Toothache has a way of arriving at night or on a holiday. While you arrange to see a dentist, here is how to stay comfortable and avoid making things worse.
Steps to ease the pain
- Rinse your mouth with warm water or a warm salt-water rinse to clear debris.
- Gently floss around the sore tooth in case food is stuck.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for about 15 minutes at a time.
- Take a simple pain reliever if you are able to, exactly as directed on the pack. If you have other medical conditions, allergies or are pregnant, check with a pharmacist or doctor first.
- Keep your head raised when lying down, which can lessen throbbing.
- Avoid very hot, cold, sweet or hard foods and chew on the other side.
What not to do
- Do not put an aspirin tablet against the gum; it can burn the tissue.
- Do not apply heat to a swollen cheek.
- Do not ignore it because the pain has stopped; that can mean the nerve has died.
- Do not take leftover antibiotics without advice.
Common causes of toothache
A deep cavity, a cracked tooth, an infected nerve, a gum abscess, a food trap between teeth, an erupting wisdom tooth or even a sinus problem can cause a toothache. Which one depends on the type of pain: sharp with cold may be sensitivity; throbbing, spontaneous and lingering usually points to nerve inflammation. See signs you may need a root canal.
Get help the same day if you have
- Swelling of the face, jaw or neck
- Fever or feeling unwell
- Difficulty swallowing, opening your mouth or breathing
- Pain that is severe and not settling with medication
- Injury to the tooth or jaw
These can be signs of a spreading infection. Read more in dental emergencies: what to do, or call us for emergency dental care.
What the dentist will do
We will examine the tooth, take an X-ray if needed and treat the cause: a filling, a root canal, a crown, drainage of infection or an extraction. The sooner you come, the simpler the treatment usually is.