Before and after my root canal, my doctor prescribed Tylenol 3, which is just a big dose of acetaminophen (600 mg) and a small dose of codeine. It helped… a little. I think I had to wait for two weeks to get the root canal. So I have been through something similar. Tell you wife she has my sympathy.

I think another medication that people commonly use for dental pain is Vicodin, but I didn't try that one around my root canal. It probably just takes the edge off anyway. Pain is still pain.

Pete... have you tried oil of clove for a topical on the toothache?

Pain is what reminds you that you're still alive.

Thinking it's just Tylenol, people have died taking an overdose. I prefer low level pain.

I use bandannas as a face mask in lower temps. A muffler can work if it is long enough to cover the neck and face.

Did not try clove oil. But i am VERY curious about whether that would have worked. I actually looked in the spice section of the supermarket, but no cloves or clove oil. Just ground cloves.

What did help some ... Was extra strength OraJell. It comes in regular and extra strength. It is definitely worth having some OraJell in the meds of the EDC kit

I understand peoples' reluctance to use meds on low level pain. But this incident wasn't a minor toothache. This is the most pain wife has ever experienced ... Higher than in childbirth. I will trust her judgment on this one. When a tooth goes really wrong ... Its a big problem. The nerves are wired right into the brain (or pretty close ... Hahaha!!).

If you can get a hold of a few pills that cut the effects of severe pain, keep them and put them in your EDC kit. It could be a life saver the day you need them. I am not talking about Tylenol ... You need something better. Just don't quote me on that. :-)

Cheers, Pete

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If your wife is experiencing such level of pain, clove oil would have done bupkes. I've tried it. For low level pain, maybe. But for high level pain? I probably wouldn't bother. Childbirth… sheeesh!

I feel for your wife. I had a dental emergency of my own in the Spring, that took a couple of days to be able to resolve, and I can honestly say that the pain rivaled childbirth. Only good prescription drugs touched it, and only two extractions finally relieved the pain. Ice, tylenol and ibuprophane, and lots of rest until you can get something stronger.

Finally got the bad tooth in my wife's mouth pulled by an emergency dentist. It took two days to solve that problem in a major winter storm. That was a very long 48 hours for my wife. Thanks for all the good wishes.

Pete

My EDC/Travel FAK has a dental aid component approved by my dentist cousin. It includes a commercial Dent Temp solution to reattach a cap or replace a filling, tiny bottle of oil of cloves, dental wax, small sterile case for a knocked out tooth, tiny cotton balls ( filler) , extra strength Oragel, prescription ampicillin (for abscesses) and prescription pain meds. Not perfect, but really small and it covers all a civilian is capable to handle. I also always have floss or floss typebrushes.

The extra strength OraJell is helpful. You can also get ice from the hotel, which helps reduce swelling of inflamed tissues. A small ziplocbag is handy for applying the ice to the inside of your mouth.

None of these remedies will handle a major emergency with a bad tooth. But they might be OK for small problems. For a major emergency you will need prescription meds using Ibuprofen and coedine. Even these are only partially helpful.

The best solution is to cancel travel if you feel a toothache coming on. Dont try to tough it out. Serious tooth pain isone ofthe most difficult types of pain to control effectively.

Good luck,
Pete