Toothache tends to arrive at the worst moment — late at night, at the start of a holiday, a long way from your own dentist. The useful news is that dental pain is one of the more solvable emergencies. Relieving it is nearly always same-day work, even when the full treatment takes longer.
First, work out which kind of pain it is
Sharp and brief, triggered by cold or sweet, gone in seconds. Usually sensitivity or a small cavity. Uncomfortable, not urgent, and it will wait a day or two.
Deep, throbbing, worse when you lie down, keeping you awake. The pulp inside the tooth is inflamed or infected. This is the classic toothache and it does not resolve on its own — it needs root canal treatment or extraction.
Pain on biting, sharp and specific. Often a cracked tooth or a high filling. Worth seeing soon; cracks get worse.
Swelling in the gum, cheek or jaw. An abscess. See a dentist today.
Go now, not tomorrow, if you have
- Swelling spreading into the cheek, eye or under the jaw
- Difficulty swallowing, opening your mouth, or breathing
- Fever with dental pain
- A hard swelling that is growing quickly
Spreading dental infection is the one dental problem that is genuinely dangerous, and it is treated with urgency for good reason. If it is the middle of the night and any of these apply, go to a hospital emergency department rather than waiting for a clinic to open.
What helps in the meantime
- Ordinary painkillers, taken properly. Ibuprofen is generally more effective for dental pain than paracetamol because the pain is inflammatory — assuming you can take it (not with stomach ulcers, certain kidney conditions, or some blood-pressure medication). Taking both, alternating, works better than either alone for many people. Follow the packet.
- Sleep propped up. Lying flat increases pressure in the tooth. This is why toothache is always worse at 2am.
- Cold on the cheek, not heat. Heat on a swelling encourages it to spread.
- Salt water rinses, warm, several times a day.
- Keep it clean. Brushing a painful area gently is better than avoiding it.
What makes it worse
- Aspirin held against the gum. It burns the tissue. Swallow painkillers, do not pack them.
- Heat on a swollen face.
- Alcohol, which interacts with painkillers and thins the blood before treatment you may need tomorrow.
- Oil of clove used repeatedly. It numbs briefly and irritates the gum with prolonged use.
- Waiting for it to pass. If a pulp is dying, the pain often does fade after a few days — because the nerve has died, not because the problem has. The infection continues underneath.
What we can do the same day
- Take the pressure off. Opening an infected tooth to drain it relieves the pain quickly, often within minutes. That can be done today, with the full treatment finished later.
- Prescribe antibiotics where an infection is spreading — though antibiotics alone do not fix a tooth. They buy time, they do not treat the cause.
- Place a sedative dressing in a deep cavity to settle it.
- Extract, if the tooth is not restorable and you want it dealt with.
- Repair a broken tooth or replace a lost filling — see chipped or broken a tooth on holiday and lost a filling or crown.
If you are flying soon
Tell us. It changes what we do at the appointment. A tooth left open on a temporary dressing is not ideal for a flight, and an untreated infection is worse — see flying after dental treatment.
We are on Phangmuang Sai Kor Road in Patong, open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 20:00. If you are in pain, call rather than email — we keep time free for it.
What can I take for toothache?
Ibuprofen is usually more effective than paracetamol for dental pain, and many people get better relief alternating both. Check you can take ibuprofen safely, and follow the packet dosage.
Will antibiotics cure a toothache?
No. They can control a spreading infection and reduce swelling, but the tooth itself still needs treating. Antibiotics alone let the problem come back.
My toothache stopped by itself. Do I still need to see a dentist?
Yes. Pain that fades after several severe days often means the nerve has died, and the infection continues silently. It is a common route to an abscess.
Is a dental abscess an emergency?
A localised one should be seen the same day. Swelling that is spreading into the cheek or under the jaw, or any difficulty swallowing or breathing, is a hospital emergency.
Can a dentist in Phuket treat me if I am only here for a few days?
Yes. Pain relief is same-day, and most treatments can be completed within a week. Tell us your flight date at the first appointment.
Still not sure?
Tell us what is bothering you and we will tell you what it would take to fix — before you book anything.
