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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 Newcastle Dental Practice to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Newcastle Dental Practice 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 Newcastle Dental Practice 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 of discomfort, contact Newcastle Dental Practice in Newcastle-under-Lyme as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01782 616178.

Dentist

Dr Marcus Charles-Drummond

Dr Marcus practices general dentistry at Newcastle Dental Practice. He is known for his kind and caring approach to his patients. He has a firm belief in adopting a holistic approach to patient care and regularly puts anxious patients at ease. Dr Marcus graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2019. He is passionate about providing a high standard of care in aesthetic and restorative dentistry. ...

Dr Marcus Charles-Drummond
Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Newcastle Dental Practice. 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

727 Reviews

5.0

5th July 2025

My experience was really great as I have a fear of the dentist and have health issues so it’s difficult for me but everyone was great as they helped me be calm and get through the appointment.So overall a great experience!

4th July 2025

Friendly

2nd July 2025

-

2nd July 2025

Excellent dentist Chris and Hygienist Simon

SW

Susan Wain

I had a bad experience at another dental practice so didn’t go to see a hygienist for a couple of years .Jen and Casey were amazing ,they understood and I had a pain free experienc and they took their time with me .I came out feeling a different person .I thank them so much .

29th June 2025

from start to finish the appointment ran smoothly with care and consideration always in place

28th June 2025

I have to say the receptionists were excellent, approachable and do a brilliant job' front of house'After many years of suffering from terrible dental anxiety , I feel very well looked after and my have full confidence in Dr Emily and the team.

28th June 2025

Being reassured

27th June 2025

I followed my previous dentist with whom I have followed for over 25 years. Having now experienced several dental practices, I feel at the age of 73 I can evaluate a dental practice quickly. I visited the practice before my appointment. I was very impressed with Sophie, the service manager. Her assistants were also so genuinely welcoming. I’ve had two appointments so far and have been delighted with my service. Well done, team.

26th June 2025

I get very anxious going to the dentist but I was made to feel at ease and had a great experience. both teams were a credit to the practice.

25th June 2025

Marcus is amazing and did a great job with my bridge and getting mouth guards sorted.

25th June 2025

Dr Emily Lane was very kind and patient and made me feel completely reassured. I would not hesitate to recommend her. Thank you.

25th June 2025

Yannis took great care in ensuring that everything was just right, and that I was completely satisfied with the fitting of the crown. He explained all the process clearly all the way through, stopped immediately I asked and although appointment ran over time, I did not feel rushed in any way.

17th June 2025

The professionalism and care taken by the hygienist was first class as it always is at this dental practice.Explained the whole process especially as today there were changes to the standard process which actually improved the experience. In simple terms the water being used in the cleaning process was warm and not ice cold.

13th June 2025

I don’t like going to the dentists and I was made to feel at ease all through my appointment (very important to me). The lady I saw was really good at explaining things to me, advising me and not rushing me. It was a very good experience for someone like me, making me not dread my next visit.

12th June 2025

Always had a phobia of dentists but Harry really makes it easy. He explains everything and makes sure you are comfortable and not in any pain

12th June 2025

Very efficient and professional team

12th June 2025

Great service and I didn’t experience any problems.

11th June 2025

Options explained and deslt eith. Plan set in place

11th June 2025

Really friendly welcome every visit very professional and polite staff the hygienist is extremely thorough showed me properly how to clean my teeth which is very important and now I've got excellent gums thanks Craig

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