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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Toothache

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth. Minor toothaches can come from a temporary gum irritation which may be treated at home. More serious toothaches are caused by dental and mouth problems that are more difficult and will need to be treated by a dentist.

Possible causes of toothache can include:

  • Tooth decay
  • Abscessed tooth
  • A cracked or damaged tooth
  • A loose or broken filling
  • An infection – this often happens when a tooth (such as a wisdom tooth) has broken the skin, but does not have enough room to fully come through
  • Problems with your braces
  • Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth
  • Infected gums

Symptoms of a toothache may include:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Fever or headache
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth

When should I see a dentist about a toothache?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

  • You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
  • Your toothache is severe
  • You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at Envisage Dental Emsworth to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Envisage Dental Emsworth dentist will need to examine you, and possibly take x-rays, in order to identify the cause of your toothache. Once this has been identified, they will conduct any temporary treatment to relieve your pain and advise if further treatment is required to address the underlying issue.

Possible treatments may include:

  • If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or take the tooth out, if necessary.
  • A root canal (a procedure to remove and replace infected pulp with sealing material) may be needed if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.
  • An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw.
  • A small piece of food (like a popcorn hull) can get stuck under the gums causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended followed by further periodontal (gum) therapy if necessary.

Preventing toothache

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your Envisage Dental Emsworth dentist regularly for professional cleaning and reviews. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

How do I treat a toothache at home?

For temporary relief of a toothache, the following can be followed at home:

  • Avoid extremes of temperature, such as hot drinks or very cold foods like ice cream
  • Avoid sugary or acidic foods, especially sweets or fizzy drinks, even diet ones, as these can aggravate the pain
  • Eat soft foods, like yoghurt or scrambled eggs, and try to avoid chewing with the sore tooth
  • Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol
  • Use an over-the-counter anaesthetic gel, for example Orajel, which you can buy in a pharmacy, to help relieve the pain
  • Continue to brush and floss your teeth as thoroughly as possible, and rub toothpaste directly onto the sore tooth or area
  • Rinse with warm saltwater. Salt water can loosen debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
  • Use mouthwash suitable for gum problems, such as Corsodyl or Peroxyl, from your local pharmacy
  • Massage the gum around the tooth to help ease pain
  • Use cloves or cotton wool to place clove oil over the painful tooth or area of the mouth. You can buy cloves in supermarkets
  • Keep your head elevated at night. Lying down can increase blood pressure in the tooth and cause pain
  • Keep the area cold by using a cool pack or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Apply this to your cheek. Don’t apply ice directly to the tooth as this can increase pain and damage the tissue

If you have any toothache of discomfort, contact Envisage Dental Emsworth in Emsworth as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01243 375588.

Meet the team

Celehte Fortuin

Dentist

GDC NO. 74757

Pedro Neto

Dental Surgeon

GDC NO. 84464

Stephen McCrory

Dentist

GDC NO. 193130

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Patient Reviews

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The biggest compliment we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Envisage Dental Emsworth. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us.

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Patient reviews

1040 Reviews

5.0

29th July 2025

Good treatment from dentist and hygienist. Always a pleasant atmosphere.

28th July 2025

My dentist was very reassuring, kind & thoughtful in all areas. Identified areas of future concern but did not push.

25th July 2025

I have been using this practice for a year (on recommendation) after moving to Emsworth and experiencing problems. I am an extremely nervous patient and have been seeing Stephen. He is so patient and attentive, he took time to explain a whole cleaning routine which I have religiously kept to. My teeth and gums have never felt or looked better. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

25th July 2025

Friendly experienced staff, always make me feel at ease

24th July 2025

The dentist put me at ease and is very clear about treatment received

24th July 2025

Helpful and considerate staff

23rd July 2025

Everything was great. Daniel is extremely polite, clear in his advice and engenders trust. Hygienist also excellent. Thank you.

23rd July 2025

The staff are welcoming, attentive and informative.

22nd July 2025

Reception fitted me in for an emergency treatment,which I was most thankful for .My Dentist is very caring and very informative ,Always friendly as is the nurse .It is a pleasure to visit the practice.

22nd July 2025

I have been going there for years now I had not been going to see any Dentist because of past problems with other dentists the team here completely turned that around for me so friendly, caring and understanding for those of us with great nervousness and anxiety it doesn’t matter who you see from reception to hygienist to Dentist they’re all brilliant

22nd July 2025

Excellent service and great customer care.

19th July 2025

the clinician is very friendly and never talks down at me, she is very polite and always puts me at my ease.

18th July 2025

All the staff are friendly, knowledgable and professional. Both my dentist and hygienist explained each step of the procedures and were keen to make sure that I was in no discomfort at any point. I feel safe and have full confidence in them.

17th July 2025

I had an appointment with Erika Cartland and I had a very bad headache. My appointment was at 4pm and I was invited in early. Erika was very attentive and concerned. Erika, used numbing gel and did a manual descaling, so I didn’t have to go through the trauma of the electric cleaning procedure; I just couldn’t thank her enough for the thoughtfulness and concern that she shown. Thank you Erika x

15th July 2025

I have been a patient at Envisage Emsworth for many years and have always been impressed by the professionalism, efficiency and friendliness of all their staff. I could not wish for a better service in all regards.

15th July 2025

Very caring dentist, hygienist and dental nurse, ensured my comfort and understanding throughout and didn't feel rushed.

15th July 2025

I suffer from Fibromyalgia, which causes pain in my jaw and neck during treatment. The dentist very quickly found a way around the problem, which added an additional 20 minutes to the appointment, but he was not concerned about time or impatient. I was extremely grateful for the care I received. I wouldn't want to go to any other practice.

8th July 2025

Everyone is so lovely and professional.Listen to what you have to say and thorough

6th July 2025

The staff at Envissge are so kind and caring and thoughtful … I could not be happier with their care dentist/htygenist/dental nurse /reception staff All outstanding

6th July 2025

I have had the same hygienist for more than 5yrs and that is very reassuring. It’s good to have the same team every time you visit. Just wish the cost wouldn’t keep going up. £70 is a lot for 20 minutes work.

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