Step 1 of 4 · Figure out the cause
Why it hurts
Tooth pain has a handful of common causes, and the kind of pain usually points to which one. Start with what you feel.
- Toothache worse at night? Why it happens and what helpsWhy tooth pain gets worse when you lie down, what the pattern can mean, and what to do tonight.
- Throbbing tooth pain: what it means and what to doWhat throbbing tooth pain usually means, from an inflamed nerve to an abscess, what to do tonight, and how a dentist fixes it.
- Tooth hurts when biting down: causes and what to doWhy a tooth hurts when you bite or chew, from cracks and new fillings to infection, grinding and sinuses, and what to do next.
- Tooth sensitive to cold: causes, relief, and when to worryWhy a tooth zings with cold, when lingering pain means something more serious, and how sensitivity toothpaste helps.
- Tooth sensitive to heat: why it matters and what to doWhy a tooth that hurts with hot drinks can point to an inflamed nerve, when lingering pain means a root canal, and what to do until you see a dentist.
- Tooth abscess: symptoms, when it's an emergency, and treatmentSigns of a tooth abscess, when it means the ER, why it won't heal on its own, and how a dentist treats it.
- Cracked tooth: signs, what to do, and how it's fixedWhy a cracked tooth hurts when you bite or let go, the five kinds of cracks, what to do tonight, and how a dentist fixes it.
- Wisdom tooth pain: causes, relief and when to get it checkedWhy a wisdom tooth hurts, what calms it tonight, which signs mean call a dentist today, and how it's usually fixed.
- Gum pain around one tooth: causes and what to doWhy the gum around one tooth hurts, from trapped food to a gum abscess, what to do tonight, and when it means seeing a dentist today.
- Jaw and tooth pain from grinding: signs, causes, and what helpsHow to tell if grinding or clenching is behind your sore jaw and teeth, what helps tonight, and how to choose a night guard.
- Sinus toothache or dental toothache? How to tell the differenceHow to tell sinus tooth pain from a real toothache, what helps each one, and when to see a dentist or a doctor.
- Tooth pain after a filling: what's normal and when to callHow long sensitivity after a filling usually lasts, why a high bite makes a tooth sore, and the signs that mean you should call your dentist back.
- Tooth pain after a crown: causes and what to doWhy a tooth can hurt after a new crown: normal sensitivity, a crown that sits too high, or an irritated nerve. What to do and when to call.
- Pain after a root canal: what's normal and what isn'tHow long soreness after a root canal usually lasts, what helps, the warning signs that mean calling your dentist, and when a tooth needs a redo.