Toothache / Abscess

[soda]

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas to relieve the pain enough to get to sleep. Woke up this morning with an abscess starting to form after having a sore tooth the last couple of days.

It started off with my jaw looking a bit like David Coulthard, gradually becoming Stan out of Family Guy, but now I'm feeling more like the elephant man!

I have tried swilling some whiskey round it, have now drank more of it than was wise. So presumably strong painkillers are out?


My dentist can't fit me in till Thursday but not sure I can cope till then with my jaw like this. I'm not overly squeamish so is lancing it myself a good idea?

Thanks in advance for any good suggestions.

[Pothole]

catafast is your friend..no idea if it's available w/o scrip here

[Big Al.]

He's probably issue you with some form of anti biotic in the mean time take some anti inflammatory drugs aspirin or Ibuprofen etc.

It has worked for me in the past.

[IforB]

My first advice would be to change your dentist immediately. If it's that bad, you should be seen as an emergency patient asap. Not left to wait for a couple of days.

Did he not even give you a script for amoxicillin to start knocking the infection back?

[soda]

Think you may be right about changing dentist but there is a serious shortage of them here that take NHS patients. I'll find out tomorrow if any of the local hospitals run an out of hours dental clinic.

Amoxicillin isn't an option for me, I'm allergic to any of the penicillin based antibiotics. Regarding anti-inflammatories I've taken some Diclofenac I was previously prescribed for my knee.

[soda]

Pothole said:

catafast is your friend..no idea if it's available w/o scrip here

I've just googled that and turns out it is Diclofenac, hasn't put much of a dent in it yet. Cheers for the suggestion though.

It is presription only here BTW

[goldblum]

Diclofenac will take a while to work.

Crush some Aspirin or Paracetamol/Codeine,stick it on the end of your finger and then rub softly against the gum until it is absorbed.

[IforB]

soda said:

Think you may be right about changing dentist but there is a serious shortage of them here that take NHS patients. I'll find out tomorrow if any of the local hospitals run an out of hours dental clinic.

Amoxicillin isn't an option for me, I'm allergic to any of the penicillin based antibiotics. Regarding anti-inflammatories I've taken some Diclofenac I was previously prescribed for my knee.

There are plenty of other options such as co-trimoxazole. Mind you, it does depend on the abcess, antibiotics arn't always effective against them and do take a bit of time to work.

BTW, I'm not a Dr. Just someone who's been on the receiving end of this before. I also take amoxcil everyday due to having no spleen, so understand what it gets used for normally and I had some nasty side effects when I was given co-trimoxazole, so I'm aware of that one too!

So do take any advice I might give with a pinch of salt and never listen to anyone on the internet about your health!

[soda]

I've resigned myself to the fact that it will continue to be sore, I shall finish my bottle of Jamesons off and head to bed

Cheers folks

Edited by soda on Wednesday 24th November 01:12

[Mobile Chicane]

Get to your GP for antibiotics.

I'm naughty and keep stocks of broad-spectrum antibiotics at home (buy on tinterweb) because:

a. I live miles from anywhere, live alone, and getting to a Dr is an issue if I'm ill,
b. I resent paying £7-odd for a drug which costs the NHS a maximum of £1.

[K77 CTR]

You should have access to a 24 hour emergency dental line, they will tell you where you can get treatment. Either NHS direct or your local A&E should be able to give you the number. Most gp's refuse to treat dental problems but some a&e / walk in centres will if facial swelling is present.

I wouldn't recommend stock piling antibiotics, this is one reason MRSA is such a problem, people using antibiotics inappropriately or not completing the course.

[MacGee]

call your PCT or PALS..they should have an out of hours emergency service. Treatment essential ASAP. You may have to pay privately to get urgent treatment. Only you can decide if its worth it.

[soda]

Well I did get some sleep after all the whiskey and the pain isn't just as bad thankfully.

The swelling has actually increased in size again though it feels a bit softer now, I'm off to A&E now to hopefully get something done. I refuse to sit in the house till tomorrow looking like I'm chewing a tennis ball.

[Pothole]

soda said:

Pothole said:

catafast is your friend..no idea if it's available w/o scrip here

I've just googled that and turns out it is Diclofenac, hasn't put much of a dent in it yet. Cheers for the suggestion though.

It is presription only here BTW

Mine seems to have stopped being the miracle cure it was last time I had toothache....maybe it's gone off.

[Rollin]

soda said:

Well I did get some sleep after all the whiskey and the pain isn't just as bad thankfully.

The swelling has actually increased in size again though it feels a bit softer now, I'm off to A&E now to hopefully get something done. I refuse to sit in the house till tomorrow looking like I'm chewing a tennis ball.

Ring your dentist and tell them you are going to A and E. They may then miraculously have an appointment for you today. If your dentist is NHS he is obliged to see you within 24 hours for this sort of thing and A and E will not be happy with them when they find out you have an NHS dentist. In the meantime.

No crushed aspirin.

Rinse with hot salt water.

Nothing warm on the outside of your face.

[Driller]

OP please, please don't take anti inflammatory drugs without antibiotics if you have an infection. This is a fast track way to getting cellulitis (I don't mean inflammed fatty legs BTW).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulitis

This can result in rapid swelling which can block the airway.

If you have an infection/abscess just get yourself to a dentist-any dentist. Now. I get frequent reports from A&E of people coming in with cellulitis in this situation.

I might add I think it's a pretty poor show that any dentist wouldn't see a patient with severe infection.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[soda]

Quick update - had the offending tooth pulled this morning.

Well when I say pulled I mean taken out a little bit at a time and there is about 1mm of root left on the jaw. I felt sorry for the poor girl, she looked knackered afterwards as it didn't want to budge. I was almost going to suggest I tried pulling it

I'm now faced with a day off work and no smoking or alchohol, but it could be worse, probably.

[MacGee]

so where was it done...at A&E or the dentists?

[soda]

MacGee said:

so where was it done...at A&E or the dentists?

Following advice above the dentist proved to be slightly more flexible when I told them I would be heading to A&E if not seen promptly. So a quick examination yesterday and back in earlier for removal.

Local anasthec Injections wearing off now but pain isn't too bad, compared to the original toothache anyway.

[MacGee]

excellent...being firm but nice to the receptionist can work wonders. Also attending to make the appoinment in person can win sympathy if she can see the offending swelling.