Quick Update
I haven't blogged in the last week, because I've been feeling really rotten. I had a cavity filled in my right molar last week- it was a very small cavity, and I was in and out and I thought everything was fine- at first. My teeth felt great, and I even had commented to James that the sensitivity to cold was gone where it used to be in that tooth.
Unfortunately, two days later, I started having a constant, sharp pain in that tooth. It just ached and ached and wouldn't go away. I went to the dentist- when I got there, for some reason the pain wasn't as sharp at the time, so when I described it to her, I don't think I communicated it very well- because she just gave me Sensodyne and sent me on my way.
Two days later, the pain had gotten worse. It was a never ending, really terrible pain. I went to the dentist again and described it more accurately for her, and she said that it sounded like I might need a root canal. (At that point she hadn't taken an x-ray to check it out- this was just what she concluded from my description of pain). My first reaction was, do I really need to go to that extent? All I did was get a very tiny cavity filled, and now I need a root canal? I don't understand!
The dentist told me that she would need to get a confirmation from my ob-gyn on which type of antibiotic would be safe for me to take, to get rid of the infection...they called her and she was in surgery so they had to wait. I ended up not getting the prescription until Saturday morning (or maybe Friday night- I can't seem to remember).
Well, I got home and researched it a lot- and the pain just intensified... even though I was on the antibiotic, the pain didn't lessen at all. At night, I was waking up crying every night because the pain was just so very awful and I was worried. I wanted to go to the dentist again and just get the root canal done, but they're not open on weekends. I finally found a tiny bit of pain relief in swishing some peroxide in my mouth. I also found a small amount of relief by chewing on a dried clove. Tylenol helped too but not completely.
The pain now is still pretty bad...but finally tomorrow is a week day, and I am hoping that they can work me in so that I can get this taken care of. I don't know whether a root canal can be performed while you still have an infection in your tooth. I'll have to wait and find out about that.
The thing that has most worried me about this all is the fact that I am pregnant, and don't want anything to harm the baby. They told me that it will be just numbed with a local anesthetic and so that shouldn't bother the baby.
Honestly, I don't like the idea of having your nerve taken out of your tooth either, making it dead and easier to crumble. It seems wrong to take out the nerve, which is the one thing that allows you to know if there is a problem with your tooth or not- and since I still have numbness in my tongue on the left side from where the wisdom tooth was taken out, I worry a bit about them messing with nerves... I know it's a nerve located directly in the tooth, but how do I know there aren't other nerves that can be affected by it? Whatever the case, I suppose I am going to do whatever I have to to get the pain relief. And I am of course very thankful for dentists, as much as I hate going to them.
As soon as I have more going on, I'll be sure to post more!
Unfortunately, two days later, I started having a constant, sharp pain in that tooth. It just ached and ached and wouldn't go away. I went to the dentist- when I got there, for some reason the pain wasn't as sharp at the time, so when I described it to her, I don't think I communicated it very well- because she just gave me Sensodyne and sent me on my way.
Two days later, the pain had gotten worse. It was a never ending, really terrible pain. I went to the dentist again and described it more accurately for her, and she said that it sounded like I might need a root canal. (At that point she hadn't taken an x-ray to check it out- this was just what she concluded from my description of pain). My first reaction was, do I really need to go to that extent? All I did was get a very tiny cavity filled, and now I need a root canal? I don't understand!
The dentist told me that she would need to get a confirmation from my ob-gyn on which type of antibiotic would be safe for me to take, to get rid of the infection...they called her and she was in surgery so they had to wait. I ended up not getting the prescription until Saturday morning (or maybe Friday night- I can't seem to remember).
Well, I got home and researched it a lot- and the pain just intensified... even though I was on the antibiotic, the pain didn't lessen at all. At night, I was waking up crying every night because the pain was just so very awful and I was worried. I wanted to go to the dentist again and just get the root canal done, but they're not open on weekends. I finally found a tiny bit of pain relief in swishing some peroxide in my mouth. I also found a small amount of relief by chewing on a dried clove. Tylenol helped too but not completely.
The pain now is still pretty bad...but finally tomorrow is a week day, and I am hoping that they can work me in so that I can get this taken care of. I don't know whether a root canal can be performed while you still have an infection in your tooth. I'll have to wait and find out about that.
The thing that has most worried me about this all is the fact that I am pregnant, and don't want anything to harm the baby. They told me that it will be just numbed with a local anesthetic and so that shouldn't bother the baby.
Honestly, I don't like the idea of having your nerve taken out of your tooth either, making it dead and easier to crumble. It seems wrong to take out the nerve, which is the one thing that allows you to know if there is a problem with your tooth or not- and since I still have numbness in my tongue on the left side from where the wisdom tooth was taken out, I worry a bit about them messing with nerves... I know it's a nerve located directly in the tooth, but how do I know there aren't other nerves that can be affected by it? Whatever the case, I suppose I am going to do whatever I have to to get the pain relief. And I am of course very thankful for dentists, as much as I hate going to them.
As soon as I have more going on, I'll be sure to post more!
I understand your fears Bethany. You sure seem to have had such bad luck with the dentist lately! I feel your pain because tooth pain rates right up at the top of the list for worst pains in the world. Maybe you can seek some comfort though in knowing I was not only under anesthesia while pregnant but completely put under and had a machine breathing for me and Gabbi was fine. They told me that they make anesthesias that you would use if you had to operate on a baby or something. That's what they used on me. I don't know about dental work but I also had a local anesthetic when they did my port surgery and again Gabbi had no reactions to it. So I hope maybe that can help ease your mind a bit. I think local should be ok. It doesn't spread or go through your system I don't believe. Good luck and I am so sorry you are hurting so bad.
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Sandi, thanks so much. That really does help a lot!
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Steep a Tablespoon of cloves in a cup of hot water covered for 10 min when liquid cools to warm swish this around in your mouth it will really help with the pain
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Listerene does wonders for me. Any time I have the hint of a toothache I hold listerene in my mouth over the tooth for as long as possible then spit and repeat. It may take several times in a day of doing this but it has always killed the pain and the infection for me within a day. Hope you feel better soon and so happy to hear about your newest blessing!!
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Just been through a pain filled tooth week -- so I am totally compassionate with you. I have to get mine pulled AFTER having a root canal, retreatment and a crown on. All that $$ and there is just a huge infection in there. So I will be praying, tooth pain is horrid. Hopefully its just infection. Clove oil does work, put two or 3 drops in 1/4 tsp olive oil and then soak a cotton ball and put it on the tooth of next to it. the olive oil helps it not to burn so much.
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Hey Bethany,
Will be praying for you. Congrats on your pregnancy. Praying for your bro in law. We just moved to Parris Island where my Marine husband is now stationed - so much hotter than MA. Are you coming to his graduation? I would love to meet you on base if you do. In my family you are affectionately known as the Wikki Stix lady as it was googling homemade Wikki stix that first got me to your site. And it was such a blessing as around that time I had a miscarriage and your site was a blessing. That was last July and I am now pregnant with Number 5. Natural progesterone helped me so much - thanks for blogging about it last winter. Enough for now. Praying for a good trip to the dentist and protection for your little one.
Hugs,
Megan
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I hope that you are feeling better really soon.
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Thanks so much for the helpful comments and ideas. I have just boiled some cloves in water and am waiting for it to cool so I can swish it- I have already been swishing mouthwash and it does help some.
Megan, that's so funny that I'm the Wikki Stix lady! haha Unfortunately I probably won't be attending Stan's graduation...I am not even sure where it will be exactly! I would love to meet you too...maybe some day if you're visiting Alabama you could drop by for a visit?
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Megan, congratulations on your pregnancy!! I am so very happy for you. I am so grateful to hear that the progesterone was able to help you!
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There is something special for you over at my blog: http://whitesinnz.blogspot.com/2009/08/nomination.html
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Hope you are feeling better! Looking forward to Wednesday!
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Hope you are feeling much better today !! I pray your pregnancy goes great !!My daughter had two miscarriages before giving birth to her first child(one at 6wks & one at 14 wks.).She was devastated and went thru a long depression.After trying for three years she gave birth to a 10 lb. boy and two girls over the next four years.She has her dream come true and they are now 14,12 and 9.
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We all take our teeth for granted until they go wrong, then they remind you how important they are!
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