Go to a hospital if
- Swelling spreads to your face, eye or neck
- You have trouble breathing or swallowing
- You have a high fever with the pain
Those signs can mean a spreading infection. Please go to an emergency department straight away.
To ease the pain now
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
- Floss gently around the tooth to free trapped food
- Hold a cold pack against your cheek for 15 minutes
- Take over-the-counter pain relief, following the dose on the pack
- Sleep with your head propped up
Ask a pharmacist which painkiller suits you. This matters if you are pregnant, have stomach problems or take other medicine.
What to avoid
Do not put aspirin on your gum. It can burn the tissue.
Avoid very hot, very cold or sugary food on that side. Skip a hot compress if your face is swollen.
Describe the pain when you call
Your dentist will want to know these things:
- Which tooth hurts, or roughly where
- How long it has hurt
- Whether heat or cold sets it off
- Whether the pain wakes you at night
Common causes
Deep decay and an infected nerve are common reasons. So are a cracked tooth, a gum infection or a wisdom tooth coming through.
Pain from a blocked sinus can feel like an upper toothache too. An exam and an X-ray will sort out which it is.
Toothache at night
Pain often feels worse lying down. Prop yourself up on an extra pillow.
Take pain relief before bed if it is safe for you, and keep a cold pack nearby. Call us when we open at 9 AM.
Toothache in children
Young children often cannot point to the tooth. Watch for rubbing the cheek, refusing food or waking at night.
Ask a pharmacist for the right children’s dose for their age and weight. Book a visit even if the pain settles.
Pain after a filling
Mild sensitivity to cold is common for a few days. Sharp pain when you bite can mean the filling sits a little high.
That is a quick fix, so call us rather than chewing on the other side for weeks.
Wisdom tooth pain
A wisdom tooth coming through can leave the gum around it swollen and sore. Food trapped under the gum flap makes it worse.
Rinse with warm salt water after meals. If you cannot open your mouth fully or the swelling grows, see a dentist soon.
Reaching us
We are open from 9 AM to 9 PM, in Rumailah 3. Call +971 54 481 6113 and tell us you are in pain.