Toothache keeping you up? What helps tonight
Rinse with warm salt water, floss out trapped food, and take pain relief as directed on the packet. Sleep with your head raised and hold a cold compress on the outside of your cheek. No heat packs, and never rub aspirin on the gum. Pain that wakes you often means the nerve is involved. Call us in the morning.
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Do this now
- Rinse with warm salt water. Half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish gently and spit. Repeat a few times.
- Floss out trapped food. Food packed between teeth is a common cause of sharp night pain. Floss gently around the sore tooth.
- Take pain relief as directed. Follow the packet. Check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines or aren't sure what's safe for you.
- Keep your head raised. Prop yourself up with an extra pillow. Lying flat sends more blood to the area, which can make the throbbing worse.
- Cold compress on the cheek. A wrapped cold pack on the outside of your cheek, 15 to 20 minutes at a time. No heat packs.
Then call us
We keep room for urgent visits and aim to see you the same day. The first assessment is free.
Definitely recommend! what a lovely team!! I booked for a last minute urgent appointment, but after this I will be coming here for all check ups from now on!
Go to a hospital emergency department if
- Swelling is spreading towards your eye or down your neck.
- You have trouble swallowing or breathing.
- You have a fever along with facial swelling.
For anything on this list, hospital comes first. Call 000 if someone is struggling to breathe.
What we'll do when you come in
- We listen first. Tell us where it hurts, when it started and what sets it off.
- We take a digital X-ray to find the real cause, including the part hiding below the surface.
- We treat the urgent problem first and get you comfortable.
- Then we explain any further care in plain words, with a clear quote before anything starts. If the nerve is involved, that may mean root canal treatment or removing the tooth, and we'll help you weigh it up.
While you wait
Do
- Keep up the warm salt-water rinses.
- Stick to soft foods and chew on the other side.
- Avoid very hot, cold or sugary food and drinks if they set the pain off.
- Book the soonest visit you can, even if the pain eases. Pain that fades often means the problem went deeper, not away.
Don't
- No heat packs on your face. Heat can make swelling worse.
- Never rub aspirin on the gum. It burns the soft tissue.
- Don't take more pain relief than the packet says.
- Don't use alcohol to numb the pain. It doesn't work, and it can clash with pain relief.
- Don't ignore pain that wakes you. It rarely fixes itself.
The likely next steps
Quick answers
Why is my toothache worse at night?
Lying flat increases blood flow to your head, which can make a sore tooth throb harder. There are also fewer distractions, so the pain has your full attention. An extra pillow under your head often takes the edge off until morning.
Does pain that wakes me mean root canal?
Not always, but pain that wakes you from sleep often means the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed. The only way to know is to look, with an exam and an X-ray. If the nerve is involved, we'll talk through whether root canal treatment or removal suits your case.
Could it be my wisdom teeth?
It can be, especially if the ache sits at the back of your jaw or the gum over a partly through tooth is sore. We'll check at your visit and talk through your options if a wisdom tooth is the cause.
Should I go to a hospital instead?
Most toothaches don't need a hospital. Go to an emergency department if swelling is spreading towards your eye or neck, you have trouble swallowing or breathing, or you have a fever with facial swelling. Otherwise call us. We aim to see urgent cases the same day.
Can I be seen today?
We aim to see urgent cases the same day. The fastest way to sort it is to call us on 1800 833 844 so we can find you the soonest spot across our clinics.
Locations
Six clinics. Find your closest.
Four across Brisbane. Two on the Gold Coast.
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Don't wait it out. Call us now
Tell us what's happening and we'll find you the soonest spot across our six clinics in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
or call 1800 833 844