Toothache is the most common reason people ring us wanting to be seen urgently — and quite reasonably, because it is miserable. But not every ache needs a same-day appointment, and knowing the difference saves you both worry and money.
Call for a same-day appointment if you have
- Severe, constant pain that keeps you awake or is not touched by painkillers
- Pain with swelling of the gum, face or jaw
- A bad taste, or discharge around a tooth, which can indicate an abscess
- Pain with a raised temperature or feeling generally unwell
- Throbbing that lingers for minutes after something hot or cold
- A tooth that has become painful to bite on, or feels taller than the others
Lingering pain and pain on biting often mean the nerve is involved. That will not settle on its own, and it tends to get worse at night.
Usually safe to book normally
- A brief twinge with cold that stops the moment the stimulus goes — often just sensitivity
- Mild soreness after a recent filling, which can take a couple of weeks to settle
- Food repeatedly catching between two teeth with no other symptoms
- Generalised aching after a heavy day of clenching or grinding
Book an appointment, but you probably do not need to be seen today.
Managing the pain until you are seen
Take over-the-counter painkillers at the correct dose, following the packet and any advice from your pharmacist. Keep your head slightly raised at night, since lying flat increases pressure and pain. A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can help swelling.
Two things people commonly get wrong: do not hold an aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue — and do not apply heat to a swollen face, which can make an infection spread.
When to go to A&E instead
An emergency dentist is the right call for most urgent dental problems, but not all of them. Go to A&E or call 999 if you have facial swelling that is spreading towards your eye or affecting your breathing or swallowing, bleeding from the mouth that will not stop, or a dental injury following a serious accident or head injury. These need hospital care, not a dental chair.
Not sure how urgent it is?
Our free dental symptom checker asks a few questions, gives you homecare advice straight away, and tells you how quickly you should be seen. One of our dentists then sends a short personalised video reply.
If you already know you need to be seen, call 020 3878 7465 as early in the day as you can, or read more about emergency dental appointments in Norbiton and Kingston.
