A throbbing tooth at night, and the dentist can’t see you until tomorrow — there are things to do in between. Until you see a dentist, the NHS suggests ibuprofen or paracetamol (no aspirin under 16), a pain-relieving mouth gel, rinsing with salt water (not for children) and soft foods, and says to avoid sweet, very hot or very cold food and smoking. If toothache lasts more than 2 days, see a dentist. This sets out the NHS page “Toothache”.
1. Painkillers, a pain-relief gel, a salt-water rinse (half a teaspoon in a glass of warm water; don’t swallow).
2. Don’t chew on the sore tooth; avoid sweet, very hot or cold food and smoking.
3. Over 2 days or no better with painkillers: dentist. Swelling round the eye or neck, or trouble breathing or swallowing: A&E.
Why it hurts — NHS
The NHS lists eight causes: tooth decay, a dental abscess, a cracked or damaged tooth, a loose or broken filling, an infection (often when a tooth such as a wisdom tooth has broken through the gum), problems with braces, gum disease and grinding your teeth. Most need a dentist, so home care is about easing pain until you get there (our reading).
Until you see a dentist — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (no aspirin under 16) | — |
| Do | A pain-relieving gel for your mouth | — |
| Do | Rinse with salt water — half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, don’t swallow (not for children) | — |
| Do | Soft foods such as yoghurt or scrambled eggs; avoid chewing with the sore tooth | — |
| Do | A soft toothbrush; avoid flossing around the sore tooth | Everyday brushing: brushing for 2 minutes |
| Don’t | Eat foods that are sweet, very hot or very cold | — |
| Don’t | Smoke — it can make some dental problems worse | — |
Sugar limits are in free sugars, and mouth ulcers in mouth ulcers.
When to see a dentist or go to A&E — NHS
| Where | When | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist | Toothache that lasts more than 2 days · doesn’t go away with painkillers · with a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums or a bad taste · with a swollen cheek or jaw | Fever and swelling read as infection signs |
| A&E | Toothache with swelling around the eye or neck · swelling in the mouth or neck making it hard to breathe, swallow or speak | In Korea: ER or 119 |
Where to go is covered in ER vs local clinic; for holidays and weekends, see holiday emergency rooms.
Checklist
- ☐ Painkillers (no aspirin under 16) and a pain-relief gel
- ☐ Salt-water rinse: half a teaspoon in a glass of water, spit it out (not for children)
- ☐ Soft food on the other side; skip sweet, hot or cold food
- ☐ Over 2 days or painkillers don’t help: dentist
- ☐ Swelling round the eye or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing: A&E
Questions that remain
Does holding an aspirin against the gum help?
The NHS page we read has nothing like that. On aspirin, it only says children under 16 should not take it.
If painkillers settle it, can I skip the dentist?
The NHS sets the dentist thresholds at more than 2 days or no relief from painkillers. Since most causes on the list need dental treatment, getting checked anyway seems safer (our reading).
Sources
- NHS — Toothache — source (page shows: reviewed 1 July 2024, next review 1 July 2027; checked 12 October 2026). 8 causes, 5 dos and 2 don’ts, half a teaspoon of salt, 4 dentist reasons (2 days etc.), 2 A&E signs.
- Not read. NHS dental abscess page; Korean agency guidance on toothache.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column.
Where else to check
- A dentist — diagnosis and treatment.
Written on 12 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.