Toothache at Christmas: five steps to get help
Originally published
Toothache can interrupt Christmas dinner, a family visit or a trip away. Holiday opening hours may make arranging care less straightforward, but persistent or severe pain should not be left until the festivities are over.
Pain relief can help you cope while waiting. It cannot repair a broken tooth or treat the source of an infection. These five steps put getting the right help first.
1. Check whether you need urgent help
Contact a dentist urgently if pain is severe, keeps returning or affects sleep and normal activities, particularly if painkillers are not helping. Swelling, fever, a bad taste or difficulty opening your mouth also need prompt advice.
Go to A&E or call 999 for swelling that affects breathing, swallowing or speaking, or spreads towards the eye. Serious facial injuries and heavy bleeding that will not stop also need emergency care. A&E is not the usual service for an uncomplicated toothache.
The NHS explains how to get emergency dental care. Do not wait to try every home remedy before calling.
2. Find the available dental service
Call your dental practice and check its answerphone for out-of-hours arrangements. Holiday hours can change, so confirm availability rather than relying on an old opening-hours notice.
If you cannot contact a dentist or arrange urgent care, call NHS 111 for guidance. If you are away from home, explain where you are staying and how long you will be there. Take a list of your medicines and allergies to the appointment.
3. Use pain relief according to the instructions
Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help, but the right choice depends on your health and other medicines. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure, especially during pregnancy or if you have an existing medical condition.
Follow the packet’s dose, spacing and daily limit. Do not combine paracetamol with cold-and-flu remedies or other products that also contain it. If you have taken more than the packet allows, get advice from NHS 111 promptly rather than waiting to feel unwell. See the NHS guidance on paracetamol.
Adult instructions must not be used for children. Use an appropriate children’s product and seek advice about the dose.
4. Make eating and cleaning more comfortable
Choose soft food and avoid chewing on the painful tooth. Very hot, cold or sweet foods may make symptoms worse. Do not chew ice or use your teeth to crack nuts or open packaging.
Clean gently with a soft toothbrush. Avoid pressing tablets against the gum or experimenting with concentrated essential oils. Temporary relief does not tell you that the underlying problem has gone away, even if you can enjoy the next meal.
5. Complete the treatment and follow-up
An urgent appointment may address the immediate problem but still leave further treatment to arrange. Ask what was done, what symptoms should prompt another call and when you need to return.
Before future holidays, report an existing broken tooth or recurring pain rather than hoping it will settle. Continue your usual brushing routine and keep sugary snacks to mealtimes where possible. Check-ups should follow your own risk-based schedule; an extra appointment before Christmas cannot guarantee that no problem will arise.
A holiday is a reason to check how to access care, not a reason to delay it. Once pain starts, arranging help early gives you a clearer plan than trying one home remedy after another.