A toothache rarely starts as a toothache. It starts as a twinge you decide to ignore, a flicker when the ice cream hits, a dull throb you blame on a busy week.
What is usually behind the pain
Tooth decay is the most common culprit. Once a cavity reaches the dentine beneath the enamel, the tooth starts complaining. Other regulars include a cracked tooth or lost filling, an abscess (an infection at the root or in the gum), gum disease, erupting wisdom teeth and plain sensitivity. Occasionally the teeth are innocent altogether, and a blocked sinus makes the whole upper jaw ache. Because each cause needs a different treatment, anything from a simple filling to root canal treatment, an examination and usually an X-ray are the only reliable way to tell them apart.
Easing toothache at home
A word of caution before the list: nothing here treats the cause. Painkillers mute the alarm, they do not put out the fire. These measures buy comfort while you wait for an appointment, and that is all they are for.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen, following the packet instructions. Swallow them with water. Never hold an aspirin against the gum, as it burns the tissue.
- Rinse with warm salt water to soothe the area and keep it clean.
- Floss gently around the sore tooth. A trapped shred of food is a surprisingly frequent villain.
- Hold a cold compress against your cheek if there is any swelling.
- Avoid very hot, cold or sugary food and drink, and chew on the other side.
If the pain settles completely, still book a check-up. Whatever caused it is usually still there, quietly working.
When toothache becomes urgent
Call us the same day if the pain wakes you at night, has lasted more than two days, or does not ease with painkillers. Do the same for a swollen face or jaw, a fever, a bad taste in the mouth that suggests pus, or a sharp stab whenever you bite down. These signs point towards infection or a crack, and both get worse on their own. If swelling ever makes it difficult to swallow or breathe, that is beyond a dentist. Go straight to A&E. If pain strikes outside our opening hours, phone 111 for the NHS out of hours service.
See a dentist in Cheltenham
Our reception team will do their best to fit urgent problems in quickly, and you do not need to be registered with us. We help non-patients whenever availability allows. Call 01242 523531, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. For the wider picture, including knocked-out and broken teeth, read our full guide, Emergency Dentist in Cheltenham: What to Do in a Dental Emergency. Most toothaches we see turn out to be very fixable, and catching them early usually means a smaller filling, a shorter appointment and a smaller bill.
Written by Dr Jakub Wojcicki,
Dentist at Oriel Villas Dental Surgery
(GDC No. 84982)