Help! Horrible toothaches! Please be serious!?

Question

I am very,very poor and have like $19 to my name. I have NO family with ANY money and no friends who will help me pay for a dentist. I have 4 teeth on the top left and 3 on the bottom left that hurt extremely bad right now. 400mg Ibuprofen is not working, Aleve is not working, I don't know what to do!!! I am in so much pain!! Anyone know of any agencies in Houston, Texas that can help me? I am a 22 year old female. I went to a few dentist offices here but no one will offer me any payments plans without having credit and I have no one that can co-sign. Should I go to the emergency room and make my credit worse but get some type of stronger pain reliver? I have 800 mg ibuprofen from when I had backaches but it made me really, really sick/suicidal feeling the last time I took it.

Answer 1

If you are that poor and without insurance, don't you qualify for Medicaid?

If you are in severe pain find a dental school and call; they will help you.

No dental school near you? Call the local dental society, call 411 for the #. Ask the dental society where you can receive indigent care.

If you have a fever, redness &/or swelling go to the ER you need an antibiotic now. If you qualify for Medicaid the social workers at the hospital should help you apply for aid.

Feel better. Good luck.

Answer 2

I have had problem with toothaches. Pain relief is only a temporary solution. Are you employed? If you are (and I'm not saying get dental insurance), my suggestion (albiet drastic and almost never a good idea) is to get SOME kind of credit card, (anything) and do what you can. At least get your teeth looked at, it could be tons of things. In the meantime, I have used Oragel or some kind of numbing agent (it may help a little).

And by the way, she MAY be using a school comuter, not her own. (But if you are, I agree, cut as much as you can. Teeth and health come first.)







Once you get on your feet enough, try this website: www.dentalplans.com. It's a yearly plan that will help you get DISCOUNTS on dental work (it's especially good for major work). Plans vary in price range. (It's NOT insurance, but a discount plan, as long as you can pay for it, you are good---no cosigners or anything).

Get your teeth taken care of as soon as you can. I feel for you. I was in agony, and pretty useless when I had my issues. Good luck.

Answer 3

I have had MANY of these and I am so sorry for you. I can tell you a few things to help, but with a toothache, you really have no choice but to head to the ER to get out of pain. You can warm a towel in the microwave, and lay that side of your head/jaw on it. It truly does help. However, it is momentarily and the only way I have ever found to get relief is a Dr to give me hydrocodone/Vicodin. I've ended up at the ER on the weekends with bad teeth aches.
Good luck and hope you get relief soon. Child birth is easier than a tooth ache...

Answer 4

There may be a dental school clinic in your area that will work on you for free considering your financial status. Check web, Yellow Pages... Kind of sucks that it's the weekend though... Ibuprofin is about the best you can do 'till Monday... Or the emergency room if it gets unbearable. Sorry to hear you're feeling so badly. I've been there with the teeth and no money...

Answer 5

Contact social services in your area...also churches (even if you're not a member)...there is help out there but you have to search. Meanwhile if your cheek or jaw feels hot, then you most likely have infection. Take over the counter pain meds as directed...Tylenol and Advil are great...apply an ice pack. I know that sounds crazy to put ice on a tooth ache, but if it's "hot" it will help. If all else fails, go to the emergency room

Answer 6

You could try gargling with salt water. Or else put some used tea bags on your toothache but these rememdies are just temporary. You eventually have to go to a dentist to have them extracted. You should really find some money.

Answer 7

Is there a dental college near you? They often have lower rates. Have you applied for any assistance through the state? You might be able to get some medical assistance. If you put whole cloves (the spice) in some gauze and hold it in your mouth it is helpful for pain, but it has a really strong taste. Rinse with saltwater solutions. I sometimes have terrible tooth pain when I have sinus trouble, have you tried taking a sinus pain remedy? And it sounds to me like you definitely should not take the 800 mg ibuprophen, it sounds like you are sensitive to it.

Answer 8

You likely have abscessed teeth. If the infection travels to your brain you could suffer a stroke or even die from the infection. Get to an emergency room and get to a dentist. You either need those teeth pulled out or repaired.

If money is tight cut all unnessary expenses....like why are you spending money on a computer and internet hookup when you need your teeth fixed? When you are at the hospital find out if your local health department has dental services for poor people. Most do but you must qualify. check it out.

Answer 9

Go to the emergency room. You sound like you have an infection. If you don't get it treated, it could infect your whole body including your brain.

They will give you antibiotics and pain medicine.

For temporary relief, brush good and rinse with mouthwash every hour. This kills germs which is what is causing you pain.

Answer 10

Get to the dentist.until then mix some ground cinnamon and honey together to form a paste and keep it on the tooth.the cinnamon is a natural pain killer and the honey has an anti-bacterial agent in it.you can also put a clove next to your tooth and just suck on it keeping some saliva next to your tooth.this works for us.you can take an aspirin with this stuff if the pain gets bad.