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Post by shevy on Jul 26, 2014 16:12:52 GMT
DH has a tooth that he says has been off and on sensitive for a couple of weeks, but not painful.
This morning he woke me up at 8am and the whole right side of his face was so swollen and he was in terrible pain. He said it started in the night, but he didn't want to bother me.  I called the emergency dentist, but they couldn't see him until 1pm cst today. I asked about going to the ER/hospital and the help line/dentist said it would be better to just wait at this point.
I'm alternating Tylenol and Motrin. But the welling has continued getting worse and he's in a lot of pain. He's icing it 10 minutes of every half hour.
Anything else I can do for him to help? I feel so badly for him, I hate seeing him in so much pain and discomfort. He is experiencing anxiety about the pain and what they're gong to have to do after talking to the dentist this morning. It's making my anxiety surge and I can't take anything like I normally would because I have to drive him.
ETA: thanks for all the help. We ended up at the dentist, urgent care and the ED at the local hospital. This is a cautionary tale to make sure that you're getting into the dentist if you have sensitivity or pain. This is hubby before & now: There is so much swelling that his eye was closed at one point today. The dentist said that there's so much pressure from the infection that even after drilling into the tooth and puncturing, it wouldn't drain. So she went us to the urgent care, who in turn told us to go to the hospital for admitting. When we got there, the ED doc decided that they'd do a bag of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and pain meds and then send us home. Everything went ok until they got the pain meds in the IV. His resting pulse is normally 45-50 because he runs so much. With the pains meds it dipped to 34-37. So then they had to call for EKG and cardio to check him out. 7 hours later we are home. But if it gets any worse, we have to go down to the trauma center in St. Paul for emergency oral surgery.
I've never seen him in this much pain, or at least he's been able to hide it better. When the dentist was trying to inject novacaine he was screaming. Horrible.
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Mrs Depp
Shy Member
Posts: 16 
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Post by Mrs Depp on Jul 26, 2014 16:17:47 GMT
I'm sorry... Nothing is like tooth pain... Clove oil works in my opinion better than anything else OTC ...I usually can find it at walgreens
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oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
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Post by oldcrow on Jul 26, 2014 16:23:27 GMT
Even whole cloves packed between the cheek and gum will help with the pain.
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Post by BeckyTech on Jul 26, 2014 16:27:27 GMT
Clove and clove oil only work if you can get to the part that is causing pain, but it is much more effective than any pain pills. If you have a vitamin store nearby, that's where I get mine. I didn't know Walgreens carried it.
Ouch!
Also, next time have some Pharma GABA on hand for the anxiety. It's an OTC thing that doesn't affect your ability to drive (at least it doesn't with me, but really helps the anxiety.)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:34:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 16:28:36 GMT
Salt water swishes and original Listerine have helped some family members with abscesses.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:34:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 16:34:48 GMT
I second the warm salt water swishes. I just went to the dentist on Wednesday and I have an abcess. The pain was horrible, deep throbbing pain, waking up in the middle of the night, etc. The salt water swooshing doesn't last long term, but definitely helps for a while after doing it.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448
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Post by katybee on Jul 26, 2014 16:42:43 GMT
Screw the Tylenol. Take the maximum amount of ibuprofen. My dentist told me I could take up to 12 a day (unless, of course, he has other health issues). No aspirin, though, in case they have to pull it.
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YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,432
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Post by YooHoot on Jul 26, 2014 16:49:33 GMT
The only thing that will help an abscess would be a round of antibiotics and getting a root canal/crown or extracted. I'm surprised your dentist didn't just call him in the some antibiotics and pain meds and then see him on Monday to treat it (unless he's going to start the root canal today maybe?).
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:34:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 16:53:44 GMT
I agree with AShley's salt water or listerine. Both are antiseptics. Lacking that, if you have any vodka or tequila. A half table spoon of liquor swished over the area repeatedly also works as an antiseptic. (don't drink it just wash it over the area for a minute or two)
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Post by scrapperal on Jul 26, 2014 17:06:28 GMT
I've also heard that black tea bag poultices can help draw out the infection. Good luck with the dental appt. and I hope everything goes smoothly.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,891
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Jul 26, 2014 17:26:29 GMT
Keep an eye on him. Abscesses can go bad quickly.
Poor guy - I hope he gets some relief.
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Post by mama2three on Jul 26, 2014 17:37:00 GMT
I just went through this in May with the excruciating tooth pain that wouldn't end. He needs antibiotics to kill the infection until he can get a root canal or tooth extraction and then pain meds for the pain.
For me, the dentist prescribed antibiotics together with Tylenol 3 and 600-800 mg of Advil. Taken together. It barely touched the pain, and I have a very high pain tolerance and rarely take pain killers. I tried Listerine, salt water, keeping it clean. None of that dulled the pain. The only thing that worked at all for me was clove oil and constantly icing the tooth from the inside. I drank gallons of ice water with a straw. Had to have ice water constantly flowing over the tooth. That or holding ice in my mouth (small chips, not big cubes you can choke on). The clove oil was like a miracle. It cost about $6 at the health food store, but I've seen it lots of other places since.
Clove and clove oil only work if you can get to the part that is causing pain, but it is much more effective than any pain pills. If you have a vitamin store nearby, that's where I get mine. I didn't know Walgreens carried it. Ouch! Also, next time have some Pharma GABA on hand for the anxiety. It's an OTC thing that doesn't affect your ability to drive (at least it doesn't with me, but really helps the anxiety.)
I agree that it is much more effective than the pain pills.
Hope he can get into the dentist and get it taken care of quickly. Tooth pain is miserable. |
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Post by femalebusiness on Jul 26, 2014 17:37:09 GMT
Booze, lots and lots of booze.
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Post by mama2three on Jul 26, 2014 17:38:38 GMT
Booze, lots and lots of booze.
Except if you're taking large doses of Advil. The combo is really not good for your liver |
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Post by femalebusiness on Jul 26, 2014 17:40:17 GMT
Can the dentist call him in a Rx for some strong pain pills?
What they will have to do to fix it won't hurt at all as they will shoot him up. He shouldn't be anxious about getting it fixed. It will feel soooo much better.
ETA: Tylenol is a useless drug.
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msbee1
Shy Member
Posts: 16
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Post by msbee1 on Jul 26, 2014 17:49:20 GMT
If he is running a fever I would take him to urgent care for antibiotics until he can get into see the dentist.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,826
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Post by scrapngranny on Jul 26, 2014 18:31:39 GMT
Antibiotics is the only thing that will help. Ice packs may help somewhat, but really there isn't much else. Don't ask me how I know this.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:34:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 18:33:15 GMT
That. I'm on my third full day of the antibiotics and I finally don't feel the need to take the pain killers, both of which the dentist prescribed right away. The warm salt water swishes always offered relief, but I'll have to remember the clove oil (but hopefully there won't be a next time). Not looking forward to the root canal (on top of the 2 crowns on other teeth I've had done in the past 2 months.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:34:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 20:45:32 GMT
Salt water swishes and original Listerine have helped some family members with abscesses. Was just going to suggest this. And and ice pack for the swelling. Hope he feels better soon! Tooth pain is worse than having a baby-I think!! |
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Post by Zee on Jul 26, 2014 20:53:54 GMT
Can the dentist call him in a Rx for some strong pain pills? What they will have to do to fix it won't hurt at all as they will shoot him up. He shouldn't be anxious about getting it fixed. It will feel soooo much better. ETA: Tylenol is a useless drug. Not without seeing him first. But I agree, he'll feel a lot better after. |
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Post by Zee on Jul 26, 2014 20:54:20 GMT
Booze, lots and lots of booze.
Except if you're taking large doses of Advil. The combo is really not good for your liver Killjoy. ;p |
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Post by krazykatlady on Jul 26, 2014 21:48:59 GMT
I have no good advice but have to say this post is making ME anxious. My husband had an impacted wisdom pulled a couple of months ago and ending up dealing with an abscess, a fractured jaw, and a second oral surgery before it was all over. His pain was excruciating at times and nothing helped. I felt helpless for him. I hope your husband gets some relief soon.
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Post by momstime on Jul 26, 2014 22:08:02 GMT
I went through this with three different teeth so far. WORST pain ever! Nothing short of a hammer to the head will help...but I suggest antibiotics like yesterday. Good luck. Mine happened on a Friday...dentist closed. Didn't get in to endo until the following Thursday. I wanted to die. I seriously thought about pulling it myself just for some relief.
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Post by meridon on Jul 26, 2014 22:11:22 GMT
Whatever you do, DON'T fall asleep lying down! The pain will be excruciating when you wake up! The fluid puts pressure on the nerve in that position, at least in my experience. Tell him to sleep (assuming he can get to sleep--that's godawful pain!) propped up or in a recliner or something and not flat on his back. The saltwater and Listerine rinses will help. Never tried the clove oil, and like another poster said, I hope to never have to try it! Hope your DH gets some relief soon.
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Post by shevy on Jul 26, 2014 23:50:37 GMT
Long day, but we are back home again. I updated the OP a the top.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:34:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 0:31:24 GMT
OMG--I feel soooo bad for your DH! That's some serious swelling he has. I sure hope he starts to get some relief soon.
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Post by christine58 on Jul 27, 2014 0:34:39 GMT
I've learned to NEVER ever mess with an abscessed tooth. I hope he has a restful night. I think I might have insisted an overnight in the hospital.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 27, 2014 0:37:28 GMT
Wow. I'm glad you guys are home. Hope that the antibiotics kick in soon and he feels better!
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61redhead
Full Member
Refupea #1938
Posts: 456
Location: South Carolina
Jun 28, 2014 11:27:52 GMT
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Post by 61redhead on Jul 27, 2014 0:47:45 GMT
Can the dentist call him in a Rx for some strong pain pills? What they will have to do to fix it won't hurt at all as they will shoot him up. He shouldn't be anxious about getting it fixed. It will feel soooo much better. ETA: Tylenol is a useless drug. The dentist won't be able to numb him with all that infection in there. That's why he has to do the antibiotics first, before they can pull it or start a root canal. |
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Post by meridon on Jul 27, 2014 0:59:22 GMT
Hope you both get a good night's sleep and that the meds kick in soon! Thanks for the update.
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