Friday, 15 May 2009
How can this possibly hurt so much?
We know the familiar throbbing feeling that starts as a mildly irritating pain. We take a couple of paracetamols just to take the edge of, but we know that this is just the beginning of untold misery. The paracetamols wear off and the pain seems slighly worse. thats when we raid the pill cabinet to see if you have any ibuprofen left over from the last time this took over your life. Luckily you will probably find a couple and perhaps take them just before you go to bed hoping you will wake up in the morning and the pain has miraculously gone. You do wake up but it 3.43 a.m with the most terrible awful pain and you have taken the last ibuprofens, so its time for alternative pain relief, gargling with ice water takes it off for a few seconds so thats no god damn use..you contemplate overdosing on paracetamols because in your pain addled mind it would be easier that way! luckily you have some clove oil in your cupboard that is 4 years old, you know that you probably should'nt use it but you do anyway. You sit there wondering if tesco is still open and if it is do they sell pliers because you are getting to the stage now where anything would do including pulling the fucking thing out of your head. You ring NHS direct and pretend you have chest pains just so they will get you into an emergency dentist. If this sounds like you then you are not alone, no honestly you are not....Welcome to the world of toothache
Open to all
Although I have always wanted this to be primarily a toothache pian prevention site, I have come to realise that limits my blog readership a little bit. I have no desire to become famous or rich doing this blog. My aim is and has always been for people to have somewhere to air there experiences of dental problems. I now want people who read this to be as honest as open as they can about any health fears they may have, between us all we can create a community that gives proper answers to questions we may be afraid to ask our dentist or doctor.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
I have now set up a facebook group to see how many different suggestions and techniques I can get for help with toothache. I have over 140 members and it is quite slow to get going. I see peoples updates everyday complaining of toothache so I send them the link to my page and then nothing!! I expect them to share the agony with all us other members. Am I expecting too much? When I get toothache I read and became a member of about a dozen health forums just to complain bitterly about the injustice of me getting toothache. Needless to say some of the replies were sympathetic and some were not. Anyway for people reading my blog who are intrigued to see my facebook page just type 'I hate toothache' in the facebook search engine and join my group, what I would dearly like to happen is that if anyone does join directly from my blog please leave a post to say you have done so. It would be interesting to see the results..
Sunday, 17 August 2008
some more useful tips
Well, I know this has nothing to do with technology, but I thought I’d share some tips I’ve learned in the past 2 days.
My first tip won’t ease your pain, but it will save you some. I’ve seen it on forums that you should put aspirin on the tooth where it hurts and hold it there. I mean this is just stupid. Aspirin doesn’t ease your pain like numbing sprays. It is meant to be ingested and works in your bloodstream. If you hold aspirin to the inflammation, you will however get a cool aspirin burn, next to which your toothache will be of secondary importance. Whatever you do, swallow the aspirin, don’t rub it on.
The single most helpful thing I did, which was almost the only thing that could ease my pain was salt water. And I don’t mean go to the ocean salt water (although that’s ok too), I mean the almost as much salt as water type, truly disgusting stuff. Just sip some in your mouth (try not to vomit, you’ll get used to it after the 30th time you do this) and rinse it around where it hurts. My pain could not be relieved by the medication, but salt water in 90% of the cases completely dissolved the pain. As you would guess there is a downside. In the better cases I needed to do this every 20 minutes, but sometimes I needed to repeat every 5 minutes. Near the end, my experience was that neither the medication nor the salt helped, but if I took the medication the pain remained, but the salt water could ease it. Go figure. Apparently there is no danger to this, although I am no doctor, but believe me, it is not pleasant. Sure beats the pain though. Oh, and yes, it does sting your mouth and tongue, just rinse with water afterward.
The third tip is also a prevention type tip. Whatever you do, don’t pick at it. Sometimes its tempting, because a nudge here and there with maybe moves your tooth in such a way that the pain will be better. No it won’t. You could cause an inflammatory reaction which is very, very painful. Rinsing is fine, but don’t touch or try to move it ever.
My first tip won’t ease your pain, but it will save you some. I’ve seen it on forums that you should put aspirin on the tooth where it hurts and hold it there. I mean this is just stupid. Aspirin doesn’t ease your pain like numbing sprays. It is meant to be ingested and works in your bloodstream. If you hold aspirin to the inflammation, you will however get a cool aspirin burn, next to which your toothache will be of secondary importance. Whatever you do, swallow the aspirin, don’t rub it on.
The single most helpful thing I did, which was almost the only thing that could ease my pain was salt water. And I don’t mean go to the ocean salt water (although that’s ok too), I mean the almost as much salt as water type, truly disgusting stuff. Just sip some in your mouth (try not to vomit, you’ll get used to it after the 30th time you do this) and rinse it around where it hurts. My pain could not be relieved by the medication, but salt water in 90% of the cases completely dissolved the pain. As you would guess there is a downside. In the better cases I needed to do this every 20 minutes, but sometimes I needed to repeat every 5 minutes. Near the end, my experience was that neither the medication nor the salt helped, but if I took the medication the pain remained, but the salt water could ease it. Go figure. Apparently there is no danger to this, although I am no doctor, but believe me, it is not pleasant. Sure beats the pain though. Oh, and yes, it does sting your mouth and tongue, just rinse with water afterward.
The third tip is also a prevention type tip. Whatever you do, don’t pick at it. Sometimes its tempting, because a nudge here and there with maybe moves your tooth in such a way that the pain will be better. No it won’t. You could cause an inflammatory reaction which is very, very painful. Rinsing is fine, but don’t touch or try to move it ever.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Abcess Definition
What is a dental abscess?
An abscess is a collection of pus. Pus is a thick fluid that usually contains white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria (germs). The usual cause of an abscess is an infection with bacteria.
A dental abscess is a localised collection of pus in a tooth, or in nearby structures. They are classified into two main types:
Periapical abscess
This type of abscess starts in the dental pulp (centre of the tooth). This is the most common type. This type of abscess usually develops as a complication of tooth decay (caries). Dental decay is very common and erodes (damages and breaks down) the protective layers of the tooth (the enamel and dentine). The damage to the tooth allows bacteria to invade the pulp to cause an infection.
An infection in the pulp can progress to form an abscess. Sometimes a periapical abscess develops if the nerve to the tooth 'dies' for any reason. For example, from injury. The 'dead' tissue inside a tooth is more prone to infection.
Periodontal abscess
This type of abscess starts in the supporting structures of the teeth such as the periodontium which is between the tooth and the gum. It most commonly develops as a complication of gum disease (periodontal disease) which is infection or inflammation of the tissues that surround the teeth. Gum disease often causes the gum to become slightly detached from the tooth. This causes 'pockets' to form which may get filled with bacteria and progress to form an abscess. A periodontal abscess may also develop as a complication of injury to the gums or periodontium. A periodontal abscess is sometimes called a 'gum boil' as the abscess causes a swelling to develop next to a tooth.
What are the symptoms of a dental abscess?
Symptoms typically include one or more of the following:
* Pain (toothache) which can quickly become worse. It can be severe and throbbing.
* Swelling of the gum which can be tender.
* Swelling of the face. The skin over an abscess may become red and inflamed.
* The affected tooth may become tender to touch, and may even become loose.
* High temperature (fever) and feeling generally unwell.
* In severe cases there may be spasm of the jaw muscles with difficulty swallowing and/or breathing.
An abscess is a collection of pus. Pus is a thick fluid that usually contains white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria (germs). The usual cause of an abscess is an infection with bacteria.
A dental abscess is a localised collection of pus in a tooth, or in nearby structures. They are classified into two main types:
Periapical abscess
This type of abscess starts in the dental pulp (centre of the tooth). This is the most common type. This type of abscess usually develops as a complication of tooth decay (caries). Dental decay is very common and erodes (damages and breaks down) the protective layers of the tooth (the enamel and dentine). The damage to the tooth allows bacteria to invade the pulp to cause an infection.
An infection in the pulp can progress to form an abscess. Sometimes a periapical abscess develops if the nerve to the tooth 'dies' for any reason. For example, from injury. The 'dead' tissue inside a tooth is more prone to infection.
Periodontal abscess
This type of abscess starts in the supporting structures of the teeth such as the periodontium which is between the tooth and the gum. It most commonly develops as a complication of gum disease (periodontal disease) which is infection or inflammation of the tissues that surround the teeth. Gum disease often causes the gum to become slightly detached from the tooth. This causes 'pockets' to form which may get filled with bacteria and progress to form an abscess. A periodontal abscess may also develop as a complication of injury to the gums or periodontium. A periodontal abscess is sometimes called a 'gum boil' as the abscess causes a swelling to develop next to a tooth.
What are the symptoms of a dental abscess?
Symptoms typically include one or more of the following:
* Pain (toothache) which can quickly become worse. It can be severe and throbbing.
* Swelling of the gum which can be tender.
* Swelling of the face. The skin over an abscess may become red and inflamed.
* The affected tooth may become tender to touch, and may even become loose.
* High temperature (fever) and feeling generally unwell.
* In severe cases there may be spasm of the jaw muscles with difficulty swallowing and/or breathing.
Friday, 18 July 2008
Interesting article
I found this article in the advertiser it sums up the state of dentistry in the united kingdom.
A MUM ripped her own tooth out with her fingernails because she couldn't get to see a dentist.
Susannah Houghton, 39, from Radcliffe is one of a growing number of people resorting to DIY dentistry because of a severe shortage of NHS services.
The mother-of-four was in so much pain at the weekend that she couldn't eat, sleep or talk properly and contacted her local out-of-hours service.
But she says staff told her they couldn't help until she had been in pain for 48 hours. By that evening the pain had became so unbearable that she pulled out her broken tooth herself.
Mrs Houghton was given antibiotics after returning to the emergency care centre on Sunday and had to have further treatment to remove the root of her tooth.
She said: "The pain was so bad it was driving me mad.
"I wanted to bang my head against the wall- anything to distract me from the pain - I've had four children and I've never experienced anything like this.
"I begged them to help me, but when they wouldn't I had to do something to help myself.
"I knew there was a chance I could cause an infection or have complications but the pain put those fears to the back of my mind.
"I know I'm not the only person to be driven to this, there is something very wrong with a system which leaves you in pain and without help."
A spokeswoman for Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) said: "Out of hours Emergency Dental services are commissioned from NHS Direct and clinical sessions are provided over the weekend at the Dental Access Centre, based at Parsons Lane, Bury.
"The dentist on duty uses clinical guidelines to assess the severity of the dental problem and makes a judgement as to the appropriate course of action to take in these circumstances."
The case comes as figures reveal that health bosses have failed to provide any extra services to combat the shortage of dentists despite patients making many urgent calls for action more than six months ago.
The local health watchdog found in April that people who couldn't get an NHS dentist for themselves or their children were going without because they couldn't afford to pay for private care.
A survey of 240 people found some were travelling across the region for care with one man told to travel to Chester for an emergency appointment.
Another person with painful toothache was told they would have to wait two weeks for an appointment.
A recent report revealed almost a third of people in the north west are not registered with an NHS dentist.
And 40 per cent questioned in the survey - the biggest of its kind into dental care - said they have been forced to leave an NHS practice because it went private.
A MUM ripped her own tooth out with her fingernails because she couldn't get to see a dentist.
Susannah Houghton, 39, from Radcliffe is one of a growing number of people resorting to DIY dentistry because of a severe shortage of NHS services.
The mother-of-four was in so much pain at the weekend that she couldn't eat, sleep or talk properly and contacted her local out-of-hours service.
But she says staff told her they couldn't help until she had been in pain for 48 hours. By that evening the pain had became so unbearable that she pulled out her broken tooth herself.
Mrs Houghton was given antibiotics after returning to the emergency care centre on Sunday and had to have further treatment to remove the root of her tooth.
She said: "The pain was so bad it was driving me mad.
"I wanted to bang my head against the wall- anything to distract me from the pain - I've had four children and I've never experienced anything like this.
"I begged them to help me, but when they wouldn't I had to do something to help myself.
"I knew there was a chance I could cause an infection or have complications but the pain put those fears to the back of my mind.
"I know I'm not the only person to be driven to this, there is something very wrong with a system which leaves you in pain and without help."
A spokeswoman for Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) said: "Out of hours Emergency Dental services are commissioned from NHS Direct and clinical sessions are provided over the weekend at the Dental Access Centre, based at Parsons Lane, Bury.
"The dentist on duty uses clinical guidelines to assess the severity of the dental problem and makes a judgement as to the appropriate course of action to take in these circumstances."
The case comes as figures reveal that health bosses have failed to provide any extra services to combat the shortage of dentists despite patients making many urgent calls for action more than six months ago.
The local health watchdog found in April that people who couldn't get an NHS dentist for themselves or their children were going without because they couldn't afford to pay for private care.
A survey of 240 people found some were travelling across the region for care with one man told to travel to Chester for an emergency appointment.
Another person with painful toothache was told they would have to wait two weeks for an appointment.
A recent report revealed almost a third of people in the north west are not registered with an NHS dentist.
And 40 per cent questioned in the survey - the biggest of its kind into dental care - said they have been forced to leave an NHS practice because it went private.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
pulling your own teeth out
Even though it may sound very odd and downright compelling, a lot of people actually try to extract their own teeth. Toothache pain can be very painful and very frustrating, making you try anything to get relief. Depending on how bad the pain is, you’ll be more than willing to do just about anything you can to get the pain to stop. Abscesses or really bad cavities are among the worst, as the pain never seems to let up - no matter what you do.
In the old days, teeth were extracted by pliers, as there were no dentists around. During these times, people would get drunk on alcohol and then the teeth would be extracted. There was no such thing as anaesthesia back then, so it was impossible to locally numb the pain. These days though, local anaesthesia is the best way to numb a toothache before pulling the tooth. If you attempt to pull a tooth yourself, you’ll feel the pain no matter what you do.
There are situations however, in which you can pull your own teeth. Baby teeth for example, are acceptable to pull. Before you yank it out though, you should check on the age of when the tooth in question should be removed. If you wiggle the tooth around and it appears to be loose, then chances are it will come out without a problem. On the other hand, if you pull the tooth and it turns out to be an abscess, you’ll end up with a real problem and your hands and you’ll need to visit a dentist as soon as you can.
Another situation in which it is acceptable to pull your own teeth is when you have a severe case of gum disease. Gum disease can cause the socket and the bone to become extremely decayed, which will result in the destruction of the tooth. If the gum disease is severe enough, the tooth will be extremely loose and will come out without a problem. In some cases, the tooth can be almost unbearable to the touch. If you have gum disease and notice a loose tooth, you should be careful when pulling it. If you don’t do it properly or if you do it too soon, you could end up breaking the top of the tooth. If this happens, you’ll need to go to the dentist to have the remaining portion of the tooth cut out.
Even though a tooth may feel loose when you touch it, doesn’t always mean that you can grab a pair of pliers and rip it out. Teeth are very delicate. If you try to rip a tooth out with pair of pliers and make a mistake, you should end up doing more harm than good. Putting pliers in your mouth can also lead to an infection, which would send you to the dentist. Abscesses on the other hand, should never be dealt with on your own - you’ll need to go to a dentist to have him properly extract the tooth and give you some antibiotics to stop the infection.
To be on the safe side and avoid any potential problems that could easily arise, you should always go to the dentist if you have a toothache. No matter how bad the pain may be, you should never attempt to pull the tooth yourself. Your dentist can numb the area before he pulls the tooth, so you’ll feel no pain at all. He will also prescribe you some pain medicine and antibiotics as well, to help treat any infection you may have. If you attempt to pull the tooth yourself, you’ll only cause more problems in the end - and end up going to a dentist anyway.
In the old days, teeth were extracted by pliers, as there were no dentists around. During these times, people would get drunk on alcohol and then the teeth would be extracted. There was no such thing as anaesthesia back then, so it was impossible to locally numb the pain. These days though, local anaesthesia is the best way to numb a toothache before pulling the tooth. If you attempt to pull a tooth yourself, you’ll feel the pain no matter what you do.
There are situations however, in which you can pull your own teeth. Baby teeth for example, are acceptable to pull. Before you yank it out though, you should check on the age of when the tooth in question should be removed. If you wiggle the tooth around and it appears to be loose, then chances are it will come out without a problem. On the other hand, if you pull the tooth and it turns out to be an abscess, you’ll end up with a real problem and your hands and you’ll need to visit a dentist as soon as you can.
Another situation in which it is acceptable to pull your own teeth is when you have a severe case of gum disease. Gum disease can cause the socket and the bone to become extremely decayed, which will result in the destruction of the tooth. If the gum disease is severe enough, the tooth will be extremely loose and will come out without a problem. In some cases, the tooth can be almost unbearable to the touch. If you have gum disease and notice a loose tooth, you should be careful when pulling it. If you don’t do it properly or if you do it too soon, you could end up breaking the top of the tooth. If this happens, you’ll need to go to the dentist to have the remaining portion of the tooth cut out.
Even though a tooth may feel loose when you touch it, doesn’t always mean that you can grab a pair of pliers and rip it out. Teeth are very delicate. If you try to rip a tooth out with pair of pliers and make a mistake, you should end up doing more harm than good. Putting pliers in your mouth can also lead to an infection, which would send you to the dentist. Abscesses on the other hand, should never be dealt with on your own - you’ll need to go to a dentist to have him properly extract the tooth and give you some antibiotics to stop the infection.
To be on the safe side and avoid any potential problems that could easily arise, you should always go to the dentist if you have a toothache. No matter how bad the pain may be, you should never attempt to pull the tooth yourself. Your dentist can numb the area before he pulls the tooth, so you’ll feel no pain at all. He will also prescribe you some pain medicine and antibiotics as well, to help treat any infection you may have. If you attempt to pull the tooth yourself, you’ll only cause more problems in the end - and end up going to a dentist anyway.
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