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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

900 Reviews

5.0

1st December 2024

Tara the highly qualified hygeniest, the most capable and professional hygeniest I have been to. Incredibly knowledgeable, more like a dentist.

DC

David Craig

The best Dental practice in Hampshire

26th November 2024

Expert, professional service.

26th November 2024

The staff are always professional, friendly and welcoming. I feel in very safe hands there.

23rd November 2024

Friendly staff that put you at ease and do a thorough job when checking my teeth

18th November 2024

ease of making emergency appointment. dentist's clear explanation of the options which he did straight away. no pain caused.

15th November 2024

Friendly professional staff, clean premises, I felt that I was important to them.

14th November 2024

Very friendly staff who make you feel completely at ease. Treatment options are always explained

14th November 2024

Stephen was, as always, extremely understanding of my anxiety surrounding certain aspects of dental work. And when I went to the hygienist was given the choice of what I wanted in terms of cleaning

12th November 2024

Great staff, attention to every detail ,Great for patients that are nervous , very pleased I found them

12th November 2024

The whole experience in Emsworth Envisage is wonderful. The practice is small and welcoming, somebody arranges beautiful flower baskets which welcome you and everything looks friendly and non threatening. The receptionists are kind and compassionate as well as professional and organised-it’s never too much trouble to change an appointment.-I always see the same dentist who is absolutely wonderful but I am happy in the knowledge that in an emergency I will be seen almost immediately and definitely on the same day if not by her but perhaps by another dentist who will be excellent too.The treatment is always painless which is what we need, always explained well before it starts and always given with great care, kindness and professionalism. Before I joined this practice my teeth were in a terrible state (the first thing my wonderful new dentist had to do was to pull out 3). In the past 10 years or so that I have been a patient here, my teeth have not deteriorated at all and I am very happy about that.

11th November 2024

Friendly and efficient staff. Excelent dental treatment.

8th November 2024

Caring and patient staff members

7th November 2024

Friendliness of staff - cleanliness the premises - confidence in assessments.

6th November 2024

Receptionist initially very helpful , dentist took time talking & also explaining procedure both before & after treatment. There was no rush and atmosphere was calm & relaxed.

5th November 2024

All the staff are professional, friendly and accommodating, they are welcoming and promote confidence when attending.

5th November 2024

On this occasion a check up revealed a problem with an important upper back tooth which supports a plate. An appointment to fix it was made for that afternoon - so couldn't have been quicker. The need for the treatment was fully explained and I was shown the X rays, fascinating to see. The filing was needed in the far side of the back tooth so was difficult for my dentist to access but the whole procedure, including the injections, was painless. I was given antibiotics to take in case of pain, but so far I have not needed them having only taken basic painkillers on the day and the following morning.My dentist, Celehte Tortuin, always explains in full any procedures required - always very interesting. Celehte is patient, un-rushed and patient, which in turn gives me confidence in her recommendations. I have been her patient for some years now and am amazed how painless dentisty is. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone.

30th October 2024

I’m a very nervous dental patient and all the staff at Envisage have made me feel more at ease and are great at explaining what is happening and what I need to do. Highly recommend.

28th October 2024

Can't complain about any of the staff.

27th October 2024

Outstanding service and very friendly team. The place is very welcoming and relaxing too

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