Tooth pain
Toothache has a handful of common causes, and the kind of pain often points to which one. Sharp pain that stops in seconds is usually less urgent than throbbing pain that lingers. Only an examination and an X-ray can tell for certain.
Common causes
A quick, sharp twinge with cold or sweet that stops within seconds. Often from worn enamel or a receding gum.
General dentistry: check-ups, cleaning and fillings →A cavityPain with sweet food or when food packs into one spot. Early cavities can be filled in one visit.
General dentistry: check-ups, cleaning and fillings →Inflamed or infected nerveThrobbing pain that lingers after hot or cold, or wakes you at night. The nerve inside the tooth is affected.
Root canal treatment →Cracked toothSharp pain when you bite and release, often on one cusp. Hard to see without magnification.
Crowns and bridges →Wisdom toothAche at the very back of the jaw, sometimes with a swollen gum flap over a partly erupted tooth.
Oral surgery and wisdom teeth →Gum problemA dull ache with bleeding or swollen gums, or food trapped under the gum.
Gum treatment →See a dentist today if you have
- Swelling of the face or gum
- Throbbing pain that stops you sleeping
- Fever with tooth pain
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing: go to a hospital now
- Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon in a glass of water).
- Take the pain relief you normally use, as directed on the pack.
- Avoid very hot, cold or sweet food on that side.
- Do not put aspirin or clove oil directly on the gum; it can burn the tissue.
Questions patients ask
Can tooth pain go away on its own?
Pain from a sensitive surface may come and go. Pain from an infected nerve can stop when the nerve dies, but the infection stays and can spread, so pain that stops is not always a good sign.
Should I take antibiotics?
Antibiotics help only when infection is spreading, and they do not fix the tooth. A dentist decides whether you need them.
Why does my tooth hurt more at night?
Lying down increases blood pressure in the head, and there are fewer distractions. Pain that wakes you usually means the nerve is inflamed.
Which dentist will I see?
Dr. Nimisha Pandya examines you first. If you need a root canal, Dr. Neha Agrawal, our endodontist, does it.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.