Best solution for teeth pain
The best treatment for tooth pain is treatment of its cause, such as decay, pulp inflammation, a crack, gum disease, or trauma.
The short answer
Tooth pain can arise from exposed dentine, inflamed pulp inside the tooth, infection around the root, inflamed gums, a crack, or a problem elsewhere that refers pain to the jaw. Pain relief can reduce symptoms but does not repair infected pulp or remove decay.
Why should you clean the area and choose pain medicine carefully?
Rinse gently with water, keep the area clean, and use only pain medicine that is appropriate for your health and taken exactly as directed on its label or by a clinician. Do not put aspirin or caustic substances on the gum, and avoid chewing on the painful side until examined.
What can you do safely while arranging treatment for tooth pain?
Rinse gently with water, keep the area clean, and use only pain medicine that is appropriate for your health and taken exactly as directed on its label or by a clinician. Do not put aspirin or caustic substances on the gum, and avoid chewing on the painful side until examined.
Which tooth pain symptoms require urgent dental assessment?
Get urgent dental assessment for swelling, fever, pus, trauma, difficulty opening the mouth, or trouble breathing or swallowing. Pain that persists, wakes you, or reacts strongly to heat or cold also needs an examination.
What could be causing the pain and which treatment is needed?
Could the pulp, root tissues, gums, crack, or a neighboring tooth be causing the pain? Will you need percussion tests, cold testing, a bite test, or an X-ray?
Frequently asked questions
Could the pulp, root tissues, gums, crack, or a neighboring tooth be causing the pain? Will you need percussion tests, cold testing, a bite test, or an X-ray?
Rinse gently with water, keep the area clean, and use only pain medicine that is appropriate for your health and taken exactly as directed on its label or by a clinician.
What information should I bring to an appointment?
Bring a list of symptoms, medicines, relevant medical conditions, and any appliance or product involved.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.