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Dental guide · Part of our Root Canal Treatment guide

Toothache: Causes, Relief and When to See a Dentist

Most toothache comes from tooth decay, an infection or a cracked tooth. Painkillers can take the edge off for now, but the cause needs a dentist. If the pain lasts more than two days, doesn't settle with painkillers, or comes with a fever or a swollen face, get it checked.

Medical facts checked 16 October 2026 against the sources at the end. Published by Dental Plus, Bahria Town, in practice since 1984.

Key points

  • Ibuprofen or paracetamol, taken as the pack says, is the first step for relief
  • Toothache that lingers usually points to decay or an infected nerve
  • See a dentist if it lasts more than 2 days or painkillers don't help
  • Swelling that reaches your eye or neck, or trouble breathing or swallowing, means hospital

What causes toothache?

Pain from a tooth usually means something has reached the sensitive inside of it. The most common reasons are:

  • Tooth decay that has made a hole in the tooth
  • An infection at the root or in the gum, sometimes a dental abscess
  • A cracked or broken tooth, or a broken filling
  • Gum disease, or a wisdom tooth coming through

The kind of pain is a clue. A sharp twinge with something cold that fades quickly is often sensitivity or a small cavity. A throbbing ache that keeps you awake, or pain that lingers long after hot or cold food, more often means the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected.

How to ease toothache at home

While you wait to see a dentist, the NHS suggests:

  • Take ibuprofen or paracetamol as the pack says. Children under 16 should not take aspirin
  • Try a pain-relieving mouth gel from a pharmacy
  • Adults can rinse with warm salt water, then spit it out
  • Eat soft food, chew on the other side and use a soft toothbrush
  • Avoid sweet, very hot or very cold food and drink, and do not smoke

How a dentist treats toothache

The dentist first finds the cause, usually with an examination and an X-ray. Treatment then depends on what they find: a filling for a cavity, a root canal when the nerve is infected, draining an abscess, or, if the tooth can't be saved, an extraction.

Painkillers and antibiotics don't cure the cause. A tooth that hurts because the nerve is infected will not heal on its own, which is why it pays not to wait.

How Dental Plus can help

Dental Plus is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so toothache at night or on a Sunday can be seen straight away. Infected teeth are treated by Dr Ahmad Mahmood, who holds an MDS in Endodontics. See what to do in a dental emergency.

Book on WhatsApp Call 0306 5574644

Common questions

What is the fastest way to stop toothache?

Ibuprofen or paracetamol, taken as the pack says, usually eases it for now. Avoid very hot, cold or sweet food. The pain will keep coming back until a dentist treats the cause.

Can toothache go away on its own?

Sometimes mild sensitivity settles. But toothache from decay or an infected nerve does not heal by itself, and it usually gets worse. See a dentist if it lasts more than two days.

Should I go to hospital for toothache?

Only if the swelling reaches your eye or neck, or you are struggling to breathe, swallow or speak. For most toothache, a dentist is the right place, because a doctor cannot treat the tooth.

Why is toothache worse at night?

Many people notice it more at night, when there is less to distract them. If it keeps you awake, that is a sign to see a dentist soon.

Sources

Checked on 16 October 2026. This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are worried, see a dentist.