The Guide to Unbearable Tooth Pain and What to Do

Key Takeaways

• Unbearable tooth pain is often caused by tooth decay, dental abscesses, cracked teeth or fillings, severe gum disease, or sinus infections. 
• The most effective way to treat severe tooth pain is to get help from your dentist or periodontist. 
• Salt water rinses, cold compresses, clove oil, and OTC pain relievers will help you manage the pain in the short term.
• Go to the ER if you have swelling that is spreading, a fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or a suspected facial fracture.

A toothache is never fun, but unbearable tooth pain takes it to another level, making it hard to think, focus, and even sleep. Finding relief is difficult, but not impossible. Home treatments can help in the short term, but the real key to severe tooth pain relief is finding and treating the cause. In most cases, that means making a visit to the dentist. Read on to learn everything you need to know about dealing with your tooth pain, from causes and treatments to prevention for the future. If you’re suffering unbearable tooth pain and live in Utah, we’re ready to help you and have offices conveniently located near Salt Lake City and South Jordan.

Unbearable Tooth Pain and What to Do at Home

There are some kinds of pain you can ignore, but unbearable tooth pain isn’t one of them. With the number of nerve endings in your mouth, tooth pain is pretty unforgettable. 

If you’ve got a toothache that’s taking over your life, chances are, you need to make an appointment with your dentist ASAP. But what can you do at home in the meantime? Luckily, there are some home remedies that should make you more comfortable. 

How to Stop Tooth Pain Fast

Unbearable tooth pain won’t go away on its own, but these home treatments can help manage the pain:

1. Salt water rinse: Mix half a teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and swish gently around the painful area for 30 seconds. This helps draw out fluid from the inflamed tissues and acts as a mild disinfectant. It won’t fix your severe tooth pain, but it can take the edge off almost immediately. 
2. Cold compress: Wrap an ice pack or bag of frozen veggies in a thin cloth and hold it against the affected cheek for 15 minutes, then take it off for 15 minutes. The cold numbs the area and reduces swelling. Repeat as necessary. 
3. Take OTC pain relievers: Pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are an effective way to target your pain. If safe for your health, ibuprofen works best since it reduces inflammation. 
4. Close oil: Clove oil is a natural remedy that’s been used for tooth pain for centuries. Dab a tiny amount–literally one drop–on a cotton ball and hold it gently against the painful area. The taste is pretty strong and it may tingle, but it can provide numbing relief for an hour or too. Use it sparingly, as too much irritates your gums. 

What Causes Severe Tooth Pain?

Unbearable tooth pain rarely comes out of nowhere. The key to severe tooth pain relief is finding the cause. These are the most common causes: 

• Tooth decay: A small cavity may cause a twinge when you eat something sweet or cold, but when decay reaches the pulp (the inner layer of your tooth), the pain becomes sharp and intense. That’s because when the pulp becomes inflamed, the hard dentin and enamel surrounding it prevent swelling. The pressure builds and causes relentless, throbbing pain. 
• Infection: A dental abscess is an infection that forms a pocket of pus at the root of your tooth or surrounding gum tissue. It typically causes severe pain, swelling in your cheek or jaw, a bad taste in your mouth, fever, or even a small bump on your gums that resembles a pimple. 
• Cracked tooth: A cracked tooth can expose the sensitive inner layers to air, food, and temperature changes, causing sharp jolts of pain that are hard to predict. 
• Broken fillings: Similar to a cracked tooth, broken fillings can expose the inner layers of your tooth, causing severe pain. 
• Severe gum disease: Advanced gum disease (periodontitis) can destroy the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place. The pain may feel like a dull ache across multiple teeth, often accompanied by receding gums, bleeding, and loose teeth. 
• Sinus infection: Sometimes, unbearable tooth pain isn’t caused by issues with your teeth. Your upper back teeth share nerve pathways with your sinuses. If you have a sinus infection, the pressure from the inflammation can trigger those pathways and cause pain.

Severe Tooth Pain Relief

For permanent relief from unbearable tooth pain, you’ll likely need treatment from a dentist or doctor. The treatment depends on the cause of the tooth pain, but may include:

• Root canal procedure
• A filling or crown
• Tooth extraction
• Scaling and root planing to treat gum disease
• Antibiotics to treat an infection

When Should You Get Emergency Care?

While most tooth pain can be managed until your dentist can see you, some symptoms need immediate attention. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s time to call an emergency dentist to get care right away: 

• Persistent pain that doesn’t improve after a day or two
• Swelling around your teeth, gums, or jaw
• Difficulty opening your mouth or chewing

In some cases, extreme tooth pain requires a trip to the ER. Go to an emergency room if you experience facial swelling that’s noticeable and spreading, difficulty swallowing or breathing, a high fever, uncontrollable bleeding, or a suspected facial fracture. 

How to Prevent Severe Tooth Pain in the Future

The best way to prevent severe tooth pain in the future is to take care of your oral health. 

• Regular dental visits: Visit your dentist regularly–typically every 6 months–for a checkup and dental cleaning. Regular visits remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and catch cavities, gum disease, and infections when they’re small and easy to fix. 
• Oral hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush, and floss daily to keep your teeth and gums healthy. 
• Consider a mouthguard: Many people grind their teeth at night without knowing it. The pressure can cause cracks, worn enamel, and tooth sensitivity over time. A custom-fitted mouthguard from your dentist will protect your teeth. 
• Be careful what you eat: Limit sugary drinks and foods, and avoid biting hard candies or ice. 

Unbearable Tooth Pain Treatment with Utah Periodontal Specialists

It may feel all-consuming, but luckily, unbearable tooth pain can be fixed. If you’re dealing with severe tooth pain, the first thing you should do is make a call to your dentist. You may need a filling, root canal, extraction, or antibiotics. Use the home remedies in the guide to get through the night or the weekend, and watch out for the red-flag symptoms that need emergency care. 

If your severe tooth pain requires surgery or treatment for gum disease, give Utah Periodontal Specialists a call. Our dedicated staff will provide the specialized care you need to make your tooth pain go away. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Severe Tooth Pain FAQs  

What helps severe tooth pain?

The best way to treat unbearable tooth pain is to treat the underlying cause, which typically includes decay, infection, broken fillings, or trauma to the tooth. A cold compress, saltwater rinse, clove oil, and OTC pain relievers relieve the pain while you’re waiting for dental care. 

Can you go to the ER with severe tooth pain?

Yes, but it depends on your symptoms. If you have swelling that is spreading to your face, jaw, or neck, a high fever, uncontrolled breathing, a broken jaw, or you’re struggling to breathe and swallow, a trip to the ER is probably the right choice. They won’t be able to fix the issue with your tooth, but they can address life-threatening concerns and offer some pain relief. If the swelling is localized to your gums and the pain is managed by OTC pain relievers, an emergency dentist might be the better option. 

Can a sinus infection cause severe tooth pain?

Yes, a sinus infection can cause unbearable tooth pain. When a sinus infection is present, the sinuses and nasal passages can swell, compressing the nerves near the sinuses and causing pain in the upper teeth and jaw. Most sinus toothaches can be treated at home, but if the pain is severe and lasting, you may need to make an appointment with your doctor. 

What should you do if you have severe tooth pain and jaw pain?

If your tooth and jaw pain is accompanied by fever, visible swelling on your face or neck, a bad taste in your mouth, or trouble swallowing or breathing, go to the ER right away. These can be signs of a spreading infection that needs treatment. Otherwise, call a dentist as soon as possible. Unbearable tooth pain doesn’t resolve on its own. It almost always means the nerve or surrounding tissue is damaged or infected. The only permanent solution is professional treatment.