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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

822 Reviews

5.0
LO

Lorraine Oade

This is by far the best dental practice I have been to. As someone who has always had a fear of the dentist, I am always made to feel welcome and safe. Anya takes extra care to make me feel comfortable and relaxed. I have recently had braces and the results are amazing, I am super happy with everything. Anya and Jenny have made the whole experience a positive one for me. And Ruth has taken extra care and time to make me feel more comfortable when I’m in my hygienist appointment. Thank you so much to the whole team for continuing to make my visits to the practice positive ones

21st August 2025

Ruth is so lovely. She always makes me feel comfortable. She's super friendly and chatty and I always come away from my appointment with her satisfied

21st August 2025

Staff very polite and understanding.,service was excellent

20th August 2025

First time meeting Anya. Really very professional - explained everything clearly and made sure I knew what was happening all the way through the procedure, with clear commentary. Also really very sympathetic to the fact that I am a nervous patient and went to great efforts to keep me informed and calm.A great effort also made to make sure that I got a good outcome, with so much care place on checking and testing to see if all was ok - really very patient and helpful. Very satisfied with the results as well.

16th August 2025

Very understanding of nervous patients. Very kind and always gave explanations. Able to have a break in treatment if needed.

15th August 2025

Professional , courteous, made me feel valued and less anxious.

15th August 2025

Always listened to and reassured with any treatment that is needed. Very understanding with nervous patients

14th August 2025

Welcomg warm friendly, took time to explain what treatment I needed and why. They also gave guidance of what to do to prevent problems in the future. Very helpful. I have only joined this practice this year and have already recommended to other friends and family.

14th August 2025

I am a nervous patient and the team are absolutely amazing and put me at ease,I would never go anywhere else

AS

Anya Sieinska

I just had my routine hygiene appt with Ruth and I am over the moon. I am a wuss when it comes to dentists and hygienists as my teeth are very sensitive and I have a low pain threshold. Ruth is using this new machine at the practice, which is called Air Flow and it allows for a completely pain and sensitivity free treatment. I also ask for Oraquix; it's a numbing gel which is placed on the surface of my teeth and gums and makes this experience the best I ever had. Thank you Ruth

12th August 2025

Lovely practice and the team are exceptionally knowledgeable.Reception greet you in a very friendly and professional manner and the nurses and Anya were very skilled and professional.

11th August 2025

Rick and Ruth are amazing. I have finally found a great team. Reception team are also very lovely and welcoming

9th August 2025

Made to feel at ease from arriving and having the treatment finished.

SL

Sara luce

I am not a fan of the dentist but here they made me feel so looked after, even when I started to panic they took the time to calm me down, and didn’t move on till I was comfortable. They talked me through what they were doing and kept checking I was comfortable. One of the best dental experiences I’ve had.

8th August 2025

The staff are all friendly and welcoming. No waiting time and easy to make next appointments

JT

Jenny Thomas

I’ve been a patient at Titchfield Dental for over 18 years and have found everyone there welcoming, professional and kind. As a person who has always suffered badly with anxiety they have helped me tremendously by understanding how I am and always taking the time to carefully explain any treatment needed. To the reception ladies, my dentist Anya, nurses Anne, Jenny and any other nurses that I’ve seen over time, my hygienist Ruth, my thanks to you all for your friendliness and kindness which means so much to an anxious patient.

6th August 2025

As a very nervous patient I was quickly put at ease by Rick and the dental nurse and they kept checking that I was ok during the treatment.

RO

Robert Owen

As always, I had an excellent experience during my recent visit. Dr. Anya was extremely professional, gentle, and made me feel at ease throughout the appointment. Jenny, the dental assistant, was also wonderful, very caring and attentive. Together, they created a calm and comfortable environment. I truly appreciated the high level of care and would highly recommend their services.

3rd August 2025

Great friendly customer service. Efficient and explain what is happening, very relaxing thankyou

31st July 2025

Quick,clean,professional but friendly

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