When I needed a root canal, only thing that sorta worked was more advil than is safe and always keeping something cold in or on my teeth. I'd put a call into your dentist now; they may have an emergency set up (mine did and I didn't know it, but they'd call in a prescription for anti-bs and painkillers even if they can't see you that day.)

For my hotspot tooth (it's a weird nerve thing, the tooth is fine) my dentist recommends putting a blob of the sensitive-tooth toothpaste on it for a bit when it flares. It seems to work ok.

Fair warning, I found that the oragel-y tooth pain stuff you can get at the grocery store? Fired the pain through the fucking roof before it did any good, and I don't think it did much good, it was just the difference between HOLYFUCKLAMAZEBREATHENOW and OWWW was "better."

Liese, I loved the "house likes carrots" posts. Thanks for the reminder!

Right?

We talk about what's freaking us out and and consuming us and obsessing us and interesting us. And then we talk about it again. And then other people talk about it, and then we talk about it more.

We're a community. It's what we do.

That is freaky about your water, Liese. Glad you are all prepared! Boiling would make it safe, though I can see where there might be a residual ick factor.

Oragel has been my friend on occasion, though even when it works it doesn't seem to last very long.

Apply an OTC antiseptic containing benzocaine directly to the irritated tooth and gum to temporarily relieve pain.

Anbesol works pretty well. If it's pain from a gum infection, swishing warm salt water or half peroxide/half water can help.

I'm loving the Sarameg house saga.

Wine also works for a tootheache! But don't take it with narcotics or anything.

Wouldn't any kind of medical office have some kind of emergency set up? Even if it's just, "Call these people"? I just called my dentist's office, and they gave a number for a service on their voicemail message. Not sure what would happen if I call them, but it sounds like it would at least be a person.

At least two of my doctors have "If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911" on their messages. With no number to call if it's an emergency that requires that particular doctor, which was a huge pain once when I needed a medication refilled before I went out of the country for two weeks, and he wasn't returning repeated calls and emails.

My dentist gives out her or her partners' cell #s on their answering service.

My dentist has an emergency call in number, for middle of the night toothaches and so on. Even if they can't see you, they'll prescribe mild painkillers like Tylenol-3, in my experience.