Toothache at home: what can help while you wait for a dentist
Originally published
Toothache can make it difficult to eat, sleep or concentrate. A few measures may ease discomfort while you arrange dental care, but they cannot repair a damaged tooth or treat the source of an infection.
Get urgent dental advice for severe pain that painkillers do not control, swelling, fever or feeling unwell. If you cannot reach a dentist, contact NHS 111. Go to A&E for swelling around the eye or neck, or swelling that makes breathing, swallowing or speaking difficult; call 999 if you need an ambulance.
Pain lasting more than two days also needs a dentist. Do not wait for that point if symptoms are severe or getting worse. These routes follow the NHS advice on toothache.
Pain relief: check the product, not just the name
Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help temporarily if suitable for you. Follow the packet and leaflet, including the interval between doses and the maximum over 24 hours. A pharmacist can check suitability and advise you about combining medicines.
Do not take more than one product containing paracetamol: some cold and flu remedies contain it too. Do not combine ibuprofen with another anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ketoprofen unless a clinician has specifically advised it. Increasing doses or switching to stronger medicines is not a substitute for treating toothache.
Ask for advice if you are pregnant, take other medicines or have a condition that could affect which painkiller you can use. Children need an age-appropriate product and dose; do not give aspirin to anyone under 16.
If you have taken more paracetamol than the packet allows, contact NHS 111 promptly, even if you feel well. See the NHS paracetamol guidance.
Why be cautious with home remedies?
Avoid putting crushed tablets, iodine, concentrated essential oils or raw garlic directly on a painful tooth or gum. Homemade mixtures can irritate or injure the mouth, and a temporary change in sensation does not show that the cause has been treated.
Clove oil is often mentioned for toothache. If you are considering a licensed dental product, ask a pharmacist and follow its leaflet. Do not copy a recipe using a few drops of concentrated oil on cotton wool, particularly for a child. Herbal rinses and valerian drops are not reliable substitutes for dental treatment either.
What you can do while waiting
Choose soft food and avoid chewing on the painful tooth. If hot, cold or sweet foods trigger the pain, avoid them for now. Clean gently with a soft toothbrush rather than scrubbing the sore area.
Adults can try a warm salt-water rinse and spit it out. Do not swallow it or give this rinse to children who might swallow it. It may soothe the mouth, but it does not cure decay or a dental abscess.
Avoid sucking or biting ice to numb a tooth. Direct cold can trigger pain in a sensitive tooth, and biting hard ice can damage teeth. Do not try to burst a swelling yourself.
What might be causing the pain?
Decay, a crack, a damaged filling, gum problems and infection are among the possible causes. Brief pain with cold can occur with sensitivity, while lingering or spontaneous pain deserves assessment. These patterns are clues for a dentist, not a way to diagnose yourself at home.
Sometimes pain felt around the teeth comes from elsewhere, such as the jaw muscles or sinuses. That pain is real. If a dental examination does not explain it, your dentist may suggest another assessment rather than treating a healthy tooth.
Tell the dentist when the pain started, what triggers it, whether it wakes you and what medicines you have taken. Mention swelling, fever, recent treatment or an injury. The findings determine what care is needed; not every toothache requires the same procedure.
After the immediate problem
Pain settling does not always mean the underlying problem has gone. Keep the appointment or follow-up arranged for you, even if a painkiller or rinse helps.
Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth and dental reviews suited to your needs can reduce the risk of some problems. They cannot guarantee that you will never have toothache.
If cost is worrying you, tell the team when arranging care so you can discuss the proposed treatment and fees. Information about payment arrangements is on our current finance page. Do not delay urgent help because you are trying another home remedy.