Get emergency help now if
- swelling is spreading to your eye, cheek or neck
- you’re struggling to swallow, breathe or open your mouth
- you have a high temperature and feel very unwell
- you’ve had a blow to the face with other injuries
Call 112 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What to do until you see a dentist
- Take a painkiller you know is safe for you, following the pack.
- Keep your head raised at night with an extra pillow.
- Rinse with warm salt water, especially if food is trapped.
- Floss gently around the tooth; trapped food can cause surprising pain.
- Avoid very hot, cold and sweet food on that side.
- Use a cold pack on the cheek for swelling, 15 minutes at a time.
Don’t hold a tablet against the gum (it burns), apply heat to a swollen face, or keep taking antibiotics left over from before.
What your pain may mean
| What you feel | Common cause |
|---|---|
| Sharp twinge with cold or sweet that goes quickly | Sensitivity or early decay |
| Lingering ache after hot or cold | Inflamed nerve, often needs a root canal |
| Throbbing pain, worse at night | Badly inflamed nerve or infection |
| Pain on biting, tooth feels “tall” | Infection at the root tip, or a cracked tooth |
| Swelling, bad taste, gum boil | Abscess |
| Pain at the back with sore gum | Wisdom tooth gum inflammation |
What we do at your visit
We find the cause with an examination and an X-ray, then relieve the pain the same visit where possible. That might mean starting a root canal to release pressure in the nerve, draining an abscess, smoothing or sealing a broken tooth, or treating gum inflammation. You’ll get a plan for the rest of the treatment and its fee before it continues. Dr. Adish assesses the need for root canal treatment or specialist care, and our oral and maxillofacial surgeon manages swelling that needs surgery.
Call +91 95410 93573 and tell us you’re in pain. See urgent tooth pain and signs you need a root canal.
Questions patients ask us
What is the best tablet for severe tooth pain?
An over-the-counter painkiller you know is safe for you, taken as the pack says. Don't exceed the dose or combine products containing the same medicine. Ask a pharmacist if you're unsure, are pregnant or take other medicines.
Why is my toothache worse at night?
Lying down increases blood flow to the head and raises pressure inside an inflamed tooth, and there are fewer distractions. Pain that wakes you often means the nerve is badly inflamed.
Will antibiotics stop the pain?
Usually not. Most toothache is an inflamed nerve, which antibiotics don't treat. They help with spreading infection and swelling, but the tooth still needs treatment.
Does clove oil help toothache?
It can numb the area briefly. Apply a little on a cotton bud to the tooth, not soaked into the gum.
What if the pain suddenly stops?
That can mean the nerve has died. The infection can still spread, so the tooth still needs checking.
What toothache after a filling is normal?
Mild sensitivity to cold for a few days or weeks is common after a deep filling. Throbbing pain, pain that wakes you, or pain on biting should be checked.
Sources
NHS: toothache ↗NHS: dental abscess ↗ADA MouthHealthy: dental emergencies ↗Last updated 24 October 2026.