Toothaches are the Worst!!
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9226)
United States
April 23, 2012 1:53pm CST
I have a broken molar that has never hurt me until recently. It began to hurt about three weeks ago, but the pain subsided and stayed away until this past Friday. When it came back, it was with a vengeance! I was in pain all day Saturday and hardly slept Saturday night. I'd take aspirin, fall asleep when it kicked in and wake up two hours later in pain.
Now, it's Monday and loads of things took place yesterday. The biggest thing was that I ended up going to the ER because of my toothache. I just couldn't take the pain anymore.
Of course, the ER wasn't the first place I went - I also went to a Tupperware party that I had promised to attend, despite the pain. OMG - it just hurt so bad, but it didn't stop me from looking and buying.
I guess the aspirin wasn't working too well because my tooth began to hurt so bad while I was there, I wanted to scream, so we left early and went right to the ER. Turned out I have an abscess on my back molar, so they gave me a very painful shot of pain reliever and a double dose of antibiotic with two prescriptions for the same plus a list of places I can go. Now I have to go get the antibiotic filled so that the horrors of this weekend don't return.
Have you ever had a toothache this bad? How did you deal with it?
2 people like this
19 responses
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
23 Apr 12
I let two teeth abscess my senior year, because I did not think my folks could afford to treat it. I have a really high tolerance for most types of pain and I always heard "we can't afford it" about anything growing up. So, I let them abscess and drained them. I imagine I could have gotten a blood infection, but I did not. I worked all summer before going away to college and paid for a dental appointment or two then. Those teeth actually were baby teeth that never fell out. I have had a lot of dental work, but still have most of my own. When I start with even a little twinge I start rinsing with peroxide. It usually takes care of things until I can see the dentist. He says that is a good plan.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
24 Apr 12
You can dilute it, but I just take about an ounce and swish it straight. Most people do not like the fizziness. Yes, dental infections and sinus infections can go to the brain. The bacteria can also break lose and damage you heart. People who have had a transplant or joint replacement are always supposed to take antibiotics before even having their teeth cleaned. Bacteria can enter your blood stream and settle in the joint or transplant.
@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
24 Apr 12
Never thought about peroxide. Do you dilute it at all? The ER physicial said to brush three times a day. I'd never heard of that before. I did buy the antibiotics even though I need the money for our bills - but after learning that someone can die from the infection going into the brain (something I'd never considered), I decided that being alive was a priority followed by rent. I also bought pain reliever, but I got OTC stuff recommended by the nurse because it's about 1/4 the price of the prescription they gave me.
1 person likes this
@rewardsinlife (1132)
• United States
23 Apr 12
You don't just have a toothache, but an abcess which is extremely painful. The mouth is already a 'sensitive' place when it comes to sensors for pain, so I can imagine that you were in a bunch of it. Make sure you keep up with this and follow all instructions for pain meds, getting it fixed by a dentist, and antibiotics. Infections in teeth and mouth can too easily travel up to the brain and cause many many complications. Good luck!
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
24 Apr 12
Yeah, this is probably the worst thing I've had and I finally waved the white flag and went to the ER. I have to find a dentist who handles people without insurance or income, but in the meantime, the meds should start getting it better and helping me feel better. I never knew about the brain connection until this weekend. That pretty much got me moving.
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
24 Apr 12
I recently had root canal treatment for an abcess, but it seems it was caught in time, because I had suffered no pain, before, during, or after treatment. However, I was also struggling with an infection concerning another tooth, which sort of came and went as it were. It flared up recently, and got really bad over the weekend, so obviously I couldn't see the dentist. I tried to control it with a variety of means, including mouthwash; warm salt baths of the area; hot and cold flannel or towel on the area; and aspirins. The aspirins worked fine, although once they started to wear off, the pain was pretty excuciating. Monday morning, I took my last aspirin before treatment and it took a while to work, and I was almost doubled up with pain, and pretty well moaning in agony. When it did start working, it was really struggling to contain the pain, which came in waves, alternating with relief. I finally made it into the dentist yesterday, Monday, afternoon, and had treatment for what I think was an internal infection of the tooth, which settled my tooth down, and now I have no more pain. But you are 100% right, the pain is truly appalling when it's bad.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
24 Apr 12
Re. the abcess, well minimal pain, but this latest infection was something else...
@AmbiePam (85273)
• United States
6 May 12
Yes, and it too ended up being an abcess. Which the dentist I saw then screwed up. Which then resulted in me having to get it pulled, which resulted in a hugely expensive bridge. I just hope they fix yours the right way the first time. Have you ever see The Deadliest Catch? This kid, probably 19, had an abcess, but they weren't about to go back for a dentist since they were out to see. He got a pair of plyers and pulled the tooth himself.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37715)
• Philippines
23 Apr 12
I always have problem with toothaches. I am quite afraid of dentist but I need to conquer my fear so as to get rid of the the horrible pain. After I have my tooth extraction, my problem is over!
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
24 Apr 12
I'm not afraid of the dentist, but I do really hate to go. I haven't been in 20 years. These teeth broke when I was pregnant with my daughter and she'll be 26 next month. They've never caused me a problem before other than falling apart bit by bit through the years. I guess I've been lucky.
@almond24 (1248)
• Hungary
23 Apr 12
This must have been very painful 
Lately two of my molars got abscessed after having the fillings changed in them. Now I'm getting root canal treatment on them, and hoping that it will be successful. For the pain I tried a lot of things, keeping a clove near the teeth and rinsing my mouth with salty water often helped something.
That's a lot of antibiotics, I guess you have to go back after finishing them, hope they will help the pain and infection go away!
Lately two of my molars got abscessed after having the fillings changed in them. Now I'm getting root canal treatment on them, and hoping that it will be successful. For the pain I tried a lot of things, keeping a clove near the teeth and rinsing my mouth with salty water often helped something.
That's a lot of antibiotics, I guess you have to go back after finishing them, hope they will help the pain and infection go away! 1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
24 Apr 12
I'm hurting again right now because I didn't get the prescription filled until earlier this evening, so my mouth and jaw are really sore. The right side of my face is swollen and my ear hurts, but with medicine in hand to handle both the infection and pain, I should be OK until I can find a dentist.
1 person likes this
@almond24 (1248)
• Hungary
24 Apr 12
Swelling and ear pain is not fun! I hope you can find a dentist soon and it won't get worse. Until then an ice pack might help.
A new thing I just discovered for infection is turmeric powder, a common spice. I kept it on my teeth and drank it in water every day this weekend because my root canal treatments couldn't be finished, my teeth are still infected. Now the tooth that used to hurt stopped hurting, and the gum boil I had is almost gone which is good, will see what the dentist says. You can look turmeric up, it's harmless but very effective for infections.
Get better soon!
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
25 Apr 12
just reading your post just gave me flash backs. i even think my wisdom tooth is hurting...and all of mine are pulled out now. i just recently had my last two pulled out. the one on the left side nearly killed me. i was crying every day. i was think crazy thoughts. i though i was going to have to live that way. oh, the pain was so bad. i don't think child birth is that bad. it feel like child birth in your face. it's like your face is having a baby. the pain was so bad it started hurting inside my ear. come to find out that the wisdom tooth was growing in sideways and on the nerve leading to the ear. when the pulled that swollen tooth out it was sooooo big and fat. i woke up long enough for me to see it and went back to sleep. afterwards my face was so swollen. i am so glad to have it all out now. it is the worse feeling in the world. i hope you get better real soon you poor baby.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
Oh I know how you feel. I think the worst ever type of pain that I could really say I can't really handle well is when my tooth hurts. It's just so horrible that I wouldn't have the same pain tolerance like you do. I wouldn't be able to do anything else but just go to the dentist right-then-and-there.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
25 Apr 12
I have only had actual tooth pain in my adult life. I don't know that my pain was as bad as yours. It probably was not, as I had it taken care of right away. The pain started on a weekend (doesn't it always), but at 8am Monday morning, I was on the phone to my dentist. I got a pain killer, some antibiotics and referral for a root canal.
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
24 Apr 12
Well, I with my teeth, I can consider myself more fortunate than my parents and my brother. They often suffer the pain you feel in most cases these cavities. I, this issue, I had a child when no brushing my teeth every day properly. Then I suffered, especially the dentist's drill. Then almost until to now, I no longer have severe pain, except for minor repairs.
@JohnRok1 (2051)
•
24 Apr 12
I had a painful tooth for my undergraduate years and for about three years after, when the new dentist discovered that his predecessor had assumed the tooth had only one root, whereas it had two, so only one root had got treated, but it was never as bad as you have described.
During my undergraduate years I used to visit an elderly well-known novelist, who once said to me something like, "We had no such things as injections. You think we must have been tough to put up with that, but we weren't. It was just horrible".
I used to put iodine counter-irritant on it - it helped me somewhat, but I doubt if it would have helped you.
@jinky2012 (438)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
Yes i believe that because i experienced that already. Common my friend dont lost your confident. Don't take to much medicine especially antibiotic.Just put garlic on it if you want to. And also used moutwashed everyday i tried that already,If pain will attack gurgle immediately...in just 30 seconds.Try it my friend..
@BigMoney25 (1286)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
Yeah I feel you my friend, tootaches really are painful and for me you should have them treated right away and drink the right medicine for it.
@tess_quinain (1149)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
i had that experience before but recently i never experience it. I understand what you feel. Especially when you are working and your tooth hurts, you are too eager to go home and have some rest. You can't focus on doing something because the pain is bugging you. Take care my friend.
@lakantar (1573)
• Greece
24 Apr 12
I have to agree, whenever I have a toothache I have a constant headache too, which is really annoying after sometime. I had a swollen gum some weeks ago too and for 4-5 days I couldn't eat well, I had this headache I told before and my "s" was more like an "th" when I was speaking :P I did take some inflammatory medication for some days and I was better after 4-5 as I said.
@shylade (3132)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
yes and it will not let me do any work. that is why i let my dentist took of all my broken teeth, haha. but recently i am experiencing headache due to my tooth again. my dentist said my front tooth need a root canal so it will not cause me migraine but i refused to as they say it will make your tooth dark. so i just avoid sleeping at night because i observe that whenever i don't have enough sleep, it toothaches and migraine comes.
@ardoy0731 (7308)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
I hate having a toothache too.As if that you can do anything about it and just wanted to get the tooth right away to take away the ache.I immediately go to a dentist when the aching is over and take away the tooth hehe.
@girl_thinking (1959)
• Philippines
24 Apr 12
Hi, I have to agree that toothaches are the worst! Your whole body will feel its burning sensation and you will not be able to go to sleep if you have one. I had a wisdom tooth before and it ached so badly. I could not eat and I could not sleep. What's worst is that I felt bitterness in my tongue. I felt as though my breath stinks the whole time I was enduring the pain.
The wisdom tooth is still here but it doesn't hurt anymore. They say that is normal so I guess I just have to let it be..
