For a toothache, today you can rinse with warm water, gently floss out any trapped food, hold a cold compress on the outside of your cheek if there is swelling, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs, if it is safe for you. That eases the pain; it does not fix the cause. A dentist needs to find that.
Some signs can't wait: facial swelling, fever, pus, or trouble breathing or swallowing. Here is what to do in each case, based on the American Dental Association (ADA) and MedlinePlus.
What you can do today while you get to the dentist
- Rinse with warm water. The ADA recommends it to clean out the mouth. If you suspect an infection, MedlinePlus notes that a warm salt-water rinse may ease the pain until you are seen.
- Floss gently. Sometimes the pain comes from food stuck between two teeth. The ADA suggests removing it with floss, without forcing it.
- Cold on the outside, if there is swelling. A cold compress on your face, over the cheek, helps keep swelling down, for example after a blow or with a cracked tooth (ADA).
- An over-the-counter pain reliever, if it's safe for you. MedlinePlus says you can use one if you can't see a dentist right away. Follow the package label and ask your pharmacist which one fits your health and your other medicines.
- Book a visit. MedlinePlus advises getting care for a severe toothache, one that lasts more than a day or two, or one with fever, earache, or pain when you open your mouth wide.
Before you take a pill
If you take blood thinners, have kidney, liver, or stomach problems, or are 75 or older, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before choosing a pain reliever. Bring a list of what you take; it makes the conversation quick.
What not to do
- Don't put aspirin on the tooth or gum. The ADA and MedlinePlus advise against it: it can irritate the gum and cause mouth sores.
- Don't take more than the label says, and don't double up. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is in many over-the-counter products, and MedlinePlus warns that too much can damage the liver and that you shouldn't take more than one product containing it at a time.
- Don't take leftover antibiotics. According to the ADA, only your dentist can decide whether you need them; a contained toothache probably doesn't.
- Don't squeeze or pop a bump on your gum. It may be an abscess. Call the dentist.
- Don't count on home remedies as a fix. None of them repairs a cavity, a crack, or an infection. At most they mask the pain for a few days while the problem stays put.
Why a tooth hurts
Only an exam, and usually an X-ray, can tell what is causing your pain. These are the common causes according to the ADA and MedlinePlus:
- Cavities. According to the ADA, a toothache usually points to a cavity.
- A cracked or broken tooth. It often hurts when chewing, and some cracks don't show up even on an X-ray (ADA).
- Abscess (infection). According to MedlinePlus, it causes severe, constant, throbbing pain, sometimes with a bad taste, fever, or a swollen gum that looks like a pimple. Swelling of the jaw is a very serious symptom.
- Gums. Gum disease can cause pain too, and receding gums expose the root, which is more sensitive.
- Wisdom teeth. A tooth that hasn't fully come in can cause red, swollen gums around it, jaw pain, bad breath, or a bad taste (MedlinePlus).
- Sensitivity. A short twinge with cold, heat, or acidic foods. It can come from a cavity, a worn filling, worn enamel, or an exposed root (ADA).
- Pain that isn't from the tooth. MedlinePlus lists sinus infections, earaches, and even a heart attack, which can cause jaw pain or toothache.
Today or this week?
Call a dentist today if you have:
- Swelling of your face, cheek, or jaw.
- Fever along with the pain.
- Pus, a bad taste that won't go away, or a pimple on your gum.
- A blow that broke, loosened, or moved a tooth. If a tooth was knocked out, read what to do in a dental emergency: time matters.
- Severe, constant, throbbing pain that keeps you up at night.
Book a visit this week if you have:
- Sensitivity to cold or heat that fades quickly.
- Mild pain when biting on one tooth.
- A filling or crown that fell out or feels broken, without severe pain.
- Sore gums around a wisdom tooth, without facial swelling or fever.
- Pain that has come and gone for a day or two.
When to go to the ER or call 911
- Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling under the tongue or in the neck. MedlinePlus explains that an infection of the tooth roots can spread to the floor of the mouth and block the airway. Breathing difficulty is an emergency: go to the emergency room or call 911 right away.
- Sudden, severe facial swelling, or swelling that keeps getting worse, when you can't see a dentist that same day. MedlinePlus advises medical care in that case.
- Jaw pain with chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or a cold sweat. These can be signs of a heart attack. Call 911 even if you're not sure.
For most toothaches, a dentist is the right place. If you went to the ER, book a dental visit afterward to treat the cause. Our emergency dentist in Miami page explains how we handle it in Kendall.
What happens at the visit
According to MedlinePlus, the dentist examines your mouth and may order X-rays. Expect questions about when the pain started, whether it wakes you at night, what makes it worse (cold, heat, biting), and what medicines you take. Having that written down helps.
Treatment depends on the cause:
- A filling, if it's a cavity that can be repaired.
- A root canal, if infection or inflammation reached the nerve and the tooth can be saved. See root canal treatment in Kendall.
- An extraction, when the tooth can't be saved or a wisdom tooth is causing trouble. See tooth extraction and wisdom teeth.
- A night guard, if you clench or grind your teeth.
- Medicines, such as antibiotics or pain medication, only if your dentist prescribes them.
Before you start, ask for your options and your share of the cost in writing.
Saturday care in Kendall: how we do it at PureSmile
Toothaches don't wait for Monday. PureSmile Miami opens Monday, November 2, 2026, at 8000 SW 117th Ave, Suite 100, in Kendall, and we're also open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- We answer in English or Spanish and ask about your symptoms to see whether you need to be seen today.
- Same-day visits for tooth pain when the schedule allows, Saturdays included.
- An exam and X-ray to find the cause before we suggest anything.
- Options and costs in writing before any treatment starts.
- Free insurance verification. We work with Medicare Advantage, PPO, and HMO plans according to each plan's network, and with self-pay patients. What's covered depends on your plan, and we confirm it in advance. PureSmile is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or CMS.
Until November 2 we are not seeing patients yet. Join the free waitlist or call (305) 787-3642 and we'll let you know as soon as we open, with your insurance already verified. If you're in pain today, don't wait for our opening: find an available dentist, and for any of the warning signs above, go to the ER or call 911.
Frequently asked questions
What helps a toothache?
Until you see a dentist: a warm-water rinse, gentle flossing, a cold compress on the outside if there's swelling, and an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs. What really ends the pain is treating the cause.
What's a good pain reliever for a toothache?
We can't recommend one without knowing your health history. The ADA considers non-opioid pain relievers the first choice for temporary toothache relief. Ask your pharmacist and follow the label: according to MedlinePlus, anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen may not be right for you if you take blood thinners, have had stomach ulcers or bleeding, or have kidney or liver disease.
What can I take for a really bad toothache?
Severe pain is itself a reason to see a dentist, according to MedlinePlus; a pill only buys you time. With facial swelling or fever, call today. If it's hard to breathe or swallow, call 911.
Do home remedies work for a toothache?
None of them treats the cause. The warm salt-water rinse MedlinePlus mentions may soothe a little until you're seen, but a cavity or an infection needs dental treatment.
When is a toothache an emergency?
See a dentist today for facial swelling, fever, pus, a blow that broke or moved a tooth, or severe pain that won't let up. If it's hard to breathe or swallow, call 911.
Is pus on the gum without pain normal?
No. MedlinePlus advises calling your dentist if you notice a pimple on your gum, even if it doesn't hurt: it may be an abscess. There's no set time for the swelling to go down; it depends on the treatment (drainage, root canal, or extraction).
General information; not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Responsible dentist: Dr. Yoan Suárez Zayas, DMD (FL License DN 21413). Sources: American Dental Association (MouthHealthy: Dental Emergencies, Top Dental Symptoms, Sensitive Teeth, Antibiotics for Pain and Swelling; ADA: Oral Analgesics for Acute Dental Pain); MedlinePlus (Toothaches, Tooth abscess, Impacted tooth, Ludwig angina, Facial swelling, Heart Attack, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen).
