Oh man - it's 3 AM where I live and I'm in so much pain I wanna die!

[Mountain Mule]

I have a bad tooth that's broken half way off and that my dentist was going to fix for me except that he had to close his office thanks to the coronavirus the day after he gave me my first exam. When he was finally able to open up, I was worried about going in thanks to my concern about catching covid (I'm in a high risk group). So, I've been getting by with taking my dog's antibiotics and sometimes a codeine tab (how pathetic am I?)

But tonight I'm out of codeine and my dog refuses to give me anymore of his amoxicillin and I wanna die! Needless to say, I can't sleep - just trying to hang on until I can call my dentist's emergency number in the morning.

Is there anyone still awake who knows of any home remedies for a toothache from hell?

Oh, please!

Anyone at all??

[cayugafalls]

1. Sorry you are in pain.

Here is a link to a page on home remedies.

Salt water rinse.

Hydrogen peroxide rinse (equal parts water to 3% peroxide)

and 8 more other things to try.

https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/home-remedies-for-toothache#salt-water-rinse

I've also crushed 80mg aspirin and mixed into a paste with some water and put it onto affected area.

I hope something helps.

Sending good vibes your way.

[Mountain Mule]

4. Oh wow - thank you!

I am out of hydrogen peroxide but I do have salt and aspirin. I'm going to crush some aspirin up and put it on my tooth.

Thanks for the link as well!

[cayugafalls]

17. Only put the aspirin on the broken piece, do not get it on the gum.

Rinse after and swallow after a minute.

I was tired and did not explain properly. So Sorry.

Please do not get it on the gum.

[torius]

2. sucking on ice chips

is good.
sorry you’re in so much pain!
over the counter stuff like ibuprofen or tylenol works too

[Mountain Mule]

6. Thanks!

I'm out of ibuprofen but I do have aspirin. I wonder if half a bottle would be enough? Just kidding - I think.

[cayugafalls]

10. I know you are kidding but don't overdo the aspirin.

It is not good in high doses and can cause stomach issues, problems with blood clotting.

Just do a small amount in the paste...don't overdo it.

[cayugafalls]

15. Also, don't get the aspirin on the gum and please rinse your mouth after a minute

and swallow the water.

Don't overdo it please.

[samplegirl]

3. Terrible and so

many people in the same boat. I had two teeth go bad and was waiting. Hope you got some sleep.

[Mountain Mule]

9. Are you still waiting to go in for your two teeth?

If so, maybe you should just go in and not end up like me tonight. I thought I would be OK delaying my appointment because the pain went away. Except that then it came back twice as bad as before. When will I ever learn?

[jpak]

5. Do you have any whole cloves?

If so try sucking on one and coat the bad tooth.

Worth a try

[smirkymonkey]

33. Yes, I was just going to suggest cloves or clove oil.

Also, ice to help numb the area. Tooth pain is the worst!

[634-5789]

7. Walgreens, CVS open near you?

Really helpful I hope, but drug stores carry a wax that will coat the affected area , like a tooth covering, I have had to use that stuff, it has numbing agents, but i cannot remember the name, Just ask for it. Wish you the best, Tooth pain is Hell.

[Mountain Mule]

13. I live out in the boonies

My small town only has one drug store - a Walgreens which closes promptly at 10:00 pm and doesn't re-open until 8:00 am Saturdays. Country living is not always what it's chalked up to be.

[safeinOhio]

8. Make sure you don't have a temperature.

They can get infected and it can become ER serious.

[happybird]

11. Do you have mint gum or Altoids in the house?

The mint-ier, the better. The gum with flavor crystals works the best. Pack the gum into the broken area. The mint numbs the pain the gum keeps air from getting to the exposed nerve. This is the only thing that worked for me when my mouth was a mess. Sucking on an Altoid, letting it melt right into the break in the tooth, also worked.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. I think the active ingredient is oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate, related to aspirin) so ...

look for anything with wintergreen flavor.

[Mountain Mule]

16. I think I may have some mint gum in my purse

I have real mint growing in my garden. If nothing else works I can go pick a big batch when it gets light enough and make myself a mint poultice. Thanks for the idea!

[cayugafalls]

18. Be careful with too much pure mint leaves, the salicylate is the same thing in aspirin

that can damage the gums. Too much and it can cause more pain. Just be careful as gum tissue is really sensitive to salicylates which is why I warned you about the aspirin and only putting it on the broken tooth and not the gum.

Be well and I hope you make it to see your Dr. in am.

Peace.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Obviously you can't go to the drugstore and you don't have any Numzit or you wouldn't be posting ...

The active ingredient in Numzit, benzocaine, is found in small amounts in some sore throat and cough medicines, such as Cepastat, Cepacol, and Chloraseptic. But it might also contain things that would irritate a broken tooth. So you might be better off with cloves, as someone suggested above.

Hope you can get help soon.

[Silver Gaia]

19. I'm so sorry.

I wish you had some ibuprofen. Get some when you can? It will work. You can take 4, or 5 if you need it initially, of the 200 mg tablets in an emergency like this. That's what my dentist told me to do one time when I was on vacation and broke a tooth. It worked. Needless to say, taking that much on a regular basis isn't a good idea, but it's warranted in a situation like yours. I hope you get some relief! Hope you are sleeping now.

[Mountain Mule]

26. Got a couple of hours sleep last night - thank you!

Believe me, when I get to town today, I'm buying the biggest bottle of Ibuprofen they have!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

20. Do you have ibuprofen and/or clove oil in the house?

That's what is usually prescribed for dental pain, typically 800mg prescription tablets, or take 3X or 4X of 200mg (the most common non-prescription strength) but only if you have no health issues that prevent you from taking it. It was the only thing that even made a dent in tooth pain for me and codeine just made me goofy headed with little effect on pain.

The most common thing used as a home remedy for dental pain is clove oil by rubbing one drop on the tooth and gums every 2 to 3 hours. I have clove essential oil and we used to be able to buy clove oil in drug stores.

Other than that, when your drug store opens, I would suggest Orajel Severe Toothache Cream or standard Orajel, clove oil if they have it and plenty of 200mg ibuprofen.

Oral rinses and toothpaste containing fluoride is another thing that helps relieve tooth pain.

MY remedy book does say if the pain is radiating real bad into your jawbone, try to get medical help right away because that may indicate severe infection.

Good luck to you in getting relief. I can emphasize because I suffered for years with mine before getting dentures and most of my worst times were while traveling.

KY...........

[samnsara]

23. i finally had my problem teeth replaced with implants...no more tooth aches....but..

i remember tooth ache pain so bad! I would take 4x200 mg ibuprofen. It helped!!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

24. Did you have the same negative experience with codeine?

I think some scripts I've had were for acetaminophen-codeine and it was worthless and just made me goofy.

[Mountain Mule]

30. After I have taken the first 2 or so codeine tabs, it just makes me nauseated

I really don't care that much for it. And when it comes to toothaches, Amoxicillan works much better than codeine.

[Mountain Mule]

27. Thanks so much for your informative reply!

I have added clove oil and Orajel to my Walgreens shopping list!

[duforsure]

21. I feel your pain!

Just before the pandemic hit i had two filling pop out, made an appointment then they shut down before I could get into to get them looked at. One got infected and got into the dentist and set up to have two root canals and crowns done one at a time, but they gave me antibiotics that didn't stop it, and it got a lot worse , so I know recently how it feels. They finally got it going the right way and one tooth is all done except putting on the new crown, then onto the other tooth. Sure hope you gt some relief from it, its horrible having pain at that level from a tooth. My swelling is finally gone , and hope the other one gets done before it gets bad. Good luck and take care. My wife did get me some oragel which helped some, until it got a lot worse, from the local Walgreens drive thru.

[samnsara]

22. its 3 43 am where i am and i hope youre back to sleep....

....im 69 and have been to the dentist 2 times during this to have my invisalines adjusted and they are really set up for safety. I felt safe the whole time. Now its the weekend! Call your dentist today maybe they will go in for just you and no one else will be in there..

[Wawannabe]

25. Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother

This is my go to oral pain reliever.

Take a mouthful straight, swish for as long as possible in the area of pain. Spit and rinse a little. Usually my pain is gone in less than 10 min.

Hope u r feeling better. Get yoself into the dentist pdq. 🙂😉

[Mountain Mule]

28. Never heard of the cider vinegar thing, but I'll give it a try - Thanks!

[Mountain Mule]

29. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who replied

You guys helped me get through that "dark 3:00 AM of the soul" last night. I felt much less alone reading all your replies. Plus, I now have a list of great home remedies to try next time this happens to me (my poor teeth have started falling out on a regular basis).

I finally was able to get in touch with my dentist this morning by leaving a message on her voice mail. She just now returned my call to inform me that she's calling in a prescription of amoxicillin for me. When I expressed concern over covid19, she said that she will try to fit me in at her office tomorrow at the end of the day when all the other patients have gone. What a nice person!

I've been around longer than my 920 or so post count seems to imply. This has been my sanctuary every since the results of the 2016 election were announced. DU folks are the very best!

[Atticus]

31. Clove oil---comes in a small brown non-prescription bottle. Soak small cotton ball in the

oil and pack against broken area.

The old "Ben Franklin" chain of "dime stores actually used to sell clove oil in a "tooth ache kit" which included cotton balls and small wooden packing sticks.

[Totally Tunsie]

32. Hope you're feeling better, Mountain Mule.

While I don't have any hints for you, I wanted to thank you for your post because it drew out a lot of good information. I've bookmarked your thread to keep for the inevitable when I'm in the same boat. Appreciated!

[Hotler]

34. 2-acetaminophen, 1-ibuprofin taken together every 6-hrs.

one works for pain, one works for swelling.
Feel better soon.