Contents:
- Why toothache occurs
- What to do when a tooth hurts
- Tooth pain after a filling: when it is normal
- Acute toothache: when emergency care is needed
When a tooth starts to hurt, the first desire is to relieve the condition as quickly as possible. It is especially difficult if the discomfort intensifies in the evening, interferes with eating or sleeping, and it is not possible to see a dentist immediately. However, toothache should not be tolerated for a long time or constantly suppressed with tablets.
Before the examination, you can take several simple steps to temporarily reduce the pain and avoid making the situation worse. Even if the tooth has stopped bothering you, you should not postpone the visit: home remedies do not eliminate the problem but only make you feel better for a certain period of time.
In this article, we will explain what helps with toothache, how to reduce toothache before a consultation with a dentist, and what you should not do on your own. We will also discuss when you can wait for a scheduled examination and when help is needed as quickly as possible.
Why toothache occurs
Pain occurs when the nerve endings inside the tooth or in the tissues around it are irritated. At the initial stage, tooth decay may not cause any symptoms. When the damage becomes deeper, the tooth begins to react to cold, hot, or sweet foods, and over time, discomfort may occur without an external irritant.
The most common causes include:
- deep tooth decay and inflammation of the pulp — the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels;
- the spread of infection beyond the tooth root;
- a crack, chip, or traumatic injury;
- enamel wear and exposure of sensitive areas;
- a leaking filling, damaged crown, or excessive pressure on the tooth;
- gum inflammation or accumulation of food particles between the teeth;
- eruption or incorrect position of a wisdom tooth;
- jaw clenching and teeth grinding.
The nature of the sensations can indicate their origin to some extent. If the tooth aches, the pain occurs on its own, intensifies in the evening, or persists for a long time after contact with cold or hot foods, it may be associated with inflammation of the pulp. Pain when biting most often occurs with a crack, injury, or damage to the tissues around the root.
Sometimes it may seem that one tooth hurts, although the source of the discomfort is located nearby. Pain may spread along the jaw, radiate to the ear or temple, and in cases of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, it may be felt in the upper teeth. Therefore, it is not always possible to determine the exact cause based only on the nature of the pain.
What to do when a tooth hurts
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You can temporarily relieve the condition before being examined by a dentist. Try not to chew on the side where the tooth hurts and avoid very hot, cold, sweet, and hard foods. After eating, rinse your mouth with warm water to remove food particles.
Below, we will discuss which home measures may help, what you can take for pain, and what to do if a tooth with a cavity, a tooth under a crown, or a tooth after a filling is bothering you.
How to relieve toothache at home
Home measures can only temporarily reduce the pain. If you are looking for a way to relieve severe toothache, you first need to reduce the pressure on the tooth and eliminate everything that additionally irritates it.
Before visiting a dentist, you can:
- brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush without applying strong pressure;
- carefully remove food with dental floss if it is stuck between the teeth;
- rinse your mouth with warm water;
- apply a cool compress to the cheek for 10–15 minutes if there is swelling;
- eat soft food at a comfortable temperature and chew on the other side;
- keep your head slightly elevated while sleeping, as pain may sometimes intensify in a horizontal position.
Doctors at «Oxford Medical» note: the painful area must not be heated, and alcohol, garlic, essential oils, or crushed tablets must not be applied to the tooth. Such remedies do not eliminate the cause of the pain but may irritate or damage the mucous membrane.
What you can take for toothache
Medications based on ibuprofen or paracetamol are most commonly used for temporary pain relief. According to the recommendations of the American Dental Association, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered first-line medications for acute dental pain if the person has no contraindications.
This group includes ibuprofen and naproxen. They reduce the production of substances that sustain inflammation and pain, so they may temporarily help with throbbing, pain when biting, discomfort after a dental procedure, or swelling.
Ibuprofen usually starts working faster but needs to be taken again at shorter intervals. Naproxen works for longer, so it is taken less frequently. The specific dosage and intervals depend on the medication, the person’s age, and the form of release, so the instructions must be followed.
Choose one of these medications: ibuprofen and naproxen must not be taken at the same time because they belong to the same group. They should also not be combined with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Take the tablet with water during or after a meal unless the instructions state otherwise.
Doctors at «Oxford Medical» recommend checking the composition of other medications you are taking before use. Different brand names may contain the same active ingredient or medications from the same group.
A pain reliever should be used for a short time to ease the condition before a dental examination. If you have chronic diseases, regularly take medications, are pregnant, or are choosing a medication for a child, its use must first be discussed with a doctor.
Does paracetamol help with toothache?
Paracetamol may temporarily reduce toothache, although it does not have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. It is used when nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated or not recommended. The medication must be taken according to the instructions, without shortening the intervals or increasing the dose on your own.
It is important to check the composition of other medications, especially combination remedies for colds and pain. As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns, taking several medications containing paracetamol at the same time may lead to an overdose and liver damage.
Does No-Spa help with toothache?
No-Spa contains drotaverine, which relieves smooth muscle spasms. Toothache is usually associated with inflammation or irritation of the pulp and tissues around the root, so the medication does not affect its main cause and generally does not help.
What to do when a tooth hurts and there are no tablets
Before visiting a dentist, you can reduce irritation of the painful area:
- rinse your mouth with warm water and carefully brush your teeth;
- remove food particles between the teeth with dental floss;
- apply a cool compress to the cheek for 10–15 minutes if there is swelling;
- temporarily avoid chewing on the painful side and choose soft food at a comfortable temperature.
According to the recommendation of the National Health Service, adults can prepare a saline solution by dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth with a small amount of the solution and then spit it out without swallowing.
What to do when a tooth with a cavity hurts
If food has entered the cavity, rinse your mouth with warm water and carefully brush the tooth. Before visiting a dentist, do not chew on this side and avoid sweet foods as well as very hot and cold dishes.
Short-term pain caused by an irritant most often occurs with tooth decay. If the tooth begins to hurt without an obvious reason, the pain persists for a long time, or intensifies at night, the damage may have reached the pulp. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the dentist performs tooth decay treatment with the placement of a filling or treats the root canals.
What to do when the tooth nerve hurts
The term «nerve» usually refers to the pulp — the inner tissue of the tooth that contains nerve fibers and blood vessels. When it becomes inflamed, the pain may be severe and throbbing, occur without exposure to irritants, intensify at night, and persist for a long time after contact with hot or cold foods.
Doctors at «Oxford Medical» note: if you are looking for what to do when the tooth nerve hurts at home, it is important to understand that you cannot eliminate pulpitis on your own. Before visiting a dentist, you need to avoid irritants and not chew with the painful tooth. After the examination, the doctor will assess the condition of the pulp and, if necessary, perform root canal treatment.
How to relieve toothache under a crown
Pain under a crown may occur due to secondary tooth decay, inflammation of the pulp or tissues near the root, a tooth crack, gum inflammation, or excessive pressure when biting.
If you are looking for a way to relieve toothache under a crown at home, carefully clean the area near its edge and the spaces between the teeth, and then temporarily avoid chewing on this side. It is impossible to determine the cause without an examination and an X-ray. If the pain persists, intensifies, or is accompanied by swelling, consult a dentist.
Tooth pain after a filling: when it is normal
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After a filling, the tooth may react to cold, hot, sweet foods, or pressure for some time. This is a normal reaction if the pain is moderate, occurs only when exposed to an irritant, passes quickly, and becomes weaker each day. Temporary pain when biting is also possible after root canal treatment.
You need to return to the dentist if the tooth begins to hurt without an obvious reason, the pain intensifies, interferes with sleep, or is accompanied by swelling.
Why a tooth hurts after a filling
Discomfort after dental treatment may occur for several reasons:
- after tooth decay treatment, the inner tissues of the tooth may temporarily remain sensitive to temperature and sweet foods, especially if the cavity was deep;
- after root canal treatment, the tissues around the root may hurt, so during the first few days, the tooth may sometimes react to pressure and chewing;
- if the filling is too high, the tooth makes contact with the tooth in the opposite jaw first and is subjected to excessive pressure.
In the first two cases, moderate pain should gradually subside. A filling that is too high needs to be adjusted by a dentist — after this, discomfort while chewing usually disappears.
How long a tooth hurts after a filling
After tooth decay treatment, mild sensitivity most often passes within a few days, but it may sometimes persist for up to one or two weeks. After root canal treatment, the tooth usually hurts when biting for several days while the tissues around the root recover. According to the American Association of Endodontists, such temporary pain after root canal treatment is normal.
Not only the duration but also the nature of the sensations is important. If the pain becomes weaker, this indicates normal recovery. If it becomes stronger, does not pass within one or two weeks, or swelling occurs, a dental examination is needed.
Acute toothache: when emergency care is needed
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Acute toothache requires an urgent dental examination if it is severe, does not pass, or is accompanied by signs of inflammation. Pain relievers may temporarily ease the condition but do not eliminate its cause. Delaying a visit to the doctor is dangerous because the infection may spread to the surrounding tissues.
Emergency dental care may be needed if:
- the pain is so severe that it interferes with sleep and usual activities;
- the pain reliever does not help or works only for a short time;
- the gums, cheek, or area under the lower jaw have become swollen;
- the temperature has risen, an unpleasant taste has appeared in the mouth, or purulent discharge has occurred;
- it has become difficult to open the mouth;
- the tooth has broken, shifted, or been knocked out as a result of an injury.
If the swelling spreads to the neck or the area around the eye or interferes with breathing, swallowing, or speaking, emergency medical care is required.
What to do when a tooth hurts at night
If severe toothache occurs at night, first check whether there is swelling, an elevated temperature, or other dangerous symptoms. If they are present, you need to contact a 24-hour dental clinic, and if breathing or swallowing is difficult, seek emergency medical care.
If there are no warning signs, use the first-aid measures listed below and schedule a dental appointment as soon as possible. Even if the pain has passed by morning, you should not postpone the examination: without treatment, it may occur again.
First aid for toothache
Before visiting a dentist, you can temporarily reduce pain and irritation:
- carefully brush your teeth and remove food particles between them with dental floss;
- rinse your mouth with warm water;
- take a pain reliever that is not contraindicated for you, following the instructions;
- apply a cool compress to the cheek for 10–15 minutes if there is swelling;
- do not chew with the painful tooth and choose soft food at a comfortable temperature.
You must not heat the cheek, apply tablets to the tooth, or take antibiotics on your own. Such actions do not treat the cause of the pain, and heating in the presence of purulent inflammation may worsen the condition.
Toothache may occur due to tooth decay, inflammation of the pulp, periodontitis — inflammation of the tissues near the root, a tooth crack, and other dental problems. Home measures only help temporarily, so it is necessary to consult a dentist to determine the cause and receive complete treatment.
The information in this article is provided for informational purposes and is not an instruction for self-diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms of a disease appear, you should consult a doctor.
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