Dental abscess

A dental abscess can be really, really painful. I'm pretty good with pain but I wept with pain when I had one. Take maximum painkillers and hopefully the antibiotics will start to reduce the infection and make it more bearable until the tooth can be extracted. Try a cold compress on your face close to the swelling, it sometimes helps to reduce the pain. I did find the antibiotics helped, fingers crossed they do the same for you. Sending a hug, it is a really horrible thing to have.

Agree with Foxie take the maximum dose of painkillers you can, but the ibuprofen will probably be more effective than cocodamol for dental pain.
The antibiotics will take some time, possibly up to two days, to kick in. If your facial swelling gets worse in the meantime you should get advice from your dentist in the first instance but if they’re not available, ring NHS 111, as that can be quite serious.

Thanks. Yes it is pretty awful. Hopefully the two lots of antibiotics will help and will manage with painkillers.
Another rocky night I’d imagine, have never longed for an extraction like this.

I had one and like you was waiting for the antibiotics to work and an extraction . I had to go to my doctors for a routine appointment and he suggested Difflam rinse. It is actually to gargle for sore throat ut he said to very gently hold some in the mouth on that side. It helped numb the pain. Hope you feel easier soon as it is a truly awful pain.

Thanx will go to to chemist tomoro and buy the rinse. 🙏🏾

Ouch! I feel your pain.

I had an abscess under a wisdom tooth over one Christmas, and I was climbing the wall with the pain.

It was extracted under a general anaesthetic.

I took Solpadiene and nothing else - not for my tooth but for danage to my back in the lockdown. I did not want to go to hospital. They say that you can always try a bag of peas in a covering and that its better cold things for pain rather than warm. But when you are at home its up to you.

I give all the sympathy I can. I have had several dental absesses over the years and they are far worse than childbirth- the worst pain I have ever endured so I know how head-bangingly horrible it is.

I really hope the anti-biotics kick in soon as no amount of painkillers ever worked for me.

I can't offer any advice except to say hope the pain is gone soon.

When I was looking for something to help with burning mouth syndrome I bought Xylocaine spray which actually deadens the sight. It is what they spray your throat with before you have a camera down. It doesn't last massively long but it really works. It can be used anywhere.

Thanx am taking all advice on board, using a cold compress is better, as already suggested and am getting the Difflam rinse today, will also look into Xylocaine.
Am now feeling sick with the antibiotics but will carry on regardless.
My face on one side looks like a chipmunk but is reducing slightly. Family arrive tomoro to help with DH whom I care for, so that is a big help.
👍🙏🏾

Tooth abscess pain is the worst in the world and I totally agree with KQ on the level. At least one could have an epidural!

Have you tried warm saline mouth wash to try and reduce the infection? The thing is that the dentist cannot give you a local anaesthetic until the infection has gone. I had an abscess a month or so ago and the (new) dentist could not see me for weeks (not NHS, I might add) and I treated it with co-codamol and saline. It went and I did not have to pay the dental fee, so an added bonus!!!

Anyway, I wish you well and that you will be pain free soon.

Dental abscess is certainly unbearable,but in my opinion is nothing compared to kidney stones!
I found both hot and cold compresses for the abscess,hot to draw it and hopefully burst it,and cold to numb it. Lots of warm salt water mouthwashes too.
I'm no expert,but that helped for me whilst waiting for antibiotics to kick in

Please be careful when taking ibuprofen and take it with food. I always have Corsodyl in my medicine cabinet for tooth problems.

I sympathise and have been there a few times. It may well be the cocodamol that are making you feel sick - they did me! The antibiotics will start to kick in after 48 hours but when you are in agony that is no help or comfort.
My dentist advised alternating between ibuprofen (if you can take them) and paracetamol every two hours and this will keep the pain manageable once they are in your system- it worked for me!
Make sure you eat something to absorb the painkillers which will also help the nausea.
Keep propped up in bed with extra pillows as this helps infection drain away from the head. Cold compresses only NOT hot as this can cause infection to spread.
Unfortunately I had a spate of tooth infections and the above kept me sane until the antibiotics did their job.
I feel for you and hope you feel better soon 💐

Thanks for all replies, face still like a chipmunk but pain receding with ibuprofen and paracetamol. Had beans without toast for tea followed by rice pudding.
Hoping tonight will be easier.
Am no softy but this was like have root canal dentistry without a local, think the Marathon Man. Pure torture.
Can’t wait to get this tooth out is costing a mint but will be so worth it.

I think Xylocaine was banned years ago. That’s what I was told at the pharmacy. I used it once and it was brilliant so I was very disappointed. I had it in cream form not spray.

Just correcting my post. Google says it is still available! I was definitely told it was not available some years ago. Maybe this is not as strong.

Pleased to hear you are able to manage the pain more now. It is indescribable at its worse- I even have an emergency pack of antibiotics from the dentist that I pack when we go on holiday - just in case I get another infection! Look after yourself x

Salt mouthwash, 3 times a day. Worked for my tooth abscess when the antibiotics didn't!

Unless you should not drink acohol try a glass of brandy or sherry.

Either probably work better as pain killers than the medication you are on.

Your antibiotics will kick in by day 2 or maybe day 3.
Dentists will sometimes drain your abscess to relieve pressure and pain, and this is often followed by other treatments, such as root canal treatment or, in some cases, tooth extraction, to address the underlying cause.

Have you tried ringing your GP and requesting a prescription for strong painkillers just for a few days. Things like tramadol or codeine phosphate could help and as its only for a few days the GP might be ok to prescribe it.

AuntieE

Unless you should not drink acohol try a glass of brandy or sherry.

Either probably work better as pain killers than the medication you are on.

Years ago my husband had a tooth abscess, he never made a fuss about pain, but with the abscess he drank a whole bottle of whisky overnight to try and ease the pain. He was still upright with no signs of being drunk at all. I can only sympathise and hope that the antibiotics kick in quickly.

Taunton: The giveaway is in the name "co-codamol" - codeine is well known for causing nausea in a lot of people. I am okay with it - many aren't. I think that Solpadine is an over-the-counter version of co-codamol - not entirely sure.

Babs: I hope that you are feeling better. Did you solve your window problem, by the way?