Toothache often worsens at night when clinics are closed. The following is to stop things getting worse until you reach a dentist; none of it replaces treatment.
Do
- Rinse with warm salt water — half a teaspoon in a glass of warm water.
- Floss — sometimes the cause is simply trapped food.
- Apply a cold compress externally, 15 minutes on, 15 off.
- Sleep with your head elevated to reduce throbbing.
- If you have no allergy or contraindication, take a painkiller without exceeding the stated dose.
Don’t
- ❌ Do not place aspirin on the tooth. A common belief, but it causes a chemical burn on the gum.
- ❌ Do not apply heat — with infection present it increases swelling and pain.
- ❌ Do not start antibiotics on your own. They mask pain, complicate diagnosis and drive resistance.
- ❌ Do not apply alcohol or cologne to the area.
Signs requiring immediate care
- Spreading swelling in the face or under the eye
- Toothache with fever
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Marked limitation in opening the mouth
- A tooth knocked out or fractured after trauma
If a tooth is knocked out
Time is critical for a permanent tooth. Hold it by the crown, never the root. If dirty, rinse gently with milk or saline — do not scrub. Reinsert it into the socket if possible; otherwise keep it in milk or in the patient’s cheek and reach a clinic within 30–60 minutes.
For emergencies, please call our clinic directly.