Chronic toothache

I had unexplained pain for a while which turned out to be a cracked cusp which are very hard to spot.

I had that problem in the past and when, eventually, (after months of pain) the dentist was persuaded to remove the filling, the tooth couldn't be saved. Not everything shows up on x-rays.

Sorry everyone..
I just wanted to add that I can eat perfectly well on that right side , it doesn't hurt when I bite down hard... the dentist has banged all those three teeth but that doesn't hurt either, so surely if it was infected or an abscess then I'd have trouble eating? I just get an extreme fleeting pain with anything hot.

I understand you dilemma. I had unexplained toothache which the dentist thought was one specific tooth. He expensively redid the filling, only for the pain to continue.

Eventually I worked out on my own that the pain was being caused by a space (not the technical term I'm sure) on one side of a tooth.

I used a combination of sensitive toothpaste and mouthwash and also Corsodyl toothpaste to tame it a bit. The pain isn't often bad anymore.

I had a similar problem years ago after chemo. Really extreme toothache caused by sensitivity as a side effect of chemotherapy.

I m really wondering if this is anything to do with teeth at all could it not be a nerve pain which wouldn’t show up on any xrays
I wouldn’t have a root canal unless absolutely necessary I m sure it would hurt biting down if it was the tooth

Thanks Kittylester, Hetty and GagoJo ... and yes, Bluebelle that's what the Maxfax guy said when I saw him.... he wasn't convinced it was my teeth hence the CT scan, but that showed up all clear in the sinuses.. but of course i wouldn't show up the nerves.

I am very loathe to go down the root canal route (excuse the pun) as terribly scared anyway.

I did ask the dentist if she could just take out the old filling and out in a new one, but she didn't seem to consider that.

Oh I feel sick with worry.

Have you tried one of the very good toothpastes for sensitivity. Sensodyne and Colgate Pro relief are brilliant. It builds up in the small holes in the enamel and blocks off the sensitive nerve. I think that is how it works anyway. I just know it works. It doesn't taste that great but if you have sensitive teeth it is no price to pay. About 2.00 per tube. Worth trying at that price. You have to continue to use it everytime you brush teeth.

It could be trigeminal neuralgia www.nhs.uk/conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/symptoms/

I have had this in the past and the pain is horrendous! It is nothing to do with teeth, it is nerve pain. Apparently healthy teeth are often removed to try to get rid of the pain, but as this is nerve pain, no matter how many teeth you have removed it will not get rid of it.

See your GP to get pain relief, that is the only thing that helped me.

I feel your pain Sheena . I had the dreaded root canal treatment on my front tooth last November . Have had it opened and closed 4 times now so the tooth is very weak and the gum surrounding very sore after so many injections on top of one another . Currently left open due to lockdown . I’ve had 7 lots of antibiotics ( they help for a while ) and have been in pain ever since . I was mistakenly referred to an ENT consultant instead of a maxfax ( I had a telephone consultation ) and I’m back on the waiting list again . I am convinced the dentist has done something to my sinuses as I can’t lie on my left side or breath through my left nostril .

I mix ground cloves with organic neem powder and use as a tooth powder. It is pretty good as one of my teeth has separated from the gum and is on its way out and can be quite painful at times. The mix numbs the gums while I brush and leaves a pleasant after taste.

Thanks travelsafar ... none of those toothpastes help sadly , and I have tried lots and spent a small fortune ! I have some duraphatt on prescription and have been using that since Tuesday (on the advice of the hygienist) . Not holding out much hope !

No, CassieJ not TN as it doesn't appear to be that sort of pain.

Oh dear, gillybob you certainly are going through it , and sadly your story is why I dread this treatment .

Thanks Elderflower2 for the tip .

Yes it could be a neurological problem. I have a muscular problem in my jaw which at times is very painful. If the Dentist is not sure do see your GP to get this checked out. Also do not be afraid of a root canal if needed, I had on many years ago and have had no problems with it.

I agree with CassieJ Thu 09-Jul-20 10:15:44
It could be trigeminal neuralgia www.nhs.uk/conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/symptoms/

My sister used have this when she was alive. I would make an appointment with your doctor.

At one time my dentist was unable to determine which tooth was the problem.

By injecting and numbing a tooth nerve one at a time he found it. If the pain continued when a particular tooth nerve was numbed then it wasn’t that tooth. This was done over a few sessions. He did find the problem tooth.

I wouldn’t discount TN Sheena nerve pain can effect different people in totally different ways and even in different places
It doesn’t sound as if it’s a tooth problem at all I wouldn’t mess around with them at all see your GP get a different perspective

I have found that you have to use the ‘right’ sensitive toothpaste, the one that suits you. It is a case of trial and error!

Thanks Sharon103 .. I have checked that link but it isn't TN.. I have none of those symptoms at all.

BlueBelle I saw a maxfax consultant back in Febrary as it may not have been my teeth that were the problem, but after a full x ray and CT scan he sent me back to the dentist saying it was a case of "pulpitis" .

I have been to my GP, but she was not interested at all and said she couldn't possibly comment on anything the dentist was advising. Because I had been to the dentist and she prescribed antibiotics in case it was a sinus infection. So I went to the GP to ask her advice . That was her response.

My worry is that it IS a tooth problem, I am sure it is.. but because the dentist can't be sure which tooth she is proposing this root canal on the one tooth she "thinks" is responsible for causing all this pain.

I think because nothing is showing up on any xrays it worries me that she is going to do something "just in case".

I have an awful fear of any dental treatment .. going to the dentist is a huge problem to me..... stupid and cowardly, but this is really fretting me.

It could be trigelmic neuropathic pain which can't be sorted out by dental treatment but can arise as it did in my case from dental trauma. It is horrible and I hope you don't have it. Root canal treatment is ok if the problem is dental and not related to nerve damage.

Check the website below which is informative:

fpa-support.org/learn/classifications-of-facial-pain/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJv4BRCrARIsAB17JI7x

I had the same pain for 3 months! It was unbearable

If you are using sensitive toothpaste you should choose one with Novamin in it. Sensodyne do two (or maybe three) types with this in and it's way more effective than the ordinary Sensodyne or the colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief range.

www.gskhealthpartner.com/en-gb/oral-health/brands/sensodyne/science/novamin/

I think consumers don't know about Novamin as Sensodyne has so much less going into advertising than the Colgate option.

If toothpaste can help, I think the Novamin ones are definitely worth a go. They are about £5 a tube but fairly often on offer.

If you want to see the pain-relief comparison studies I found two on Google Scholar a couple of years ago.

Don't get too worried about root canal treatment Sheena I've had it done several times in the last few years and it was painless. I am lucky with a very good French dentist.

Sheena Thu 09-Jul-20 14:29:08 Note date of sheena's post july 2020. so supposed she's had her treatment now a year later.
whatever revived this a year later

Oh my goodness lemsip!
I DO hope so!

Oh my goodness lemsip.
I do hope so.