Emergency Tooth Pain: What to Do Right Now
Severe tooth pain? Here's first aid for toothache, abscess and broken teeth, when it's an emergency, and how to get urgent care fast.
My Dentist Brooklyn Editorial
Independent dental guide · Brooklyn, NY
What should I do for emergency tooth pain?
For sudden, severe tooth pain, take action while you arrange to see a dentist the same day. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and floss gently to dislodge any trapped food. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever — ibuprofen works especially well for dental pain because it reduces inflammation — following the label dosing. Apply a cold compress to your cheek for 15 minutes on, 15 off, to numb the area and reduce swelling. Avoid very hot, cold or sugary foods on that side. Do not place aspirin directly on the gum, which can burn the tissue. These steps manage pain, but they don't fix the cause. Pain with facial swelling, fever, or a bad taste can signal an abscess that needs urgent treatment, and swelling affecting your breathing or swallowing is a medical emergency — go to the ER or call 911.
Immediate relief steps
- Warm salt-water rinse to clean and soothe.
- Gentle floss to remove trapped debris that may be causing pressure.
- Ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory) for dental pain; acetaminophen if you can't take ibuprofen.
- Cold compress on the cheek, 15 on / 15 off.
- Avoid aspirin on the gum, and very hot/cold/sweet foods.
What the pain might mean
- Deep cavity reaching the nerve.
- Cracked tooth.
- Abscess (infection) — often throbbing, with swelling or fever.
- Lost filling/crown exposing sensitive tooth.
When it's an emergency
Seek urgent or ER care if you have facial swelling, especially affecting breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or uncontrolled bleeding. A spreading dental infection is dangerous. See our emergency dentist guide.
Getting seen fast
Call your dentist's emergency line, search for an emergency dentist open now, or use a hospital dental clinic or FQHC. Don't tough out severe pain for days — it usually means an active problem that worsens.
Cost of emergency care
An emergency exam runs $100–$250 plus treatment. Uninsured? Ask about payment plans on the spot and see our no-insurance options. For overnight pain specifically, read how to stop a toothache at night.