I’ve got a tooth that needs a root canal (which I’ve been putting off for various reasons).
When it had its most recent flare, I was in enough pain that I was alternating Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetominophen). The Advil, while it was OTC, I was taking at a higher dose (3 tablets instead of 2, for one or two of the 3 daily doses). So I was basically taking up to 8 a day. While I wouldn’t do that willy-nilly or long term, bear in mind that the prescription dose is up to 2400 mg (or 12 200-mg pills) a day. So I’d take the Advil first thing in the morning, then 4 hours later some Tylenol and so on. The alternating was done because I remembered the kids’ doctor telling us to do that when they had high fevers.
Warmth may help. When my wisdom teeth flared when I was a youngster, the dentist said the pain flareups are from localized infection. Warmth would, I think, help there (maybe a warm salt water swish a few times a day). 2 weeks ago when the root-canal tooth was bad, I applied a hot water bottle as much as I could. I think it soothed things somewhat. Cold might relieve the pain, but warm might relieve the cause of the pain.
But do try to find some way to get care for this. It could damage nearby teeth, and/or the infection could spread.
I’ve seen quite a few Groupon and other types of deals for dental places recently. You can google websites that catalog all the deals to see if there are any in your area. Maybe at least save some on an exam and professional advice.
I’ll second (or third) it for a dental school. Call ahead and say it’s an emergency, you are in a LOT of pain.
ALSO–check technical/trade schools which have a dental assistant program. Sometimes the school employs a dentist so the students can get chairside experience.
You wouldn’t suffer with an infected appendix, saying, “I can’t pay for it now.”
~VOW
One thing with pain meds: my doctor has told me that you can safely combine advil with Tylenol, although he recommends taking them two hours apart. He also will (off the record) recommend you take 4 Advil, which is 800mg and legally a prescription dose. Though he is very adamant about not taking more than 1000mg of Tylenol.
The only other thing I can recommend is listening to music, which has testing-confirmed analgesic properties. Oh, that and, oddly enough, masturbation, which also releases endorphins, which have both pain killing and sedative properties. (I assume you aren’t up for an hour’s worth of fairly strenuous aerobic exercise.)
I had a dentist’s office give me 800 mg ibuprofen pills. It can’t at least hurt to check around and see if you can get an official OK to take that much.
Dental infections are no joke even with antibiotics and such. My neighbor nearly died from one earlier this year. Please find a way to get looked at!
Yep - and the prescription dosage is 3 of those a day, or 2400 mg. Every time I’ve gotten a prescription for ibuprofen, I’ve just taken the equivalent in OTC tablets (in fact I’ll usually do something like 3 tablets / 600 mg 4 x a day vs 4 tablets / 800 mg 3x a day).
And I’ve gotten permission from my doctor to go up to that level if I’m in significant enough pain from something (though I very rarely do so).
Do beware though: those DO impede clotting, if not perhaps quite as much as aspirin would. I had a blood draw once after being on prescription-level ibuprofen - and had a hell of a bruise around the needle-stick spot as a result.
This is why they also tell you no NSAIDS at all if you’re having other surgery. They can compensate if they know about it, but it’s best to avoid it.
My tooth doesn’t hurt anymore (the combination acetaminophen (tylenol) and aspirin that I get from Excedrin seems to have done the trick). But the left side of my jaw does. It’s a lot more bearable than it was, but obviously I’m still concerned. It’s enough that I’m in the process of scheduling an appointment with a dentist rather than going to the emergency room in the hopes that it’ll be cheaper.
I’m hoping antibiotics and prescription-strength painkillers will be all I need until I can do more in a few months, when I’m assuming I’ll have to get a root canal or something.
Regardless of what the problem may be, at least I’m not incapacitated by the pain anymore and I’m thankful that I can sleep again.
After further poking around on my jaw, it seems like I’ve either gotten a swollen lymph node, a cyst (I have a history of cysts elsewhere on my body, typically my hands) or a tumor. My appointment should be great fun.
Another tip, if you don’t have Orajel or Ambusol around. Take a capful of whiskey, hold it in your cheek (or wherever the bad tooth is) for about 10-15 seconds, and then spit it out. (It’s a bad idea to swallow it when you’re taking all those pain killers)
Broke out in severe fever and shakes and finally went to the ER. I know, I’m an idiot who should have done it sooner. Attribute my stupidity to the pain. You can feel free to say “I told you so”, if you’d like. I won’t mind.
Anyway, went to St Joseph’s and they were super nice. The mass on my jaw is a swollen lymph node and the doctor prescribed antibiotics and prescription-strength pain meds. Only downside is I can’t get liquored up or drive tractors for a week or so. Shucks.
The rest was good news: He said he didn’t think I had an abscess or gingivitis (I take pretty OK care of my teeth) or anything like that but I should still see a dentist about my wisdom tooth (obviously).
Applied for government financial aid while I was there (I know, another filthy communist sucking the country dry amirite?) but it’ll be a few weeks to see what the bill is. Hopefully it’s not too much, I was only in the ER for about a half an hour.
Thanks for all the wise words (that, granted, I ignored in my pain-driven delirium) and support. Looks like I’m gonna be OK.
No tractor driving? What are you supposed to do for fun now?
Glad to hear you’re feeling better and have started getting that pesky tooth out. I had an impacted wisdom tooth - getting it out was a Very Good Thing.
I figure I’ve got a week to enjoy what half the board does: Act like a complete ass and blame it on my condition (although it’ll be pain med loopiness rather than senility).
Shouldn’t be too different than how I am on the boards amirite?