chronic tooth inflammation turned acute-- what to do?
May 8, 2013 11:49 AM Subscribe
I have 1 tooth that was recently diagnosed as having low-grade, chronic infection around its root. I usually don't feel pain, but feel a lightly different feel tapping. When I am tired or not feeling well, I have very minor biting pain on that tooth.
I am making plans to get a root canal and everything. This past week has been incredibly stressful and I barely slept, ate poorly, and was having a cold to begin with. Yesterday, throughout the day the biting pain on my bad tooth was getting worse, and today i could feel the gum around it is really swollen (but there's no pus and it's not squishy) and red, and the severe biting pain persists. My whole mouth just feels like it's inflamed though-- my throat is sore, have burning sensation, and my eyes are also dry and red and burning.
I don't know if my tooth caused all the others, or if my overall poor health at the moment lead to my tooth acting up. But I am taking a long flight to Asia in a few hours. What can I do to minimize discomfort until I can get to a dentist?
Can you postpone this? You may get an abscess and do you want to deal with that in Asia? (If so get on the plane and see if you can get some painkillers from your doctor.)
The first thing you should do when you get where you're going is see a dentist.
If you don't think it's an abscess, go to the drugstore and get Orajel or Anbesol for temporary relief.
Oil of clove, which you can ask the druggist for over the counter is another home remedy.
I'd take some Benedryl, it will help with the cold symptoms and put you to sleep.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:06 PM on May 8, 2013
The first thing you should do when you get where you're going is see a dentist.
If you don't think it's an abscess, go to the drugstore and get Orajel or Anbesol for temporary relief.
Oil of clove, which you can ask the druggist for over the counter is another home remedy.
I'd take some Benedryl, it will help with the cold symptoms and put you to sleep.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:06 PM on May 8, 2013
This may be stating the obvious, but it may be a good idea to take some ibuprofen and bring it on your flight.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 12:07 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by treehorn+bunny at 12:07 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Order tea on your flight and make sure they give you the tea bag with it. Stick the warm or cooled off tea bag in between your cheek and the gum where it is swollen. Keep it there for 20 minutes or even longer. If you can, throw a few tea bags into your carry on: it doesn't have to be steeped, just dunked in water.
I'd also take pain killers, but you can use the tea bag thing if it doesn't hit the pain or while waiting for them to kick in.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 12:18 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd also take pain killers, but you can use the tea bag thing if it doesn't hit the pain or while waiting for them to kick in.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 12:18 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree with checking into urgent care to be sure it's not going to become a more serious and more painful infection before your flight. I'm wondering if given your other symptoms, it could also be referred sinus pain from a developing cold/respiratory infection. The urgent care folks may be able to help suss that out and could also help with decongestant in that case. With either one, a long international flight is going to be miserable. See a doctor!
posted by goggie at 12:19 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by goggie at 12:19 PM on May 8, 2013
Oh, that stinks. Sounds like a root canal waiting to happen. You mentioned infection; don't be surprised if you get a gum abcess as the root/nerve dies. From personal experience, there wasn't much I could do besides wait to see the dentist; ibuprofen/tylenol/etc didn't help with the pain much. The best I could do was take benadryl and sleep until appointment time.
Where are you going? Someplace that root canals are cheap? Someplace that antibiotics are available over-the-counter? You might want to take advantage of one or both those things when you get there. In fact, you might be getting whole-body infection, and should be on antibiotics already - even a walkin like the CVS Minute-Clinic can prescribe antibiotics.
In the meantime - bite sensitive? Go to the drugstore and get a bite splint that will keep that tooth from touching when your mouth closes. Something like this if it's a front tooth; or if it's a back tooth then one like this, and in the "cut to fit" part of the instructions, you'll trim off the part for the molars on that side of your mouth. Based on where your tooth is, pick a bite splint that will put a spacer on the other teeth, and make it impossible for you to accidentally bite the sore one against the other teeth.
I hope you get to a doctor/dentist and get this sorted out, best of luck dealing with it in the meantime.
posted by aimedwander at 12:21 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Where are you going? Someplace that root canals are cheap? Someplace that antibiotics are available over-the-counter? You might want to take advantage of one or both those things when you get there. In fact, you might be getting whole-body infection, and should be on antibiotics already - even a walkin like the CVS Minute-Clinic can prescribe antibiotics.
In the meantime - bite sensitive? Go to the drugstore and get a bite splint that will keep that tooth from touching when your mouth closes. Something like this if it's a front tooth; or if it's a back tooth then one like this, and in the "cut to fit" part of the instructions, you'll trim off the part for the molars on that side of your mouth. Based on where your tooth is, pick a bite splint that will put a spacer on the other teeth, and make it impossible for you to accidentally bite the sore one against the other teeth.
I hope you get to a doctor/dentist and get this sorted out, best of luck dealing with it in the meantime.
posted by aimedwander at 12:21 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have flown with a dental abscess. Unless it was literally life or death, I would not do it again. It was some of the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. Apparently, the pressure changes in the cabin are what causes the pain, and even the prescription painkillers I was given to help me make it home so that I could seek treatment were not enough to keep me from feeling pain so severe I cried when we took off.
Moreover, my dentist later told me that what I did was dangerous, because if an abscess ruptures (which pressure changes can make more likely), you can get severe infection or even blood poisoning. Symptoms of an abscess can include all of the things you're mentioning: pain, soreness, flu-like symptoms, swelling, etc. IANADentist, but this sounds serious to me.
I really think that you need to call a dentist now, and don't fly unless and until you've been medically cleared and told that it is safe for you to do so. This isn't just about discomfort; it's potentially about your health and safety.
posted by decathecting at 1:10 PM on May 8, 2013 [6 favorites]
Moreover, my dentist later told me that what I did was dangerous, because if an abscess ruptures (which pressure changes can make more likely), you can get severe infection or even blood poisoning. Symptoms of an abscess can include all of the things you're mentioning: pain, soreness, flu-like symptoms, swelling, etc. IANADentist, but this sounds serious to me.
I really think that you need to call a dentist now, and don't fly unless and until you've been medically cleared and told that it is safe for you to do so. This isn't just about discomfort; it's potentially about your health and safety.
posted by decathecting at 1:10 PM on May 8, 2013 [6 favorites]
So sorry to hear about your tooth. I have had this sort of mild infection and for lack of money at the time, I could not get to the dentist soon enough. I used the tea bag trick, but also folded a heavier napkin in a small square and soaked it in salt water. Keep it heavy on the salt and place the piece of napkin on the gum near the infected tooth. I did this overnight, the salt would somehow reduce the inflammation. I did it a few times during the day as well and it killed the infection within a couple of days. Of course, see a dentist as soon as possible, but for a quick flight try this. Also, take some calcium supplant pills. It helps regenerate the bone around the area much more quickly and supports the nerves so the pain is minimized. Also works for any sensitivity you have with hot or cold. Good luck!
posted by happysocks at 2:31 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by happysocks at 2:31 PM on May 8, 2013
Presumably could be temporary worsening of symptoms due to your cold. It's my understanding that inflammation in the sinuses can affect how an infected or sensitive tooth feels. I've experienced that myself before.
posted by Dansaman at 2:39 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by Dansaman at 2:39 PM on May 8, 2013
IANAD, but I had an infected tooth recently. The dentist at the teaching hospital explained that they don't recommend painkillers for toothaches anymore because they don't really treat the cause which is inflammation. I was given antibiotics and prescription strength ibuprofen (800mg or around 4 tabs) to tide me over before they could fix the problem. The ibuprofen worked like it never had before, probably the increased dose.
posted by hamsterdam at 4:41 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by hamsterdam at 4:41 PM on May 8, 2013
I had a tooth infection while traveling a couple weeks ago. It was Not Fun. The pain woke me up in the middle of the night and it was awful. Luckily, I was in a big city, so I was able to see a dentist fairly easily. Antibiotics fixed it within 24 hours (that is, the pain was almost gone within 24 hours; I finished the course of antibiotics as it was prescribed).
If possible, I would go to an emergency dentist or urgent care before your flight.
posted by insectosaurus at 4:54 PM on May 8, 2013
If possible, I would go to an emergency dentist or urgent care before your flight.
posted by insectosaurus at 4:54 PM on May 8, 2013
I'd at least call a dentist or doctor and seek some advice before getting on the plane. Once I flew with a little toothache from sinus issues and the pain from the pressurized cabin was nothing short of excruciating. I'm generally not a huge wimp about painful things, but I seriously felt like my face was about to rupture. Fortunately, it was just a short commuter flight. I don't know how I would have stood being trapped in a plane with my head exploding on a long-distance international flight.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:00 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:00 PM on May 8, 2013
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posted by treehorn+bunny at 12:05 PM on May 8, 2013 [2 favorites]