Quote from lisaaahubb:

Hi Large and all
I, too am experiencing an impacted abcessed wisdom tooth. I have had excrutiating pain since Thursday.
I have tried advil, tylenol, ibuprofin 800mg....NOTHING IS WORKING.
I have no money or dentist to speak of at this moment. I don't know what to do. My face isn't swelled yet, but i have an aweful taste in my mouth.
And i feel like i am sick, really tired and worn out.
I just read your post and tried the water and nope not working.
My husband isn't feeling like it is a priority right now. He went as far as to move all of his stuff out, cuz i am interfering too much with work...calling him and calling him...gosh i should know better than to think he would help me. \
But that is another whole story in itself.
How long can one go one in pain like this, will it go away on its own. How do you know if it is abcessed? I see a huge lump, a white lump, but isn't that what it looks like when it pops threw the gum?
You are all inspirations to me. I am going thru some very tough times right now. I don't think i will be as strong as you when i finally GET to the dentist. I do have about 3 Kefex antibiotics, left from when i had my breast implants done. I wonder is i should give them a try today.
I am freaking out that my face is gonna swell. Not as of yet, but i am sure if i don't address this, it will happen.
I have no access to money, my hubby controls it all. We have no dental insurance. Would my health insurance cover this? I blew off two different dental surgeons last week because my husband never showed up with a check for me. I am drooling and in searing pain over here....i even tried to used some numbing toothache stuff that numbed everything but that tooth...ugggghhhhh....what the heck>?
Well Large and Funnymermaid, you are both inspirations to me....
Thanks for sharing ....it is good to know there is someone else out there drooling over their computer desk with a toothache....LOL
luv,
LISA

Hey Lisa, I remember you. I'm sorry about your tooth, that is just horrible. I've never experienced pain as bad as tooth pain -- I'm not even kidding. Take the Keflex ASAP because you definitely have an infection (just make sure it hasn't expired). The abscess is what is causing the pain right now more than anything. The infection is also why you have that bad taste in your mouth and why you feel sick. It is imperative that you see someone about this because left untreated an abscess will bore in to the jaw bone and the infection can spread. The pain isn't actually in the tooth, which is why clove oil and orajel won't touch it (nor will advil) - it is at the nerve in the jaw. An anti-biotic will clear the infection and relieve most of the pain.

Your husband is wrong -- it absolutely is a priority. Left untreated the infection can spread to your heart and cause a heart attack. This isn't just pain we are talking about, it is your life now. So that ought to change his outlook a bit :)

Unfortunately health insurance won't cover a trip to the dentist, however it will cover a trip to your primary care doc for a strong anti-biotic and non-narcotic pain reliever and anti-inflamatory. Getting the infection under control is the priority and doing so will lessen the pain dramatically. I know that when money is tight all of these options sound impossible. One thing you should look in to is your local dental school. They offer a very very reduced rate to work on problems like yours and alot of times they will even do it for practically nothing or give you really easy payments. It's worth a shot.

As for the water trick, here's how it works: Take room temperature water and get about half a mouthful. Then tilt your head to the side of the pain and hold it there. Don't swish it or anything, just let it sit there. It may take a minute or two to feel the pain lessen. If it doesn't work the first time try it again. I went through 2 gallons of water over 36 hours and this literally saved me from jumping off a bridge. That pain can be so intense it drives you insane. Hopefully this will provide some level of relief while you are making arrangements to get it treated. Also if you have a noticable cavity, you can buy temporary filling material at any pharmacy.

If nothing else, at least try the ER -- regardless of finances they have to treat you and they can give you the anti-biotic while you are there.

Keep me posted! :)

-Large