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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Toothache

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth. Minor toothaches can come from a temporary gum irritation which may be treated at home. More serious toothaches are caused by dental and mouth problems that are more difficult and will need to be treated by a dentist.

Possible causes of toothache can include:

  • Tooth decay
  • Abscessed tooth
  • A cracked or damaged tooth
  • A loose or broken filling
  • An infection – this often happens when a tooth (such as a wisdom tooth) has broken the skin, but does not have enough room to fully come through
  • Problems with your braces
  • Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth
  • Infected gums

Symptoms of a toothache may include:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Fever or headache
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth

When should I see a dentist about a toothache?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

  • You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
  • Your toothache is severe
  • You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at Cedar Dental Care to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for a routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Cedar Dental Care dentist will need to examine you, and possibly take x-rays, to identify the cause of your toothache. Once this has been identified, they will conduct any temporary treatment to relieve your pain and advise if further treatment is required to address the underlying issue.

Possible treatments may include:

  • If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or take the tooth out, if necessary.
  • A root canal (a procedure to remove and replace infected pulp with sealing material) may be needed if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.
  • An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is a fever or swelling of the jaw.
  • A small piece of food (like a popcorn hull) can get stuck under the gums causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended followed by further periodontal (gum) therapy if necessary.

Preventing toothache

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your Cedar Dental Care dentist regularly for professional cleaning and reviews. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

How do I treat a toothache at home?

For temporary relief of a toothache, the following can be followed at home:

  • Avoid extremes of temperature, such as hot drinks or very cold foods like ice cream
  • Avoid sugary or acidic foods, especially sweets or fizzy drinks, even diet ones, as these can aggravate the pain
  • Eat soft foods, like yoghurt or scrambled eggs, and try to avoid chewing with the sore tooth
  • Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol
  • Use an over-the-counter anaesthetic gel, for example, Orajel, which you can buy in a pharmacy, to help relieve the pain
  • Continue to brush and floss your teeth as thoroughly as possible, and rub toothpaste directly onto the sore tooth or area
  • Rinse with warm saltwater. Saltwater can loosen debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
  • Use mouthwash suitable for gum problems, such as Corsodyl or Peroxyl, from your local pharmacy
  • Massage the gum around the tooth to help ease the pain
  • Use cloves or cotton wool to place clove oil over the painful tooth or area of the mouth. You can buy cloves in supermarkets
  • Keep your head elevated at night. Lying down can increase blood pressure in the tooth and cause pain
  • Keep the area cold by using a cool pack or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Apply this to your cheek. Don’t apply ice directly to the tooth as this can increase pain and damage the tissue

If you have any toothache or discomfort, contact Cedar Dental Care as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01635 867979.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Cedar Dental Care. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

1608 Reviews

5.0

13th May 2025

Cedar Dental Care is very professional while at the same time being welcoming and friendly.Abigail Dundas is the best dentist I’ve had in 74 years and as always she checked on my health, then proceeded with my check-up.

13th May 2025

The clinician was knowledgeable, patient, and receptive

11th May 2025

Abbie and her nurses are always friendly and helpful and listen to the needs of the patients.Abbie is a pleasure to visit

11th May 2025

Friendly efficient professional happy

10th May 2025

As always great service from Rav!

10th May 2025

Quality of dentistry and being treated with respect and compassion

9th May 2025

Reception are very helpful and competent. Abbie the dentist it fabulous.

8th May 2025

Emergency appointment after chipping tooth made next day. My dentist Abby explained the procedure and it was very quick.

8th May 2025

Lovely and friendly staff, not long waiting time to be seen and overall very happy experience.

8th May 2025

Abbey is the best dentist I have ever met. You need to keep her and give her a bonus.

8th May 2025

Being known and acknowledged by the receptionist is always lovely as is knowing the dentist and feeling safe in his hands for over 40 years!

7th May 2025

Starting with excellent service from the reception team, through to first class service from Dr Dundas and her team.

7th May 2025

Everyone is friendly and very professional

7th May 2025

It is a very pleasant environment, the practice is efficiently run and I have trust in the competence of my dentist.

7th May 2025

Anish is so likeable..he puts you at ease and explains everything. He is very thorough. I was going to leave cedar as my previous dentist there was awful but thankfully she left and I was allocated to Anish. He's the best dentist I've been to and I would highly recommend him.

6th May 2025

The greeting from the reception staff is always warm and welcoming, despite the non stop phone ringing and general busyness of the reception. The hygienist is extremely thorough in both her task of sorting out my teeth, but also offering ongoing advice and suggested products to help me better look after my teeth. Mr Patel is always superb, my children also attend Cedar Dental and the way in which he engages with them and reassures them (2 out of 3 have had to have braces/teeth out) shows real compassion and empathy. Love his banter too.

4th May 2025

The whole team at cedar dental care great and help with all my special needs, I can’t thank them enough.

2nd May 2025

Welcoming of the reception team , The clinician always welcoming very professional , explaining treatment and considerate and caring and excellent treatment

30th April 2025

Have always been pleased with how l have been treated.

29th April 2025

I’m treated as a friend from the moment I walk in; I’m greeted warmly by name. To date, I have seen three other practitioners apart my nominated dentist and my treatments with all are always of a very high standard. Thank you!

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