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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Toothache

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth. Minor toothaches can come from a temporary gum irritation which may be treated at home. More serious toothaches are caused by dental and mouth problems that are more difficult and will need to be treated by a dentist.

Possible causes of toothache can include:

  • Tooth decay
  • Abscessed tooth
  • A cracked or damaged tooth
  • A loose or broken filling
  • An infection – this often happens when a tooth (such as a wisdom tooth) has broken the skin, but does not have enough room to fully come through
  • Problems with your braces
  • Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth
  • Infected gums

Symptoms of a toothache may include:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Fever or headache
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth

When should I see a dentist about a toothache?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

  • You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
  • Your toothache is severe
  • You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at Titchfield Dental Health to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Titchfield Dental Health dentist will need to examine you, and possibly take x-rays, in order to identify the cause of your toothache. Once this has been identified, they will conduct any temporary treatment to relieve your pain and advise if further treatment is required to address the underlying issue.

Possible treatments may include:

  • If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or take the tooth out, if necessary.
  • A root canal (a procedure to remove and replace infected pulp with sealing material) may be needed if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.
  • An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw.
  • A small piece of food (like a popcorn hull) can get stuck under the gums causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended followed by further periodontal (gum) therapy if necessary.

Preventing toothache

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your Titchfield Dental Health dentist regularly for professional cleaning and reviews. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

How do I treat a toothache at home?

For temporary relief of a toothache, the following can be followed at home:

  • Avoid extremes of temperature, such as hot drinks or very cold foods like ice cream
  • Avoid sugary or acidic foods, especially sweets or fizzy drinks, even diet ones, as these can aggravate the pain
  • Eat soft foods, like yoghurt or scrambled eggs, and try to avoid chewing with the sore tooth
  • Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol
  • Use an over-the-counter anaesthetic gel, for example Orajel, which you can buy in a pharmacy, to help relieve the pain
  • Continue to brush and floss your teeth as thoroughly as possible, and rub toothpaste directly onto the sore tooth or area
  • Rinse with warm saltwater. Salt water can loosen debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
  • Use mouthwash suitable for gum problems, such as Corsodyl or Peroxyl, from your local pharmacy
  • Massage the gum around the tooth to help ease pain
  • Use cloves or cotton wool to place clove oil over the painful tooth or area of the mouth. You can buy cloves in supermarkets
  • Keep your head elevated at night. Lying down can increase blood pressure in the tooth and cause pain
  • Keep the area cold by using a cool pack or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Apply this to your cheek. Don’t apply ice directly to the tooth as this can increase pain and damage the tissue

If you have any toothache or discomfort, contact Titchfield Dental Health in Southampton as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01489 581158.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Titchfield Dental Health. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

798 Reviews

5.0
GZ

George Zenin

Lovely dentist. Quick service.

12th July 2025

Pleasant, friendly staff, excellent quality of care and advice on future needs.

LA

Lynne Anderson

Great service. I hate having my teeth cleaned but Linda is so patient, kind and empathetic. She does a brilliant job! Highly recommend

9th July 2025

My previous experience at another dental surgery was terrible. Titchfield practice is top class

9th July 2025

All staff very friendly. Clean environment, highly recommend.

5th July 2025

Listened to my needsOffered and delivered plan of careAll staff professional polite and helpfulwrt q about recommending to friend/family I wouldn’t offer unsolicited recommendation

5th July 2025

Ruth the hygienist always explains what she is going to do and checks i am comfortable during the procedure so the appointment is very relaxed

5th July 2025

Excellent service as always by everyone

5th July 2025

I needed an emergency appointment which was arranged over the phone at short notice. The treatment was thorough and all staff involved professional and kind

5th July 2025

Excellent professional team

4th July 2025

Everyone make you feel welcome and are very friendly. All staff put you at ease. I have been attending Titchfield for a long time now and it’s like seeing old friends when I go.

4th July 2025

Staff are always so friendly. Knowing I’m a very nervous patient they are always happy to adapt working styles to help keep me calm

3rd July 2025

Ruth is so caring and professional. She apologised that she could not use the air flow because of the fire. Given that she and all the staff are working with building/ repairs going on they were all brilliant

LS

Liz Smart

I have only been twice so far, but I wanted to review on first experience. I am a very nervous patient and my fear has made me unable to have any treatment done for years. As soon as I made the call to book an appointment I knew it was the right decision. All the staff have been kind and helpful. Anya has the ability to put even the most nervous of people at ease. She is a real gem. She made me like I mattered and was being listened to. Definitely going back for more treatment

26th June 2025

All of the team are so lovely and friendly. Everything is always very well explained and they do everything possible to make you feel at ease

26th June 2025

Ruth was brilliant as usual and realised how hard I have worked on my dental hygiene. I had broken a temporary Ceric and Manos fitted me in to repair as he listened when I explained I did not want to loose the tooth but it was not a good time for me to have this treatment done . Top marks everyone Thankyou

19th June 2025

Professional approach from all concerned. Friendly and clean environment.

15th June 2025

The practice is consistently excellent. Professional, Caring and Friendly.

SW

Semi-retired of Warsash

Being somebody who has had a dental surgery phobia since childhood I was not looking forward to having a large molar crowned due to cracking. I shouldn't have worried as the whole process was completed by Anya over 2 sessions within 3 hours with no pain whatsoever. No waiting for weeks for the crown to be made as they do it in-house. Even the injections were painless ...

4th June 2025

Kindness, courtesy, explanation were all excellent

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