Gum & Mouth Pain

[sweetrhythm]

So I went to the dentist for my regular cleaning & check up and it was the first time in a while I had a positive visit (yay! :D). It seemed the Plaquenil had decreased the inflammation and I wasn't having as much decalcification as I normally have from my dry mouth symptoms due to my Sjogren's.

Anyway, for the past week or so I have been having excrutiating gum & mouth pain in the upper right hand side of my mouth. It's along my gum line. It doesn't burn but I have this insane compulsive urge to claw, scratch, and outright rip my gums out of my mouth. I don't find any relief from any of this--it actually cause me more pain if I give in to any of the compulsion but at the same I do--it's a catch 22 kind of. Also, above the gum line and where the tissues connect, it is all VERY sore to the touch. I'm actually finding that I have to put A LOT of pressure on my mouth--to force pain--to get some relief...I know this all sounds counterintuitive....I have to force myself into pain to get some relief but this is what I've been dealing with. The area where this all hurts is sooo inflamed. Percoset doesn't touch the pain and the Anbesol BARELY numbs it for a few seconds.

I've tried Listorine, switched to softer toothbrushes, I've gnawed on frozen washclothes, ice, salt water........you name it, I've tried it!!!

I'm on here asking about this bc I can't get in to see my dentist until Thursday and I'm in absolute agony. I can't afford to go to the ER (and frankly I don't think this really warrants and ER visit). I also don't understand how I went from being "really improved with no cavaties" to this a little over two weeks later. The only change I had was I went on a steroid for Crohn's but I checked with my GI doc today and it's a med that isn't absorbed into the system--it goes straight to the intestine and he says it wouldn't have this side-effect.

Does this sounds like ANYTHING familiar to anyone? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for coping with the pain until Thursday afternoon for me??? I'd really appreciate it a ton. I basically can't take any anti-inflammatories over the counter or tylenol so that's out but any other home remedies are certainly welcomed!!!!!

[rwb200]

Hello sorry to hear about your pain. To me Dental problems are about the worst.
If the area is inflamed something may have happened that caused an infection.
If this is the case the only thing I have found that helps this is Ibuprofen. For me I use 500 to 600 MG. 500 if I have perscription Ibuprofen and if not I take three of the standard so it is 600 MG.

My Doctor has told me it works so well because it is one drug that is made to fight inflamation and until the inflamation is releived it will hurt.
If it is infected or if a nerve is dieing for some reason it will keep coming back till it is taken care of. But this has worked for me.

If it does get bad enough that you have to go to a ER then you may want to call the Hospital first and see if any in the area has a Dentist on staff. If they do at least with the ER charge they can take care of the problem.
If not the most they can do is give pain med and maybe a antibiotic if they think you have infection.

[chal23]

Hi RWB,

Yes - it sounds like trigeminal neurologia or Cluster Headaches. Many people who suffer from these conditions (myself included) think something is wrong with their teeth or sinuses. I went through being dx everything from sinusitus to grinding my teeth.. ugh, doctors! :)

But we all know "you" know your body best. I would read up on both conditions and make it a point to visit your GP. A neuro would be best..

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/

http://www.tna-support.org/

Love,

Chal

[sapphirrasmagick]

One of the best home remedy type things for gum/tooth pain that I've ever tried is clove essential oil.
It's powerfully antiseptic and also numbs the pain.
You should be able to find some either at your pharmacy or a health food store.
You only need a couple drops in a small glass of water...swish it around and spit it out. (don't swallow it)
Or you could even put a drop of it neat onto the sore area...it'll likely burn a bit at first, especially if you do have an infection, but after a little bit it should help knock the pain right out.
I hope you feel better soon!

[sweetrhythm]

One of the best home remedy type things for gum/tooth pain that I've ever tried is clove essential oil.
It's powerfully antiseptic and also numbs the pain.
You should be able to find some either at your pharmacy or a health food store.
You only need a couple drops in a small glass of water...swish it around and spit it out. (don't swallow it)
Or you could even put a drop of it neat onto the sore area...it'll likely burn a bit at first, especially if you do have an infection, but after a little bit it should help knock the pain right out.
I hope you feel better soon!

ahh Thank you!!! I'm going to head out to the store as soon as it opens to try this out!!! Hopefully it gives me some relief :o

[peonyprincess]

OUCH OUCH OUCH and a few other words that I will not add.

I have had my fair share of painful teeth and gums as well as dental chair visits that I think I could almost write a book!:lol: I have taken 800mg of Ibuprofen and then rotated it with 1000mg of Tylenol.....hmmm, maybe that is why my liver isn't liking me. Anyway, try applying ice to the area...NO HEAT....if there is infection, heat will dilate the blood stream and cause you far greater problems. Try to avoid warm drinks as well. I would also eat soft foods or liquids as not to put more pressure on your gums and teeth that would increase the pain. When you lie down, try and keep your head elevated to help regulate the pressure. IF you lie down flat, your mouth is REALLY going to throb! If I was to take a guess, I would bet that you have a bad tooth that is going to need a root canal. Yeah, probably something you did not want to even discuss. Again, just my guess.

I know Thursday is a long way away when you are having dental problems. Hang in there, you can do it!!

Nancy

[Jmaca]

I am going through a similar problem that hasn't yet been identified. I always have problems with my mouth and gums (I have Sjogren's). I too had a dental cleaning recently.

It seems everytime I go to the dentist, I come home with a flare-up of one sort or another in my mouth. Almost all of my problems resolve on their own. It's usually severe pain, even after a teeth cleaning, so bad that I think I have an abscess. But then the pain goes away in a few weeks.

Right now is a little different. A couple weeks ago, my upper gums started to feel weird, not tingly, but almost tingly (if that makes any sense), and then a few hours later, my soft palate swelled out. The whole thing. The gums didn't. It's been like that off and on ever since. The original swelling lasted for 4 days, then mostly went away, then came back a couple days ago. My gums feel weird, but they're not inflamed. It's hard to describe, but they almost have a "restless leg syndrome" feel to them, like everything feels all unsettled in my gums.

I have an appt. with my dentist next week. Good luck to you. My guess is that dental visits all by themselves can put the mouth into overdrive.