How long until antibiotics start to relieve pain of tooth infection?

At least 24 hours. You can call your dentist, it is their job. I don't think they will think you are a junkie, especially with a tooth that is abcessed. Maybe they can give you a stronger pain pill. If you don't call, your dentist will think everything is ok and you are comfortable, you are not. GOOD LUCK!

Alternating hot and cold compresses on your face works wonders. I am experiencing the same problem right now. Usually, the cold pack makes the pain completely subside, other times, the heat feels better. The pain I am getting is very sharp. It begins at my temple and goes all the way down to the jaw. It is excruciating beyond belief! Thankfully, the pain goes away within 3-5 minutes. There is also pain throughout my sinuses, from the eye brows to my cheek bones. It helps tremendously when I lay down and use the hot and cold packs until the pain is gone. Sometimes I use a hot or very warm wet wash cloth (heated in the microwave) on my sinuses, while using a cold pack from the temple to and including the jaw.

Mono does mimic symptoms of a severe cold, and it's often hard to tell the difference between the two without the benefit of a specific blood test. You don't necessarily have to have kissed someone to get mono, sharing a glass or kitchen utensils that have not been washed properly also puts you at risk of contracting the infection. If you want to make sure, go see your GP and get a blood test done.

I would think that you would be on tylenol/codiene or hydrocone instead of Motrin for the pain . Motrin is for inflammation, tylenol is for pain. Motrin will eventually work but it takes time as far as pain is concerned. I've never heard of Lortab before. You could look it up at mayoclinic.com. You could try Anbesol instead of oragel.