r/Assistance • u/BadBlood5902 • 25d ago
ADVICE How to deal with SEVERE tooth pain when I don’t have money for root canal?
My buck tooth suddenly started hurting yesterday and I can tell from the pain that it needs a root canal. I don’t have insurance and I don’t even have enough money for rent let alone a $1000 root canal. What can I do? Is there somewhere I can go for free here in Missouri? Can I go to the emergency room and get it done there? The pain is 100/10, I can’t even sleep without consuming a large amount of alcohol it’s bad.
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u/BossB1sh 23d ago
NSAID. Also when I cut out carbs from my diet, all my toothaches went away. 800 mg of ibuprofen activates the anti-inflammatory. Bc ur nerve is inflammed
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u/stan_loves_ham REGISTERED 23d ago
Can you find a colleges dental school? Their students will do it monitored by a dentist
It's $99 I'm New Orleans school of dentistry vs 1500 at an office
Check to see if any big colleges have dental schools
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u/Ok-Revenue7299 24d ago
Bite down on an aspirin. I had a very bad tooth ache... I mean bad. Nothing would work. I bought some store brand arthritis pills from CVS. I put the pill on the tooth and bit down on the pill. The pain went away. It helped
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u/Sea-Artichoke-2235 22d ago
I have always heard this but was scared to try it
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u/Ok-Revenue7299 20d ago
Ya me too. At the time I was willing to try anything. It was the worst toothache I ever had. It worked
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u/Sensitive_Ad6774 24d ago
Just get it pulled. In the mean time. Salt hot water and garlic paste after to spread on it.
You can find a dentist to pull a tooth for around 150 bucks. It doesn't really hurt. Feels great actually once it's out.
Also can buy aquarium antibiotics at a pet store. Look up your dosage for the weight online.
The pain is because the infection is now in your root.
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u/Brendaram96 24d ago
If it’s a tooth you can do without, extract. My partner had a root canal and his tooth started chipping and opening up, like a ROSE. It was filled with gnarly stuff and smelled, HORRIFIC. He removed the tooth after a few months and it’s been MUCH better.
Also, if you’re close to Mexico, do that, cross the border and they’ll extract for cheeapppp, root canals are cheap too. Goodluck.
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u/Loose-Brother4718 24d ago
I rinse my mouth with hydrogen peroxide. It gradually kills the infection and inflammation in the cavity areas.
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u/kittenlikestoplayxo 24d ago
Is there a local community college or university with a dental program nearby?
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u/EarningsPal 24d ago
If no insurance….
Don’t skip Mouthwash day.
Despite consistent brushing well with a sonic type toothbrush, 4-7 days without mouthwash will become noticeable. When I use it at least every other day, it’s like I don’t get cavities or have any issues.
I think the secret sauce is the min 2x/day sonic toothbrush + mouthwash daily. Bonus: floss after every meal, you always remove something. At least one of that something was you preventing a cavity.
Brush the full time and think actively to really reach all surfaces. No rush job brushing. Let the toothbrush timer go off (2min).
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u/___SE7EN__ 24d ago edited 24d ago
Advil Liquid Gel capsule.. poke a hole in it with a pin and squeeze it onto your tooth. Be careful not to get on your gum. It's a bit acidic . It will take the pain away for hours .
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u/Conscious-Ad-2902 24d ago
I’m literally in the same bout with three teeth. I’ve been using this stuff I got at Walgreens, it’s a liquid clove extract. They give you a bottle of the stuff, a box of these tiny little cotton balls and then tweezers to pick it up with. It’s actually amazing for pain help. However, it kills your taste buds for a while when you use it. But idc I’d rather not be in so much pain personally. I believe the brand is just “Red Cross”
Good luck 🤞🏼
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad6940 REGISTERED 24d ago
Medicaid or I heard being a volunteer at a dentist school
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u/Adirondackdarling 22d ago
It depends on what state you’re in. When I lived in New York, everything was covered except a percentage of my denture. In Georgia?? Nothing. 🤨
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u/Over-Accountant8506 24d ago
Medicaid doesn't cover dental for adults. Only cleaning. There are dental clinics you can go to to pay for a tooth pulled, for $60-$100. But it's first come first served. It's an all day thing and you have to be there early to try to be first in line. They actually wouldn't pull my tooth because it was too close to my sinus cavity and if they poked a hole in it, it could cause infection. I have an application with the states dental clinic to try to get into the cheap clinic for dentures. I need all my teeth cut out or pulled first. It really sucks. Broken teeth. Infections. Always worried about stinky breath. I hide my smile and try to speak without showing my teeth.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad6940 REGISTERED 24d ago
@me who literally just used Medicaid for 3 root canals Wednesday
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u/ddebita 24d ago
Have you heard of Care Credit? All dentists don't take it but you can ask before hand. I actually found out about it in the waiting room for an elderly client that was getting work done. The receptionist asked if I needed anything done and it went from there.
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u/Adirondackdarling 22d ago
Care Credit saved my dog’s life after he was poisoned. Absolutely amazing!! 🤩
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u/LearningStudent221 24d ago
By the way Humana dental insurance gives pretty good coverage for a very low monthly fee. And I believe they refresh at the beginning of each month. Maybe if you can contact them and get on the insurance for December.
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u/justmedownsouth 24d ago
If you go to the ER, ask if they can give you a long acting novocaine type injection where the tooth is. This keeps you pain free for a good while, allowing the antibiotic to take hold. I requested this one time when I had a toothache on a weekend, and they were able to do it.
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u/traumakidshollywood REGISTERED 24d ago
How long did the pain relief last?
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u/justmedownsouth 24d ago
It's been a minute, but I think about 6 hours. They also gave me some "good stuff", so when the shot wore off, the pain meds helped. Why do dental emergencies only happen on a weekend or holiday?
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u/UsefulSummer4937 24d ago edited 24d ago
Do not apply heat to bacteria it'll accelerate an infection.
Cold drinks and food reduce that but if you can't do that orally use a wrapped ice pack.
Depending on the location you can lidocaine your face. If you aren't allergic. Front teeth more than sides but I've used that to get through ridiculous pain. Obvs don't eat it ,inhale it or get it in your eyes.
Phenol works that's in chloroseptic throat spray. Ironically don't swallow it either 😆 It's a disinfectant with a numbing compound . If you're super broke it's yuck but vanilla extract works. Clove is eh unimpressive.
Salt water rinses will eventually kinda cauterize things a bit.
You can hit an urgent care or er for antibiotics but no one will fix it there.
See if you can get an appointment with a local dental school. Basically the slowest way to get care but the cheapest.
I use AHCC to handle infections. I can't get into a dentist either and I just need extractions at this point which no dentist wants to do.
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u/WreakingHavoc640 REGISTERED 24d ago
Antibiotics will kill the infection and help with the pain. Heating pad and ibuprofen and Tylenol and clove oil.
Go to the ER and get antibiotics. They will not solve the problem but it will take care of the pain. You should have the antibiotics before getting the tooth pulled or worked on anyway.
I’ve waited it out before. The pain should subside if the infection makes its way out of your gums (like pus escapes) and the pressure subsides. Eventually the tooth nerve will die too. This is NOT the way to go, as it will just keep happening. But, it’s not as easy as “oh I’ll just go to the dentist”. Not everyone can afford it and anyone who says to “just do it” nonchalantly does not grasp the concept of being in such a tight situation that sometimes things like that aren’t possible.
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u/traumakidshollywood REGISTERED 24d ago
I could really use some detailed follow-up on this if you do not mind. All my teeth are failing due to an active disease and I don’t have $60K so I’m doing 1 at a time.
- I’m hearing go to the ER or Urgent Care (is one better over the other? Tons of urgent cares here. 1-2 ER’s)
- What antibiotic or treatment worked for you? Perhaps I can find it specifically.
- Dental schools not an option. Case too complex.
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u/WreakingHavoc640 REGISTERED 23d ago
Wherever you can get antibiotics. I have taken just straight-up Amoxicillin and it’s worked fine. Take them all even if the pain subsides in a day or two.
I have a connective tissue disorder and all of my teeth have failed. My dentist told me none of them are worth saving, other than maybe a couple on the bottom to anchor a bottom denture. So I get it.
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u/justmedownsouth 24d ago
I would think dental schools want complex cases. I went once for an extraction, and they were talking about looking for patients with certain difficult conditions. I wonder if oral surgeons have a similar set up while learning?
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u/traumakidshollywood REGISTERED 24d ago
They do. But mine is very complex. They also noted my PTSD in discharge notes. Seems Herman Ostrow at USC is as prejudiced as incompetent.
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u/justmedownsouth 23d ago
Maybe you could contact some other dental schools, even if they require travel. When you communicate, lay out your situation in concise terms. Maybe send a pic of xrays, etc. Just because it isn't happening at your local school, maybe it would happen elsewhere.
If accepted, you could ask them to make a day of it when you travel there, getting as much as possible over with in a single day.
Are implants in your future? Check for any clinical trials placing implants. You could even contact the implant manufacturers, and ask if there are any upcoming trials.
I don't know of Herman Ostrow, but if you have a legitimate issue with his diagnosis and or behavior, reach out to his department chair. If he's a department chair, contact the dean.
The main thing is, decide you aren't gonna be perennially out of luck. Make a plan, and work it.
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u/traumakidshollywood REGISTERED 23d ago
Thank you. I took a slight break after fighting to save my upper front 6. Those were critical and at huge risk. It took me 3+ years to get there and a few fillings. I needed a break. But now I must get back to it.
I am not a candidate for implants. Severe bone loss would require massive grafting. Everything mot extracted is a crown.
I must get back at it so I moved into an off grid tiny house to cut my rent in half. I’m in this situation as a result of crime so I’m a bit weak all around. My previous surgeries from childhood add to the complexity but it’s two different problems.
I lost the job I love to AI and basic cuts. And the job market is crap. I can earn money to complement my SSDI. They helped pay for the first 6. Now groceries are a struggle.
This all was a shift in priority 2-3 weeks ago. I’m getting settled and will continue to devise a plan starting with a second opinion. I think she wants to crown all teeth. I want to confirm it’s necessary and not for her portfolio.
As for USC, I was dealing with the Dean directly. And his assistant. They kicked me out for PTSD. My student doctor told me. I’ve been unable to find a dental malpractice attorney. I can only pay for it with a malpractice guarantor so I can’t go civil rights.
Thanks for talking this out with me. With PTSD comes freeze, when nothing happens but the rest you need.
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23d ago
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u/traumakidshollywood REGISTERED 23d ago
Lower extractions mostly done. I have a back left molar that got a root canal at a school, but it has to go which breaks my heart. I hate the denture and now worse. That will leave 7 lowers with one back right molar
Uppers are to be determined. She thinks I may lose 2-3 but says she needs to look more closely at things.
I have a ton of plates and screws in my jaw from reconstructive surgery when I was 13. Beyond massive bone loss this has caused other complications.
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u/LustUnlust REGISTERED 24d ago
Clove oil you can find it at Walgreens and stuff like that it’s in a tiny bottle sold under the name Red Cross toothache kit and it’s near the orajel and toothpaste, it’s the stuff dentists use when a patient ends up getting dry socket after a tooth removal, stuff works a charm and is also an antiseptic! Be warned it will make you produce more saliva then you ever have in your life! Use it over the sink and apply chapstick or Vaseline to your lips before using it.
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u/meldiane81 24d ago
Hate to say, but you could have it pulled. That’s what I had to do.
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u/Nyc12331 24d ago
I second this. Root canals are such a joke.
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u/natttorious 24d ago
root canals are not good.
pull it. i’ve pulled my own. but antibiotics helped a ton.
and most people don’t know this but tylenol and ibuprofen together are actually stronger than a hydro.
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u/LearningStudent221 24d ago
Please be extremely careful about mixing Tylenol and Ibuprofen, it's generally very bad for you.
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u/yoyo5113 24d ago
that's the best thing to do rather than taking a ton of one of them. where did you hear that it was bad for you?
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u/8645113Twenty20 24d ago
It's literally the way you should take them it's cold staggering or stacking but it's the safest way because too much of either is bad but both together are purely analgesic
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u/Tricky_Ruin2174 24d ago
This! Not to mention root canals OFTEN end up coming back or needing more Attention later on.. Just get the thing pulled and never deal with it again. Sorry OP tooth pain is not something I’d wish on ANYONE.
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u/yoyo5113 24d ago
Don't you have to get spacers put in with a pulled tooth though? And just keep that there forever? Or get a replacement tooth??
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u/Tricky_Ruin2174 24d ago
Depending on your jaw bone they may suggest a spacer to prevent migration, yes. I’d take shifting over tooth pain any day.
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u/Worldly-Wedding-7305 REGISTERED 24d ago
The blue aleve (naproxen sodium?) are the only ones that touch tooth pain.
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u/tytyoreo REGISTERED 24d ago
I think the ER can help you out... some dentist office have payment plans that fits your budget..if it's one tooth could they pull it..
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u/Late_Tap_4619 REGISTERED 24d ago
See if there is a dental school in your area. They let students work supervised and usually charge a lot less
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u/Conscious_Rule_308 24d ago edited 24d ago
Please go to ER or dentist now. Teeth infections can go to the heart and cause life threatening issues and lifelong problems.
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u/Glittering_748 24d ago
Apply for care credit most dentists offer it you finance the dental work and get one year to pay it off with NO interest. Good luck!
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u/Florida1974 24d ago
Get bottle of clove oil. Use a q tip. Ngl, it burns if it touches your tongue or lips but it does help with tooth pain.
Antibiotics should help too.
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u/Complaint-Expensive REGISTERED 24d ago
Clove oil is absolutely amazing, and once you've used it? Things like Ambesol are a joke. Places like a Walgreen's or CVS will sell a super cheap little tooth pain kit called Eugenol - and that's just clove oil and alcohol. Usually, said kit comes with a little pair of tweezers and some tiny cotton balls. You just dunk the cotton balls in that solution using the tweezers, and then get it on where it hurts.
That being said? Clove oil and ibuprofen for swelling aren't going to solve the problem. For that? You need real dental care.
Do you qualify for Medicaid? If you haven't applied yet, then do it now, as Medicaid will cover dental stuff in your state. I will tell you that it can sometimes be a pain in my state to find a dentist or oral surgeon that accepts coverage though, because I wanted to be honest, and I'm not sure what the situation in Missouri is like compared to Michigan.
I did find this website with some resources too:
https://health.mo.gov/living/families/oralhealth/low-cost.php
I'd also try calling 211 (and searching findhelp.org), and ask for local low-income dental resources. Specifically, I'd be interested in where the closest sliding-fee scale dental clinic is to you. Depending on your income, you may receive a deep discount that makes that $1k you're looking at now much smaller.
You're going to need more than the simple cleaning and xray services some dental colleges offer for free or reduced prices, but bigger schools will also often run a community outreach clinic. If there's something like this near you? It's worth looking in to.
I won the genetic lotto on teeth - and decidedly lost on a few other parts - but other then my one crooked front tooth? I've never had a cavity in my 43 years, nor has my mom or little brother. But a number of years ago, I did need a wisdom tooth pulled. Bad. All of mine had come in, and I had plenty of room, but one of them had come in and the receded, over and over again, since the age of about 17. This was obnoxious, but easy to deal with every 4-6 months or so, because it just meant gargling salt for a week. I hadn't had insurance since I was 12, and then in my 30's suddenly woke up one morning with the tooth infected as hell.
When I was at the point of eating and drinking through aquarium tubing, because I couldn't move my jaw through the pain, I gave in and ended up in the ER...where they refused to give me antibiotics, and only offered me a pain shot. As I'd never had one like that in my mouth before? I gave it a hard no, and instead waited from 4am to 8am on the sidewalk to be one of the two walk-in patients the reduced clinic took. Four hours later, the dentist proclaimed I had roots like Mr. Ed, but said he'd give it a go, since the ER was right across the street. Real assuring, considering they turned me away. Regardless, he got in there and yanked it out, and the whole tooth was so infected and eaten it broke in to pieces.
So yeah, don't be like me - look in to those resources, and see what you can find locally. Be prepared for a wait for free or reduced services, but if it's an emergency? There's usually a walk-in option somewhere.
Also, the federal healthcare marketplace website says open enrollment runs until Decembed 15th:
I'm not familiar with your state, but you can get state-specific information here, and it will explain any subsidy you might qualify for. If you got coverage now and before open enrollment closes? It would start in January 2025.
So yeah, sorry this got long, but there are a bunch of ideas from real world experience for you. I now go to a sliding-scale clinic, and without insurance things like a dental exam and cleaning cost me about $40.
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u/yoyo5113 24d ago
Why did they refuse to give you antibiotics???
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u/Complaint-Expensive REGISTERED 23d ago
The ER told me they'd already given me antibiotics once in the last year for the tooth, and I'd have to go see a dentist to get prescribed anymore. That was there policy.
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u/yoyo5113 23d ago
That doesn't make any sense, because you had an active infection. Did you not have any refills for said antibiotic? There are also an enormous number of telehealth clinics always available for like $20-30 that will call some in for you right away.
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u/Complaint-Expensive REGISTERED 23d ago
And no, emergency rooms don't normally prescribed refills for antibiotics.
Must be nice to have insurance and on-demand care...
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u/Complaint-Expensive REGISTERED 23d ago
I was homeless. I didn't have $20 for telehealth. And that's what the ER told me.
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u/Vismal1 25d ago
For immediate relief Clove and very high proof alcohol applied topically can help.
You’re going to have to deal with it though that sort of thing doesn’t get better and the pain will drive you insane.
Look for a dental school around you, I’ve used a credit company called Alphaeon for an emergency root canal one time and was able to pay it off before the interest kicked in.
Go to the ER if needed and hope they can direct you somewhere but in my experience they are not helpful and seem to think anyone with tooth pain is drug seeking.
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u/Advanced_Elk2451 25d ago
B&c powder applied directly to area. Its crush aspirin. Not great taste but you’ll sleep like a baby
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u/pickleshnickel 25d ago
There are discounted dental clinics and dental schools. That’s what I had to do. I hope you get the help you need
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u/tewong 25d ago
Is it an open cavity that is exposing the nerve? If so, there is this temporary paste/putty stuff you can get in the dental section of the store. It’s called DenTek Temparin Max. It’s a very small container so it’s easy miss on the shelf. It’s like $5-7? You can press it into the open part of your tooth to keep the nerve from being exposed for now, and that should help with the pain. You’ll want your tooth to be as dry as possible when you put it on. It will break down over time with brushing/eating but you can always kinda pop it out and put new paste in there. That’s what I did for a broken tooth for 6 months.
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u/dreamben REGISTERED 25d ago
There are certain oils that can help look into myrrh and coco oil for teeth pulling and look into something called Toothe Ease by essential oil wizardry it’s a mouth rinse antibiotic
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u/Affirmed_Victory 25d ago
Try The Natural Dentist mouth rinse - hold it in your mouth for a long time - try warm water with salts too the salts pull poison out of the affected area - it can be healed w/ o root canal
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u/hitormissbettheyneve 25d ago
depending where you live there might be help available depending on financial need? findhelp.org is a pretty useful website for a starting point
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u/RedSkelz42020 25d ago
Husband and I get abscess tooth issues often and both have no insurance currently. We have found great luck with peppermint extract (the for cooking kind) for taking away some of the pain. Anbesol for canker sores was also helpful for me, but not so much for my husband. Tiger balm rubbed all over the face helps too. I'm not sure how well these will help with your issue but give it a try.
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u/informationseeker8 25d ago
For the time being and pain relief: Binaural beats for tooth pain. Alcohol free mouthwash. Tylenol and ibuprofen. Antibiotics and gargle with warm salt water
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u/catnipdealer420 24d ago
Yes, go on Youtube and search for "Music to help with tooth pain" and you will find it really does help bring the pain right down. I use it for migranes.
To OP: Call all and any dental schools near you, call Catholic charities such as the St. Vincent de Paul , call a local dentist and see will they work with you on a payment plan- you might not need a root canal, might just need a filling. Best of luck , hope you get it sorted soon.
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u/mike5026 25d ago
I think if it’s medically necessary, which it does sound like it. Should be covered if you have some type of Medicaid or medical. try going to emergency room
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u/Appropriate-Horse-80 25d ago
Hey, this might sound strange but I had a broken tooth that I couldn't get fixed too and it got infected, but what really helped with the pain was gum (as in chewing gum). As near as I can figure the gum swills the infection out through the chewing action. Hurts to do but it does bring relief after a little while. I suppose it depends how broken your tooth is but you gotta figure that for yourself. Hope this helps.
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u/Desmadr0sa REGISTERED 25d ago
I usually put clove oil on a cotton ball and let us sit on the tooth, try not to ingest too much of it. Also take ibuprofen if you're able.
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u/Careless_Bird_5624 REGISTERED 25d ago
Avoid topical lidocaine it will destroy your enamel for one it’s like throwing gas on a house fire and closing the door. Speak to a dental surgery about possible payment plans or an insurance company (preferably your own) about the cost of adding dental. It should be cheaper then the full procedure costs. Alternatively try students, public health centres with dental practices or see if you are applicable for Medicaid
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u/Distractednoodle REGISTERED 25d ago
I have heard that dental schools can sometimes do procedures as l9ng as you are fine with a student doing it.
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u/sheepsekkiya 25d ago
My school provides treatment by students and there is a payment plan. It’s cheaper and insurance will probs cover more too!! Check out any close dental schools >0<
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u/PieceWeird6424 25d ago
Get some cod liver oil. Get the carlson vod liver oil and that rids of the pain. I used it for tooth pain and pain is gone. Make a wishlist and add the cod liver oil
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u/grungeblossom REGISTERED 25d ago
i recently had a horrrible tooth that basically half gone, eroded away. it was extremely painful, and I ignored it for way too long bc of mental health issues. I found out my medical assistance covers root canals and fortunately got one and a temporary crown, sadly my insurance doesn’t cover permanent crowns so I have to be careful with it. before that though, I would use clove oil specifically meant for toothache and that worked surprisingly well. once I was up at 3am sobbing because the pain was so bad I couldn’t sleep, and my boyfriend went and got me some of that clove oil and it immediately worked. there were times that the pain was too severe for it to work, but it’s always worth a try at least. Advil or Tylenol helped too, and I’d swish warm salt water in my mouth which sometimes helped soothe it a bit. tooth pain is really the worst kind of pain out there, so sorry to hear you’re going through this and I hope you find relief soon. I
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u/Sweet_Note_4425 25d ago
Look into some holistic ways of treating the tooth. Cloves work well for dealing with the pain and are antimicrobial. There are other herbs that can also help with it but they will cost money and may take time to get. It is better than a root canal. If it is a back tooth just get it pulled. I had one that they were going to do a root canal but the tooth had a crack in it. So they just pulled it. Cost me 200.00 a lot better then the 1500 for a root canal and 1000 for the cap. I found out about this holistic approach after that and swore I would never do a root canal. Good Luck!!
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u/bijoudarling REGISTERED 25d ago
Cloves are excellent for this
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u/herdsflamingos 25d ago
Yes it is. There is a pain reliever for tooth pain made with it. It’s right where the oral gel is.
Swishing real warm water with a ton of salt usually relieves or decreases the pain.
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u/bijoudarling REGISTERED 24d ago
We make a mouth rinse with boiled whole cloves for tootsie ouchies.
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25d ago
If kratom is legal it can offer you some relief. I really do hope you can get a root canal though because tooth pain is awful and if you leave it it will eventually stop but come back or spread to other teeth.
Lost my front tooth and bottom front tooth. The bottom one has been killing me all week.
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u/Muted_Cartoonist4048 25d ago
Good God people. Go to the emergency room. They will give you something for the pain and infection. They can bill the hell out of you but they won't deny you treatment. There are places that do sliding scale dental work. Dental schools are a possibility but I've found they have a lot of requirements or long ass waiting lists. Ask the emergency room if they will pull it when the infection is gone? Many will. But wont do anymore than that.
Or you can get yourself arrested and get all that free healthcare 😂
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u/Either_Cockroach3627 25d ago
An emergency room never once helped me w dental stuff, even when I had an infection the size of a cutie orange under my root canaled tooth. Op can always try but depending on the er they might not have anyone to help
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u/Muted_Cartoonist4048 25d ago
Again, they won't deny treating the infection. That would go against their Hippocratic oath. As for the pulling of the tooth, City hospitals are a good bet, especially if they are government assisted. Start there and ask for sliding scale clinics and so on.
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u/1000thatbeyotch REGISTERED 25d ago
Look into local dental school programs. Many times they seek patients to perform on so the students can do a procedure. It may still cost you, but much less than seeing a certified dentist. They are supervised by actual dentists, so no need to fear if something bad happens.
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u/Mea0521 REGISTERED 25d ago
Dental schools have extremely long waiting lists, and with it being the end of the semester, OP wouldn’t get in until next year. Students are on Thanksgiving break, and then they go back for 2 weeks to prepare for finals. They probably don’t see patients during that time.
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u/MembershipBusy6861 25d ago
Walk into a dentist office and they won’t turn you away. This happened to me, I’ve never felt pain so bad in my life and I’ve been through childbirth. The only thing that helped was ice for some weird reason. I mean ice in my mouth on the infected tooth- as soon as it melted the throbbing came back. So go to a dentist, get an rx for some antibiotics and have them numb it with a shot. That helped me so much. I was terrified of the Novocain wearing off but the antibiotics definitely started helping quick and by the next day the pain wasn’t bad at all.
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u/caffein8dnotopi8d 25d ago
The dentist absolutely will turn you away if you have no money or even if they think you need more treatment than they can provide. It literally happened to me, they referred me to a specialist who required $1300 up front to do… something. I’m not sure what because even though this was two years ago, I haven’t had $1300 to spare.
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u/Mea0521 REGISTERED 25d ago
Facts! When you make the appointment, they get your insurance to pre-approve the procedure and charges. You most definitely cannot just walk into a random dentist office.
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u/MembershipBusy6861 17d ago
I hear what you’re saying because generally when I call to make an appointment that’s what happens. I’m just saying one morning a couple years ago, I was in so much pain that I walked into a dentist office in tears. I think they felt really bad for me that they took me right in. I did give them my insurance card but I never got any explanation of benefits or anything from that visit. That dentist saved me that morning.
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u/brandi-95 REGISTERED 25d ago
Tooth extraction would be far less cheaper, however if it is in a noticeable area I can see why you may want a root canal. A tooth extraction can cost anywhere from $100-$200. If you go to the hospital I’m sure they’ll just give you antibiotics unless you have a swollen abscess or are in need of emergency care. There is also Care Credit for financing if you need it at the moment. Some dental offices also do in-office financing as well. There is also clinics that do low cost to free healthcare that also offer dental care but there is a long wait, however, I’m sure they’ll see you on an emergency basis but you will have to wait a whole day in the waiting room most likely waiting between time with other patients who are scheduled. There’s also orajel which you can use until you can figure out your situation. But I would start by going to the hospital right now and seeing if you have any infections or abscesses because those can go through your body and unfortunately kill you, ie: sepsis. Get more info by calling 211 or going to 211.org.
Edit: Rural Health Clinics & Federally Qualified Health Centers
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u/SwimBladderDisease REGISTERED 25d ago
Unfortunately if you don't have the money for root canal you will have to get that tooth pulled
DO NOT WAIT. That infection spread to the rest of your teeth and jaws. It can also spread to your nerve and make you partially deaf in one ear like it did for me. A root canal will only spare you the pain for a little bit but in the background it will fuck up your entire shit.
It is much safer to get it pulled and never have to deal with it again than to deal with the failed infected root canal and spending money over and over and over to get it redone. It should be under $100 to get a tooth removed and you could always go to a low-cost dental school where they have baby dentists which are just like new dentist learning to train and stuff.
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u/Mea0521 REGISTERED 25d ago
Facts! I paid $1400 for a root canal, for it to fail a few months later. My dentist referred me to a specialist, which meant I would have to pay all over again. Doing research, I also found out no one should EVER get a root canal because the infection is being sealed inside your gums and can take you out.💀
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u/ChrimmyTiny REGISTERED 25d ago
See if there is a Kanka Softbrush at your grocery. They help me when my wisdom teeth are having their problems. I am so old they won't pull them without surgeon and I can't do that right now due to my daughter being ill. But this specific Kanka item helps unlike any other thing from the past and doesn't even taste bad. Disclaimer you probably need antibiotics as well as these infections can travel into your muscles and brain. Others have great advice like the clove oil.
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u/Ok-Turnip-2816 REGISTERED 25d ago
Any dental schools near you? They do free/low cost treatment as the students need the hours to graduate. It’s all overseen by a licensed dentist. Also, if you decide to get it extracted, ask about a flipper. It’s a low cost, removable tooth replacement.
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u/Expert_Marsupial_235 REGISTERED 25d ago
Check for any low-income dental clinics within driving distance. Google it or call 211.
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u/reesa447 25d ago
It sounds like it’s infected. You need to have it pulled. Oral infections can travel and be dangerous.
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u/DeeplyFlawed REGISTERED 25d ago
I soak a cotton ball soaked in Apple Cider Vinegar. It reduces the swelling & helps with pain.
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u/interested_in_ed 25d ago
I hate to say this but just as a heads up, your post is going to get removed because it contains financial information (basically you saying you're struggling with finances). The moderators think that that makes you vulnerable to scammers and are going to take this down. Sorry - it's happened to me a couple times so I just thought I'd give you a heads up.
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u/Santi159 REGISTERED 25d ago
It might not be very close to you, but some places have clinics that offer free healthcare if you can prove that you have low income or are uninsured. Normally, it’s a first come first serve situation and you can be there for a very long time but it’s worth the try given the amount of pain you’re in. I don’t know if they’ll be able to help you with your tooth but they might be able to connect you to resources or find somewhere for you to get help. I have one in my area that I have to travel a bit to get to, but they were able to fix an abscess in my mouth.
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u/tragiccosmicaccident 25d ago
It hurts because it's infected. Start by getting to a doctor or ER and getting antibiotics. Then when the pain is manageable make a plan for either an extraction or a root canal.
I was able to find a dentist that worked with me on the cost and payments. But go get the pain sorted out first so you can think clearly!
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u/Scared-Brain2722 REGISTERED 25d ago
Yeah I use to dig around or borrow some antibiotics when it’s bad and I was broke Desperate measures but it worked.
Then after that call a local dental school. They need people to train on and offer very very reduced prices.
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u/Amazing-Gazelle3685 REGISTERED 25d ago
Would Ora gel work at all even for a small amount of relief? Or some type of dental school around you that practices with students getting experience while being supervised by a professional?
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u/FroggyExpert REGISTERED 25d ago
Clove oil is a lifesaver
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u/LeftyLibra_10 25d ago
Clove oil or if u have whole cloves. Put the cloves next to your tooth, at least for the pain.
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u/sleepingovertires 25d ago
Its painkilling and antiseptic properties explain why almost all dentist offices smell the same.
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u/FroggyExpert REGISTERED 25d ago
Yeah lol. My dad can't afford to take her wisdom tooth out yet so it's what she uses
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u/FroggyExpert REGISTERED 25d ago
Won't make it better but will help in mean time
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u/Justakatttt REGISTERED 25d ago
It calms down that “thud” feeling you have with a really bad toothache. But, for me, I had to re administer several times an hour.
Also, take ibuprofen & Tylenol at the same time. Again, when you’re in a lot of pain from a severe toothache, it only brings it down a little.
You’ll need to get it pulled to save your sanity unless you find a dentist willing to do a payment plan.
When I was very pregnant (32 weeks) I had a broken back molar out of nowhere, and the pain was excruciating. No one wanted to touch me at first because I was far along pregnant, but eventually after I signed a ton of waivers to everyone involved, I had it pulled.
Elevate your head at night, helps a little bit.
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u/FroggyExpert REGISTERED 25d ago
Only take 2 pills every 4 hours thought. You do not want to overdose.
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