What causes toothache, and when should it be seen?

A toothache can come from decay, a cracked or injured tooth, gum disease, an abscess or a wisdom tooth coming through. The cause needs a dental assessment; the way the pain feels is useful to describe, but it does not tell you which treatment you need.

If toothache lasts more than two days or does not improve with pain relief, see a dentist as soon as possible. Contact a dentist sooner if you have swelling, fever, pain when biting, a bad taste or trouble swallowing. Do not wait for a two-day mark when these symptoms are present.

Trouble breathing or speaking, or swelling around your eye or neck, needs emergency medical care rather than an ordinary dental booking. For urgent medical help, call triple zero (000).

If you are in Woonona and unsure what to say when you call, start with what you can feel. At Woonona Dentists, we ask what happened, how bad the pain is and whether there is swelling, bleeding or fever. Call (02) 4284 4486 or read our emergency dental care information.

What are the possible causes of toothache?

Several problems can cause a sore tooth or nearby gum pain. Healthdirect’s toothache and gum swelling guide lists the following possibilities. These are reasons to be checked, not a way to diagnose yourself.

• Tooth decay, or a tooth that has been cracked or injured.
• A wisdom tooth coming through.
• Gum disease or a mouth ulcer.
• A dental abscess — a swelling filled with pus caused by an infection around a tooth.

An abscess needs urgent attention. It will not get better on its own, and an untreated infection can spread beyond the tooth and jaw. If you think you have an abscess, see a dentist or doctor straight away. Swelling with fever or a bad taste is worth mentioning explicitly when you call.

Can the type of pain tell me what is wrong?

Not reliably on its own. Toothache may be constant, throbbing or come and go. It may also come with sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet foods, pain when chewing, or pain felt in the head, ear or jaw. These details help your dentist assess you; they do not replace an examination.

Try describing the pattern rather than naming a diagnosis: when it started, whether biting or a drink triggers it, whether it wakes you, and what you have tried. Tell the team about recent dental work, medicines and health conditions too. Our emergency page asks for this history so we can discuss the next step with you.

When should I contact a dentist, and when is it a medical emergency?

For toothache that will not settle, call the clinic as soon as you can. Healthdirect advises seeing a dentist as soon as possible when pain or gum swelling lasts more than two days or does not improve with pain-relief medicines. This is not advice to put off a call until two days have passed.

• Tell the dental team about a temperature over 38°C, pain when biting, a bad taste, trouble swallowing, or swelling of your cheek or jaw.
• Get emergency medical care for trouble breathing or speaking, or swelling around the eye or neck. Call 000 if you need urgent medical help.
• If you suspect a tooth abscess, seek urgent advice from a dentist or doctor rather than relying on home care.

Woonona Dentists lists emergency bookings outside opening hours as available by appointment. Call to arrange care; this is not a promise that a particular appointment time or treatment is available. If you cannot reach us and need health advice, the healthdirect helpline is 1800 022 222. A nurse is available 24 hours a day.

What can I do while I arrange care?

Home measures can help with discomfort while you arrange dental treatment. They do not identify or replace treatment for the cause. Healthdirect suggests these practical steps:

• Choose foods that are easy to chew and swallow, and avoid drinks that are very hot or very cold.
• Keep your mouth clean with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste after meals.
• Rest with your head supported on a pillow; lying flat can sometimes make dental pain feel worse.
• Hold a cold compress, such as an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, against the side of your face to help with pain and swelling.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist about pain relief that suits you, and follow the packet instructions.

When asking about pain relief, mention the medicines you already take and any health conditions. You can also tell the dental team what you have used and whether it helped. There is no need to decide on a treatment before that conversation.

Will antibiotics be enough?

Not necessarily. Healthdirect says antibiotics are usually not used for toothache unless there is a clear infection. For a tooth abscess, antibiotics alone are not enough: treatment depends on the infection and its cause, and may include drainage, treatment of the tooth or cleaning around the tooth and gum.

If the concern is an abscess, arrange urgent assessment even if you are mainly hoping for a prescription. A dentist or doctor needs to assess it; serious infection may need hospital care. This article cannot tell you whether you need antibiotics.

What happens at an appointment for toothache?

The first job is to find the cause. Your dentist will examine your mouth, ask about your dental and medical history and ask what makes the pain better or worse. An X-ray may be needed to help with diagnosis; it is not something this article can say everyone needs.

Treatment depends on what is found. Healthdirect lists fillings, crowns, root canal treatment and, for a badly infected tooth, removal among the possible options. Gum disease may need cleaning of the teeth and gums. These are possibilities, not a recommendation that your tooth needs one of them.

Before agreeing, ask which options suit your tooth, what the benefits and risks are, what the alternatives involve and what happens if you wait. Woonona Dentists’ emergency information explains that you can ask for a pause or decline proposed treatment after discussing the options and risks. Our treatment choices article can help you prepare questions.

What should I ask Woonona Dentists when I call?

You could say: “I have a sore tooth. It started yesterday, it hurts when I bite, and I have noticed swelling.” Use only the details that are true for you. Tell us if you have fever, swallowing difficulty or a change in your symptoms rather than only asking for the next routine check-up.

Ask about appointment availability and the assessment fee. Our fees page explains that a written treatment plan includes itemised costs and ADA item numbers. Any further treatment should be discussed in relation to your own needs and options; an urgent assessment is not agreement to a particular procedure.

Woonona Dentists is at 379 Princes Highway, Woonona NSW 2517. Call (02) 4284 4486 or use the Woonona contact page for current clinic details. You can read Dr Beena Kurian’s profile and tell the team if you would like to see a particular dentist.

Sources

• Healthdirect: Toothache and gum swelling, including causes, warning signs, assessment and temporary self-care. Last reviewed February 2026.
• Healthdirect: Tooth abscess, including urgent advice and the limits of antibiotics alone. Last reviewed June 2025.
• Woonona Dentists: emergency dental care, fees, contact details, dental team and treatment choices.

Sources checked 9 November 2026. This is general patient education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment recommendation. Your dentist or doctor can advise about your symptoms. The hero is an AI-generated illustration of a fictional adult, not a real patient or treatment result.