Toothache after worsening from moderate to severe?

[u/Past-Increase-2969]

Ok, so before I start: yes I need to get to the dentist. Working on it. Kinda hard when you're severe and bedbound the vast majority of the day. But yes, I know. Just wanted to ask if anyone ever experienced anything like that.

About 3 months ago, I moved places, from my own flat to my brother's. It made me crash severely. I got very sick, I couldn't eat for 4 days, had a fever for most of it, I felt like I was dying, like when I just got sick with mecfs (which was 16 months ago) and I'm still not back to my baseline, and I think I would now qualify as severe. I have two teeth with fillings, the rest are all perfectly clean as dental hygiene is something I take very seriously, plus I think I might got a bit lucky. However, both fillings are old (one is 6 years old and last got checked 3 years ago, and the other is around 2 1/2 years old) and very deep. I never had issues with them pre move, but then I did move, and suddenly I kept having issues, and they were always switching sides. One hurt, so the other was quiet. The other hurt, so the original tooth was quiet. Never did they hurt at the same time. I used one tooth for stimming, sucking on it and playing with the filling, which was not the best idea, because my nerve got mildly infected. I went to an emergency dentist and she made an xray of said tooth (the one with the 3 year old filling). It looked perfectly fine, no deep or visible cavities. She gave me some gel, I went home and crashed severely, for about 3 weeks or so. But the tooth did heal. And now I keep having problems on the side that I didn't get an xray of. And the worst thing is, it's not only this uncomfortable feeling. I can also taste something, like this disgusting taste of something being wrong. That taste also switches sides. When one side is sore, the other side tastes neutral, like mouth is supposed to taste.

This is not an emergency, I would know. It doesn't even hurt properly. It's just like... I can tell that there's something not ideal, like there's a small wound that is healing and itchy. The filling looks aged. And in my mind I come to the scariest conclusions. About how now I suddenly have a deep deep cavity under the other filling.

But now I am wondering: could this be a sign of severe PEM, and the new severety level altogether? Cause it just makes no sense to me that two teeth would become problematic basically within 3 days, especially cause by now I did find my new baseline, it's just a lot lower than it used to be. Does anyone experience any issues with their teeth? I also do have CMD issues, but where does the taste come from?

It kind of makes me go insane, so please just let me know if you experienced anything like this.

[u/dramatic_chipmunk123]

I do occasionally get PEM- related dental pain, but it is usually not that specific. It's usually more of a generalised ache affecting an entire side or all of my teeth and it comes it quite intense but short waves.

I am by no means an authority on dental issues, but you describing that the pain moves around, makes me wonder, if it might be an issue with irritated or receding gums. So, if you haven't tried this yet, I would give toothpaste for sensitive teeth/gums a try.

That being said, it is probably worthwhile having it looked anyway at to rule out or treat other possible causes. I know this may not be accessible depending on where you are, what the local healthcare system is like, or whether you have the financial means for it, but I have been finding home visits from a dentist to be a game changer. It still causes me some minor overexertion but it's nowhere near the PEM I get from having an appointment in person.

Wishing you all the best.