Tooth Problems!!

Updated on February 14, 2007
W.S. asks from Marlton, NJ
16 answers

Ahhhh!!! I am at my ropes end!!! I have an absessed (i don't think i spelled correct) tooth and it is at the root. I am on antibiotics and pain med. but after maybe 4 hours the pain meds die off and i cna only take them 8-10 hours. Anyone have any suggestions for pain relief!!!! I havn't even been able to go to work. Does anyone know how long it takes for the antibiotics to get working? It has been 72 grueling hours!!!! HELP!!!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your advice. I went back to my dentist and he changed my antis. Crossing my fingers, hopefully this will work. I go back on thur to get it pulled:(

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M.R.

answers from Philadelphia on

Dear W.,

Have you ever tried oragel its for tooth pain,it really helps. Hope this helps you. You can get it in the drug store. Also I don't know what Doctor you went to but maybe see a Dentist.

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V.Z.

answers from Atlanta on

I have been there many times! I had an absess while I was pregnant so I couldnt use pain medications. The doctor suggested I use an ice pack, that was almost worse, so I tried a little heat, and it seemed to help but you have to alternate, heat and no heat. I also applied pressure for a period of time which seemed to help. There is a mouth spray, Chlorespetic Mouth Spray which also helped. Good Luck!!! Eventually it will get better, but its unbearable while you are experiencing it.

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L.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Call your dentist! My son had an abscessed tooth back in August. After 48 hours he was as miserable as when it first started. The dentist switched his meds to a different antibiotic, and there was improvement within 24 hours with the new meds. You may need a stronger med.
My son (age 18) needed to have root canal after the infection cleared.

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J.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Demand something from your doctor - tell him you have to function. If not your dentist - go to your regular PCP.

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S.K.

answers from Philadelphia on

This is my specialty!(absess around the tooth, makes you wanna shoot yourself especially when that pain gets up into your ear! you dont have to wait the full 8-10 hrs to re-dose on your meds, if they wear off in about 4 hours then by all means take them. Your body won't get addicted to them since you are in actual real pain, and the pain is comming from the nerve in the tooth that is most likely exposed which makes the pain 10 times worse, but i wont go to the dentist untill i find one to put me fully asleep/sadated. a lot of insurances wont cover that,but i'm such a big baby when it comes to a dentist (since childhood dental trauma) I look especially for dentist who deal with dental phobia patients hear in philly.I found one finally (of course after some more recent dental trauma,trusting a dentist??#$$$.

I found one who gives me the pill(10 mg) to calm me down when i first arrive, & they'll wait till i seem relaxed, but if they see me after 20-25-30-45 min still jittery and my leg shaking they'll give me the other pill or somtimes they'll give me the gas within 20-30 minafter the pill to help calm me down faster, so they can start the work on my teeth. My husband stays with me in the same room the whole time,(they'll allow it,now once i'm knocked out i dont know anything untill i wake up, which is right after the root canal,they turn off the gas-remove my mask and what ever else because i come right out of it,remembering i just got in the chair. The price is right$110.for twi-lite sedation/sleep if you have insurance they pay for the work your getin done. Thats really the cheapest for sedation,i know some dentist charge from $500 and up,unfortuanately i didnt find this kool dentist untill after financially gettin shafted by the other expensive dentist.(but hey,you live and you learn.This is my only dentist now.
take your pain med along with your antibio/ or take them atleast 1 hour apart, just rite down the times somewhere to remember the last dose.the antibio should start to work inabout 2-3-4 days depending on what the docs gave you.the cheap asses love giving out that stupid 800mg boots,so usually i take them 2 at a time then the penicil an hour behind. this way it gets in your system faster & stays in their longer because your not waiting the whole 8-10 hours like the docs tell you. OH I almost 4got, put a bag of ice or frozen bag/box of anything you have in the freezer this will numb this pain enough for you to be atleast comfortable as the meds start to work. (AGAIN DONT WAIT THE 8-10 hrs!no no no,TAKE MEDS EVERY 3-4 HOURS to keep them in your system longer untill you have the work done on the tooth.GOOD-LUCK!
S.

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R.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Not much helps the pain from an abcessed tooth. Not until the infection clears up and the tooth gets fixed. My mother used to use hot tea bags! You can ask the dentist if you can use a heating pad or bag of ice on your jaw but sometimes one of these remediesn (i forget which one} can cause a really really bag infection.

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J.H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I work for a dentist. Typically it takes 48 hours for the antibiotic to kick in. If you are still in bad pain contact your dentist. He may need to change your antibiotic.

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J.K.

answers from Scranton on

what kind of pain meds are you on first of all. if you're on percocet or something with tylenol in it you could take ibuprofen in between to ease the pain-or vice versa, as long as you don't have an allergy to either med. otherwise i know that when my husband had one a few months ago he was in so much pain that percocet wasn't helping, so we went to our local er and they gave him a long acting shot of some kind of numbing agent. it worked wonders and he lasted until his surgery to get the tooth removed. i'd definately do it again if it happened to either he or i. well i hope i helped ya, good luck and being pain free.

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L.K.

answers from Lancaster on

hey W. i work for a dentist and it sounds like you need to be calling yours and getting in right away! it usually take an antibiotic 24 hrs to start working, and maybe ask your dentist for a stonger pain med.

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E.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

Ouch! I wonder if you can try using orajel,the infant teething gel. It might be worth a try.

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J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I don't know how long it will take for the antibiotics .But the pain have you tried alieve or ibprofen also try a warm compress or heating pad . I had infected wisdom teeth and the ice made it worse!!! Call your dentist to tell him/her what's going on they should have an answer. Hope this helps! Good luck !

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S.Y.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi W. sorry to hear about your pain. I have worked in the dental field for about 10 yrs. The antibiotics should have started to alleviate some of the pain within 24-48 hrs. depending on how bad the infection was. If that has not allieviated the pain you may need to have a pulpotomy where they open the tooth and take out the bulk of the nerve to help alleviate the pain and then complete with a root canal. Just sounds like a scary word, no worse then getting a filling. Any more questions feel free to get in touch. S.

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K.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Well I hate to tell you, but you need to have a root canal-NOW! That's the only thing that will really relieve the pain. Trust me, after having 2 of these and thinking one was my sinuses, I know how much pain they cause and even though I started on pain med and antibiotics, I only felt real relief after the root canal. And it was not as bad as everyone says, in fact it was a piece of cake! They numb you up, which is great, because the pain will instantly go away and then the procedure itself is painless. Alittle expensive, but if you're in that much pain, you need to have it done. Good luck!

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J.W.

answers from York on

Does your dentist have any suggestions? I had an infection once after having my wisdom teeth removed. They suggested I rinse my mouth out with hydrogen peroxide, YUCK! But I think it did something. I think it would only work if the abscess is open though. Don't know about your situation. If you do try it, make sure not to swallow it and rinse with plain water afterward. I feel your pain. Good luck

J.

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H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

You need to see your dentist IMMEDIATELY. If you do not have a regular dentist, see if there is a clinic in your area. You need to have it treated asap. If the abcess ruptures, it can essentially poison your system and cause septic shock. Please see your dentist.
H.

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D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

They are the most painful... have you tried gargling with salt water? also hot compresses on your cheek where ever it is works. The meds should start working in 2-3 days, if not call your doctor immediately. That junk goes right into your blood stream if its not treated properly. Only been in dental asst. school for two weeks, but my book helps alot! Good Luck! If I can help anymore let me know!
D.

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