What stops teeth from hurting

To stop a tooth hurting, protect it from triggers and use suitable pain relief temporarily, but the lasting solution is treatment of the underlying cause.

Tooth pain can come from inflamed pulp, decay, a crack, exposed dentine, gum infection, an erupting tooth, or pressure from clenching. Pain relief does not repair infected pulp, remove decay, or seal a crack.

Rinse gently, keep food away from the painful area, avoid very hot, cold, sweet, or hard foods, and use suitable over-the-counter pain medicine as directed. Do not place aspirin on the tooth or gum or use leftover antibiotics.

Book a dental examination for pain that persists, returns, wakes you, or hurts when biting. Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or rapidly worsening pain.

Ask what structure is causing the pain, whether imaging or a vitality test is needed, and whether the tooth needs a filling, crown, root canal treatment, extraction, gum care, or bite adjustment.