Tips for toothache pain relief

Toothache relief is temporary: rinse gently, avoid triggers, use a suitable pain medicine as directed, and arrange care to treat the cause.

Tooth pain can come from inflamed pulp, a cracked tooth, decay, exposed dentin, gum infection, or pressure around a wisdom tooth. Relief does not remove infected tissue or repair a fracture.

Rinse with lukewarm water, keep food away from the sore area, and use labeled pain relief only if it fits your health history. Do not place aspirin or caustic chemicals on the gum.

Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or pain that prevents sleep or eating.

Ask which tooth is responsible, whether the pulp or gum is involved, what imaging is needed, and which treatment removes the cause.