You should see the dentist if:

• The toothache persists for more than 2 days.
• The pain is severe, constant or require painkillers to settle down.
• You have a fever.
• You have difficulty opening your mouth and/or eating.
• There is any swelling around the tooth, mouth or face.

It is important that the cause of the pain is properly diagnosed and treated. Dental infections are able to spread to other parts of the face, head and neck or even enter the bloodstream.

During the dental appointment the dentist will review your medical history and ask you questions about your pain e.g. when did it start, how severe is it, where is it located, what aggravates and alleviates the pain. They will perform a clinical examination of your mouth and associated structures. X-rays and other test may be performed in order to determine the cause of your toothache.

Treatment is based on the cause of the tooth ache. If the tooth ache is caused by a cavity the dentist may perform a filling. If the tooth is infected the dentist may perform root canal treatment or take the tooth out. Antibiotics may be prescribed if there is facial swelling or fever associated with the toothache. A scale and deep cleaning can help to treat pain caused by infected gums.

The most common cause of toothache is tooth decay. This can be prevented by maintaining good daily oral hygiene practices i.e. brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste, flossing once a day and seeing your dentist twice a year for a professional examination and clean. In addition to this maintain a healthy diet which is low in sugar and acid and drink tap water.

Regular professional examinations allow for issues to be detected and treated early rather which reduces the likelihood of toothache later on.