Toothache
By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed Next review due Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.
Key facts
Toothache is pain in or around a tooth, usually caused by tooth decay, infection, or gum disease. Dental pain can range from mild sensitivity to severe, throbbing agony and almost always requires a dentist visit.
Most often affects:Adults with poor dental hygieneChildren eating sugary foodsSmokersElderly adults
What commonly causes toothache
- Tooth decay (cavity/dental caries) — the most common cause
- Gum disease (gingivitis progressing to periodontitis)
- Dental abscess — infection at the root of a tooth
- Cracked, chipped, or damaged tooth
- Wisdom tooth eruption — impacted wisdom teeth
- Teeth grinding (bruxism) — often stress-related or during sleep
What helps at home
- Take painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol — a pharmacist can advise which is right for you. Children under 16 should not take aspirin.
- Rinse mouth with warm salt water several times a day
- Use a pain-relieving gel for your mouth, bought from a pharmacy or supermarket — follow the instructions on the pack.
- Avoid very hot, very cold, or sweet food and drinks
- Eat soft foods and chew on the unaffected side
- Keep head elevated when lying down to reduce blood pressure to the area
When to get help
These three levels are different. Getting the level right is the single most useful thing this page can do for you.
Non-urgent advice: see a GP if
- Toothache has lasted more than 2 days — book a dentist, not a GP
- A tooth has been sensitive to hot and cold for weeks
- A filling or crown has come out
- Your gums bleed every time you brush
- You have not had a dental check-up in the last 2 years
Urgent advice: ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if
- You cannot get a dental appointment and the pain is severe
- Your face or jaw has swollen alongside the toothache
- There is pus around the tooth, or a bad taste that keeps coming back
- You have a high temperature with the toothache and feel unwell
- It is out of hours and you need an urgent dental service — NHS 111 can arrange this
Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if
- Dental infection with swelling spreading to the eye, neck, or floor of mouth (Ludwig's angina)
- Difficulty breathing due to facial/throat swelling from dental infection
What to do next
Not sure whether toothache needs a doctor? These are your options, cheapest and fastest first.
Questions people ask about toothache
Reducing the chance of it coming back
- Brush teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes
- Floss or use interdental brushes daily
- Go for dental check-ups as often as your dentist recommends — the NHS says this can be anywhere from every 3 months to every 2 years depending on your oral health.
- Limit sugary foods and drinks — especially between meals
Conditions this can be part of
Listed alphabetically, not by likelihood — this page does not tell you which one you have.
- Dental abscess
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis
- TMJ disorder
Sources and further reading
This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.
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