Dental problems continue...

[Neco]

Meh..

I was sick with bronchitis so the appt I had was canceled.. Then I got scared when I should have gone in immediately.. I applied for Care Credit, and can charge just above $2,000 to my card, but if you have multiple charges then instead of averaging the total amount on the card for monthly payment you have to make a payment on the average of EACH charge.. I have almost 10 teeth to fix and I just can't sit through that, so I was scared into inaction

A couple days ago my mouth started hurting Especially when I smoke, this usually means I am going to lose at least one tooth in the future.. It was already hurting at the point where I made my original appt, but the dentist said it was just from all the decay and nothing was seriously wrong at the time (no infection)... I'm hoping its the case still and I'm not going to lose anything..

I went into the office today after work and got a Wednesday appt for the top right side to be done.. I should have gone in sooner, because they said they could bill the cost out in advance as one large sum so I only have to do one payment a month.. But I've been choking down Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, anbesol liquid, orajel etc.. and sometimes the pain goes away for a while but then it eventually comes back


Does anyone know any natural type stuff I could try to help numb the pain or get rid of it? Something cheap like a plant/herb or something I can find easily in a store... a home remedy concoction ?

I hope I last until Wed but I don't know how I can afford both the work and a possible tooth extraction

I hate my life sometimes... I really really do

[ViewsAskew]

I haven't any idea of something that would work. I hope someone does.

I hear you about the tooth issues, though. I had to make an emergency appointment with the dental school at U of I. I need yet another root canal. While there, they made an appointment with the group that handles complex cases where lots of work is needed. I went last week. The estimate is $10,000 to $20,000, depending on how we do some of the work.

sigh

[SquirmingSusan]

I can relate to the whole rotting teeth thing. I've had 5 or so root canals in the last year, and still need one more. And I have decay along the gum line from clenching my teeth. We've discussed this at length in various narcolepsy forums because it's very common for us to have major problems with our teeth. But clearly anyone can have problems.

One gal put together a lengthy article about how to stop the decay, and I know I have it around here somewhere. I can email it to you if you'd like, once I find it. It's basically a compilation of things that dentists have recommended to us to keep our mouths healthy.

Zach do you have problems with dry mouth? That's often where a lot of the problems start, and it's usually from medication. I'm thinking that methadone can cause problems that way, as can antidepressants, antihistamines and other drugs. There are all kinds of products out there for dry mouth. Biotene toothpaste is a good start. Add to that the candies that are made with Xylitol. Xylitol has been shown to reduce decay. I buy these little discs called Xylimelts that stick to the inside of the cheek and help keep things moist. I sleep with them and they last a few hours each. They're good for public speaking as well .

My dentist has been treating me with something called fluoride varnish from 3M. It's supposed to do wonders for stopping tooth decay.

In the meantime until you can get it all fixed, clove oil is a good, natural product that kills tooth pain. You should be able to find it at any drugstore. They put it in a lot of the commercial tooth pain products.

[Wayne]

Are you having a throbbing pain? Been there before and the Orajel was the only thing that really helped. Only a little though, mostly I just suffered through it. Was never so glad to get that shot of novacaine!

I just had two temp crowns in preparation for a bridge. Jaw is still sore. A Tylenol takes care of that. Can't wait to get that missing tooth replaced, it's been gone for 12 years

Hang in there and don't psych yourself out about the dentist. A few hours of discomfort at the dentist is nothing compared to the 24/7 pain

[Polar Bear]

As Susan says.... Oil of Cloves which costs next to nothing.

About 10 years ago I had a dreadful toothache, utterly agonising..... over a weekend. I soaked a piece of cottonwool with oil of cloves and pressed it around the area. It really worked.... truely, really worked. I used it for 2 or 3 days until it was treated. Together with Ibuprofen which is reckoned to be best for dental pain.

After 2 or 3 days the inside of my cheek started to feel a little raw from the constant use of the cottonwool/oil of cloves against it, but nothing that did not clear up easily.

Also.... I have never eaten Clove Rock (a type of candy) since that day... it was kind of overkill on the clove taste.

Good luck, and let us know how you are.

[badnights]

Wow, good info on dry mouth, Susan, thanks!

[SquirmingSusan]

You're welcome, Beth. Always happy to share information. One thing I forgot to mention about the xylitol candies and disks - if you use them, keep them away from dogs. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and a couple grams can kill a large dog. I'm very careful to not leave any of it sitting around where my dog can get into it.

[Wayne]

After reading about Zach's teeth issues. I had a drama of my own. The prep for my bridge aggravated the nerves in the lower back tooth and got really painful 4 days later, then it started aggravating the main nerve in my lower jaw, so the pain started creeping around my entire lower jaw.

So last week I had three dentist appointments, one with my normal dentist, a consultation with a root canal specialist, and FINALLY the root canal. Mouth is getting back to normal now.

[badnights]

Sounds horrible. Glad normal is returning. Ugh.

[Polar Bear]

Wayne: glad you are on the mend.

Zach: how are you?

[Neco]

Sorry, I kind of split and left town on you guys, didn't I?

My Windows installation crapped out on me, and I did a reinstall to the bare minimum of what I need to use daily.. I still haven't found the motivation to go through all my data and pick out what I need to save before wiping the drive for a clean install...

I got pretty much the majority of the right side of my mouth fixed up.. I paid for Nitrous, although I think the dentist is being a stickler even with that, he doesn't prescribe narcotics or anything, so he probably skimps on the nitrous too.. Probably wouldn't offer it if he didn't have to or something..

I split the work into two appointments, on the second appointment, at the end he says one of my teeth will need a root canal... Really? THANKS for telling me after the fact, and for starting it and charging me for that on top of it!

I just had that tooth taken out last Tuesday, I'm still a little sore but I think I am in the clear, hoping I don't get an infection or anything.. I couldn't afford to be put to sleep, and for one tooth its not really worth it, so I took nitrous instead... They did not skimp on it either


I recently quit smoking cigarettes and bought an electronic cigarette and the associated gear that goes with it, instead.. I'm hoping to save $100+ per month once I get acclimated. There is a lot of experimenting for me to do with flavors, nicotene strength, mixing my own flavors, and choosing the method of delivery... Once I get it all figured out I will know for sure how much I will be saving.

It is really nice though.. No smoke or anything.. Which is good because I can smoke anywhere, even around my Mom who recently quit, and she is now in the beginning stages of emphysema

[Polar Bear]

Zach: good to hear from you and glad your teeth are just about fixed. Dental pain is such agony.

Let us know how you get on with the electronic cigarette.