Decaying tooth, Someone PLEASE help me

[bev1234]

I have a tooth that had a bad cavity a couple years ago and has since. I left it alone until now (I know this was wrong so please don't tell me this) but anyways, this past summer it broke off and has since broken off//decayed completely up into my gums. (The roots of the tooth are still up there) it hurts sometimes and especially when I get food or sugary drinks up in the hole. I have had an infected tooth and this one hurts nowhere close to that one. I have an appointment on January 31st but I am terrified something will happen before then such as an infection spreading to my brain or jaw tissue. Someone, anyone please help me!!! Should I rush to the emergency room or is it okay to wait 2 more weeks for my appointment? Like I said there is not severe pain, just a little that comes and goes, no swelling either. Just a hole with part of my tooth still in it. Please please help me I am scared for my life.

[bev1234]

There's also a little pain in my neck. Not sure if its tooth related. And have another tooth, no cavity on it but it is hurting. Please someone give me some reassurance or advice on whether or not I can wait 2 weeks or not. Please reply.

[LindaRK]

Did you relay all of this information to your dentist?  I would ask your dentist if they feel you should be on antibiotics right now, prior to your appointment.

I've had lots and lots of dental issues.  Sounds like you might have to have a root canal or maybe an extraction.  Not a big deal really.  I've had both.  Sedation dentistry works wonders for people with dental anxiety. 

[bev1234]

I've been to the dentist for a couple of other problems not related to this particular tooth. I have a pre-surgery appointment just to be evaluated (since its been a year since I've been to the dentist) and they said after that I will be able to have my wisdom teeth and the one that is decaying extracted. I'm just so worried that something will happen before my appointment. Thanks so much for your response

[miika]

as a dentist scared myself, I have an appointment, finally, 30st january(not seen one in 12 years). 2 weeks, scared to death already. few bad teeth, but one similar to yours I guess. Hurts on and off (hurts right now) i`m totally obsessed about it! Scared to death of really bad tooth pain or something. but I would say if no really bad pain or anything it`s ok to wait couple of more weeks.

also having all kinds of pains in face, neck etc. But I believe it`s just about thinking about the damn tooth and tension in face, neck, whatever....

[bev1234]

Thanks so much for that answer. It honestly made me feel better. I'm trying to tell myself that I would have a lot worse pain if I needed to worry. Because like I said I have had an infected tooth before this one and the pain was unbearable. And this one is nowhere close to feeling that bad. So that does give me peace about it. I hope that your appointment goes well and everything gets taken care of. Let me know how it goes and thanks again for your reply!

[miika]

yeah I guess, like my wife keeps saying....you know when you have to go (never had any severe tooth pain myself, just this annoying feeling)

[bev1234]

Yeah absolutely. With my last one I KNEW I had to get it out right then. I was sick for days, getting dizzy and everything. Knowing my body would warn me before it gets too bad definitely calms me down

[Hohum]

I just went to a new dentist today so this seems appropriate!

I won't bore you with the details of my dental history as it's fairly long and involved, however I've had three teeth over the years which were infected and I did not get fixed for a long time. Due to HA and dental fear I did not see a dentist for 11 years (from 15 to 26).

Two front teeth with really extensive infection which had pretty much eroded the upper jaw bone, and a back-right molar (sounds very similar to yours) which I let decay and become more infected for over 4 years. My mouth was a real mess. Fortunately I have spent the last 6 years getting over my dental fears and have pretty good teeth now! Actually at the point where I can start to cosmetically improve them rather than spending my insurance on structural stuff :)

Anyway my point is that I doubt your infection will spread up into the brain or anything like that in 2 weeks. I hauled my infected teeth around with me for almost 20 years! My molar abscessed when the infection got really bad and my old dentist (a lady with kids) said the pain is comparable to childbirth. Can't comment on that, but I can tell you that a badly abscessed tooth was by far the most painful thing I have ever experienced, so if it was that bad, you would be in no doubt!

Good luck at your appointment, it'll be here before you know it!

[bev1234]

I can't thank you enough for that response. I've been worrying literally non-stop over my teeth. I wish I had taken care of them sooner before they got so bad but i'm excited to finally fix all of this. Besides the one I mentioned, I also have one more tooth that is decayed past the gum line (never hurts and isnt my main worry so I didn't mention it), one tooth with a bad cavity (also doesn't hurt and isn't my main worry so didn't mention it) and 3 wisdom teeth, all of which in getting extracted when I have my surgery. I literally worry all day every single day about whether or not something horrible will happen because of how long I've had them rotting away in my mouth. It's been about 5 years since the cavities got really bad and the teeth actually began decaying away. So I just worry non-stop that my jaw bone is being eaten away and causing damage that will harm me. I'm afraid of surgery and dentist stuff but I have never been so excited to just be rid of these things once and for all. But anyways, your reply has eased my worries so so much. I really appreciate it.

[ejmommy]

Ok I'm a dental hygienist and I see this kind of thing all the time. I've never seen it spread to the jaw or brain or anything like that. I think that's the anxiety talking! (Believe me, I understand that too) We have people coming in who have been way longer than you, with worse issues than that. You will be fine. Let them know you would like to be called to get in sooner in the event of a cancellation if you'd like.

[bev1234]

Okay thank you so much for your response. Especially since you are actually a dental hygentist and have knowledge on this stuff. So in your opinion you don't think the infection could spread faster because of the fact that the tooth is decayed all the way up into my gums. Basically none of the tooth is visible anymore and there's a hole that is pretty deep now. Your advice is so helpful I just want to stress how bad the tooth is

[ejmommy]

Of course I can't offer any kind of diagnosis without seeing it and you will likely need an xray because if there is an infection, it is likely at the root of the tooth (don't panic, that's where infection usually is if the tooth is abscessed). It could also be the case that the tooth isn't infected, just the gum tissue surrounding what's left. It may not even be infected per se, it could just be chronically irritated from food and such getting stuck in there. There are a lot of possibilities.

You should be fine to wait for your appointment especially considering you said it isn't causing too much pain. As I said, you could always call and tell them you want to get in sooner if there is a cancellation or any chance for that. Also, depending on where you live there may be an emergency dental clinic that takes walk ins that you could see sooner if you don't think you want to wait.

[Borisbmx]

 What i would do and what i actually do      1)   fix a coffee cup of  salt water  and rinse the mouth out a few times a day~ reduces bacteria  2)  water pik the spot and entire mouth ~ pressure clean the gums   3)   simmer  Horsetail leaf tea 10 minutes and  drink to  rebuild enamal   4)  take bottled cod liver oil and grass fed butter aka ghee to rebuild dentine.   5)  improve the diet and  avoid/minimize  the  ice cream and other sugary bacteria growing foods.    It works  so  good!  I have been able to skip a root canal for  2.5 years.

[bev1234]

Thanks for both of those responses. I'm counting down the days until my appointment. I really hope it's okay to wait that long. I'm so worried that if those teeth are infected then it will spread to my other healthy teeth and infect them and then they'll decay as well. Maybe that's am irrational fear but i'm going insane with worry. I just can't wait til they're out for good and then I can have my healthy teeth to take care of without all this stress and worry. Also thanks for the tips. I hadn't heard of that tea but I will definitely try that out! I try to stay away from sugary things right now. And I've heard the salt water is good for infections and I've used it a little, need to more

[bev1234]

For anyone who has already responded to this post or if you read this post and have any opinions: i'm starting to worry about what they might find at my appointment. I'm so scared that my tooth that's up in my gums has ate away at my jawbone. If so, how is that treated? What happens when your jawbone has been eroded? I don't know what to expect. Also, i'm so scared that there could be infection all over my mouth.. Maybe that's irrational but in afraid of losing all my teeth due to this. Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

[Always-scared]

Hi Bev,

I couldn't not read your post and not reply!

I go to the Dentist all the time.. I love my Dentist and there was once was a time that my Dentist had to tell me that I couldn't come back for some time as there was nothing wrong with my teeth... I like having my teeth in good condition and hate the thought of anything being wrong with them...

I was even at the Dentist to get a filling replaced while I was in labour - but I couldn't go through with it as I had to be taken straight to the Maternity Hospital...

Anyway what I want to say is - STOP WORRYING!!! Honestly you have an infected decayed tooth - that should have really been treated before now - but it hasn't - NO BIG DEAL! Nothing bad is going to happen from now to the appointment.

When you get to the Dentist - you'll have nothing more serious to be worrying about apart from the Dentist looking at your teeth and gum and making sure that no other teeth are infected or that your gums are infected etc...

And if the worst case scenario happens and your other tooth is affected by your decayed tooth or your gum is infected - he will give you antibiotics.

NOTHING ELSE BAD can happen to you because of this!

Relax yourself... You'll be fine x

[bev1234]

Thank you so much for responding. That does make logical sense that when I get the teeth out that there will be nothing further to worry about. I just can't help worrying that they'll find something major or that the infection has already spread to the point of no return. Ahh it drives me insane worrying about it non-stop. Only a few days left until my appointment and I cannot wait!! I'm just ready for this all to be over. Although y appointment on the 31st is a pre-surgery appointment and the teeth won't actually be taken out until about a week after. But I know on that day they would tell me if the infection has spread. But you're rigt and thank you so so much for replying.

[bev1234]

I am having so much anxiety right now about this problem with my teeth. If you happen to read this soon and replied to me already or even if you are reading it for the first time- please offer me some logical advice. Even if it is not what I want to hear, just please tell me the truth. My tooth (up in my gums) had been hurting all day long. Again, this pain is nowhere close to the pain of the infected tooth I once had, but it is hurting. I am so incredibly terrified and I feel like i'm going to have a breakdown or panic attack or something over this tonight. My heart is racing and i am absolutely terrified. My appointment is only 7 days away now. But even after ten I have to wait about a week I have the teeth actually removed. I have never been so scared about this particular problem. What if the infection has already spread to my blood or to my other teeth? What if the infection is already put of control and can't be fixed. What ifs teeth kill me beforehand appointment? I can't stop thinki or panicking over this. Please help me!

[ejmommy]

Once again, it doesn't spread like that to other teeth etc. If it had gotten into your bloodstream, you would know because you would be quite sick. This would be very very rare anyway. If you are that upset about it, call in the morning and ask them to call you in an antibiotic. They may or may not do it since they haven't actually seen you to assess whether it's actually an infection. And ask about getting in sooner. If it was that serious, they wouldn't have put it off like that. You have got to calm down. You will be fine.

[Hohum]

Your tooth infection is not going to spread to your brain in 7 days. It's incredibly rare for tooth infection to spread anywhere anyway. You're likely just remembering some horror story you once read about and applying it to your situation.

It's only natural that your decayed tooth will hurt. It doesn't mean that there's anything to be concerned about, just that the nerves are exposed.

[bev1234]

My biggest concern with that is that it won't be that it's infected for 7 days. Its been much longer before now, I've had this tooth decaying in my mouth for years now. Literally years. And I agree about how I would know if it were in my bloodstream because I would get very sick first. I didn't know it wasn't possible for it to spread to other teeth, I've always heard that it could and would. I don't mean to be irrational, I just feel like I can't rest or be calm until these are out of my mouth for good. It scares me so bad. And I know te dentist wouldn't make me wait that long if it were that bad but they dont really know how bad it is. I haven't been in so long.

[LindaRK]

Bev - take a deep breath.  This is getting way out of control.  Dental anxiety is pretty common - you're not alone here.

I must say - if, indeed there is some sort of infection and it by chance has eaten away at your bone - it can be fixed.  Been there, done that.  They actually use cadaver bone (I know sounds gross) and can fix you right up.  It works like a charm.

[ejmommy]

Ok I should say it potentially "can" happen.  But I have never seen it happen, and I see what you are describing literally almost every day. Please just give them a call in the morning and explain what is going on exactly. They can decide if you need an antibiotic before the appointment, or if you should come in sooner. There is nothing else you can do at this point.

[bev1234]

Thank you both for your replies to my post. I know I really do need to just calm down and wait for my appointment. It's just hard. Another question- I ha a tooth pulled in October, obviously the one I still have was very damaged at the time as well. Do you guys think if it was bad enough that the infection would have showed up on my X-rays and stuff? It wasn't this bad in October but it wa definitely getting there.