibuprofen which equals 800mg. That is prescription strength in which a doctor would prescribe for pain. Not anymore than that though in a 12 hour period. Hope your pain eases.

Answer 2

Ouch, sorry you're in so much pain sweetie, I know how bad a toothache can hurt and it's horrible. You could try some clove oil if you've got any in the house, or if not, bite down on a wet teabag with the sore tooth, the tannin in the teabag helps with the pain. Sometimes ice helps, try holding an ice cube next to the sore tooth. I hope you manage to get an appointment tomorrow, there's nothing worse than toothache.

And yes, you can get a cavity in a tooth that already has a filling in it, either a new cavity in a "clean" bit of tooth, or more decay around and underneath the filling that's already there.

Answer 3

God, and always on the weekend, too, right? We never get a toothache on a Tuesday when you can hop in the car and get it fixed in half an hour. Listen... try hot or cold water first. Find out which one your tooth does not react to. When you find which one, then slosh that water around in your mouth whenever the tooth starts to scream at you.This way you can scream back at it a little. Hot or cold water will help you buy a little time, which is what you need right now. Something which I found helped me was to wad up some Kleenex and get your cheek away from the tooth. Your cheek is warm and that is keeping the tooth hot and that might by why it has so much to say. So - isolate your tooth from your cheek. Listerine tastes awful, but it has a numbing effect to some extent on toothaches. If you can stand the taste for a couple of seconds, try that. What else? As strange as this sounds, I have managed to get two teeth to shut up by squeezing hard on them, slowly and firmly. When I let up, the tooth lets up, too. You have from now until sunset or when you go to bed, to get something into place so you can get a good night's sleep. I wish you all the luck in the world finding someone who can help you nail this one. I have been there and I can honestly tell you I know what you are going through right this minute. God Bless You and your poor tooth, hang in there! And get something in place before it gets dark! - Best from G. in South Portland, Maine.

Answer 4

A toothache is caused by an infection in the tooth called an abscess. Left untreated it can cause swelling and the bone around the tooth to be eaten away, causing the tooth to also become mobile. I have seen swelling cause an eye to close due to the puffiness in the face and the sinuses could be affected as well, but have never heard of or seen some one complain of blurred vision. Yes, you could also acquire an ear ache because of an infected tooth. Get that tooth extracted or root canaled it will not get better on it's own and you could end up with more problems than just that tooth.

Answer 5

Rinse your toothache away. Take a mouthful of water (at body temperature) and rinse vigorously, says Dr. Taintor. If your toothache is caused by trapped food, a thorough rinse may dislodge the problem.

Floss gently. If swishing doesn't work, you can try to pry the popcorn hulls or tiny bits of meat out from between your teeth by flossing, says Dr. Taintor. Be gentle! Your gums are likely to be sore.

Take a "shot" to numb the pain. Hold a swig of whiskey over the painful tooth, says Dr. Corn. Your gums will absorb some of the alcohol and that will numb the pain. Spit out the rest.

Rinse with salty water. After each meal and at bedtime, stir 1 teaspoon of salt into an 8-ounce glass of water (again, at body temperature), says Dr. Corn. Hold each mouthful, roll it around your mouth. Spit.

Try a hand massage. When you have an achy tooth, this can ease the pain by 50 percent. Rub an ice cube into the V-shaped area where the bones of the thumb and forefinger meet. Gently push the ice over the area for 5 to 7 minutes.

In a study, Ronald Melzack, Ph.D., a Canadian researcher and past president of the International Association for the Study of Pain, found ice massage eased toothaches in 60 to 90 percent of the people who tried it. His research shows this procedure works by sending rubbing impulses along the nerve pathways that the toothache pain would normally travel on. Since the pathways can carry only one signal at a time, rubbing outweighs the pain.

Oil up with oil of cloves. People have been using this over-the-counter remedy for many years, says Richard Shepard, D.D.S., a retired dentist in Durango, Colorado. Most drugstores carry tiny bottles of the oil. Drop a little directly onto the tooth, or dab a little on a cotton ball and pack the elixir next to the ache.

Don't bite. If the toothache is caused by a blow to the tooth, try not to use that area when you eat, says Dr. Corn. If nothing is damaged, rest for the tooth may restore its vitality.

Suck on some ice. Treat the problem like any good bruise. Use ice, says Dr. Corn. Put ice on the aching tooth or the nearest cheek for 15-minute intervals at least three or four times a day.

Keep your mouth shut. If cold air moving past the tooth is a problem, just shut off the flow, says Roger P. Levin, D.D.S., president of the Baltimore Academy of General Dentistry and a guest lecturer for the University of Maryland.

Or keep your mouth open. Some toothaches happen when a person's bite isn't quite right. In that case, says Dr. Levin, avoid shutting your mouth as much as possible until the dentist can take a look.

Swallow your aspirin. Don't believe that old-time remedy calling for placing an aspirin directly on the aching gum. This can cause an aspirin burn, says Dr. Taintor. For pain relief, take an aspirin every 4 to 6 hours as required.

Stay cool. Keep heat away from your aching cheek even if it makes the toothache feel better, warns Dr. Corn. "If it is an infection, the heat will draw the infection to the outside of the jaw and make the infection worse."

Answer 6

There is probably a tiny hole somewhere in the sore tooth and the root or nerve is infected (that's what happened to me).

Ask your mum if there's any Whisky or similar and swill your mouth out with it (It won't be enough to get you drunk!).

You can take a LITTLE over the recommended dose of pain killer if it's very bad without it harming you.

If you can find the hole that is causing the pain try to cover it with cotton wool, tissue or blu-tak this will stop air getting to it and will take the edge off the pain to last until the morning.

If your Mum has any sleeping pills you might try one.

I hope some of this will help you get trough tonight, I know how awful it must be.


GET WELL SOON!

Answer 7

You're going to have to trust me with this one! Do you trust me?? Ibuprofen! If you've taken it and it doesn't work, YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN ENOUGH! Some people are so paranoid about taking large doses, but don't be afraid to take four of the 200 mg. pills (I use the soft gels--they go to work faster!) every four hours, or as long as the pain lasts! And SERIOUSLY, if you take it RELIGIOUSLY, you won't have ANY PAIN!! I'm being honest--it's a miracle drug for me! Don't believe the hype that "you'll suffer kidney damage" or some stupid thing!! As long as you have something to eat/drink with it, there won't be a problem! HONESTLY, there is NO NEED TO BE IN PAIN--I took it just before TWO SEPARATE ROOT CANAL SURGERIES, and I NEVER FELT THE PAIN, if I took four every four hours! You gotta trust me on this, okay?? I know you're only 14, but tell your parents that my father has been a doctor for over fifty years, and he hasn't led me wrong yet!! You don't need to suffer from the toothache pain! Please, at least just try it!!

Answer 8

You've already taken Ibuprofen...there's not much more you can do. Ice your jaw maybe to numb it a bit. Tylenol 3 if you have any. Sounds like you need root canal like I did last week. I worried for nothing though as the root canal was almost painless and it took away the toothache very quickly....good luck to you.

Answer 9

I understand just how you feel . It sounds like you may have an infection. Rinse your month with some Listerine. As far as the pain Vicoden works best for toothaches.

Answer 10

Clove oil is brilliant, alternate that with toothing gel, and try and get some co-codamol (much better than paracetamol or ibruprofen)

DONT put ice anywhere near it!!!!!
Unless you want a nice sharp pain....the clove oil and toothing gel will numb it.

Wet a flannel and microwave it, tie it in a tesco bag, wrap another thin towel round it and press this against your face....trust me, i had tooth ache so bad it went from my neck to my ear, all the way up to the top of my head!!!

I nearly passed out and had to be taken to hospital