Symptom guide

Toothache: what could it be?

How the pain feels often says a lot about the cause. This guide helps you judge what is going on and how quickly you should call your dentist. Only a dentist can make a diagnosis.

6Recognisable pain patterns
PainkillerBridges the gap until treatment
SwellingCall the same day

In brief

  • How the pain feels gives a first clue about the cause.
  • A painkiller helps for a while; the cause must be treated by a dentist.
  • A fast-growing swelling or trouble swallowing or breathing is an emergency.

How does it feel?

Recognise the pattern

Short and sharp with cold or sweet

Goes away straight away. Often sensitive tooth necks or an early cavity.

Lingers, or comes on by itself

Aches or throbs, also at night. May point to an inflamed nerve (pulpitis).

Pain when biting or tapping

Inflammation around the root tip, or a crack in the tooth.

Swelling or a swollen cheek

May be an abscess. Call your dentist the same day.

At the back, near an erupting tooth

Often inflammation around a wisdom tooth (pericoronitis).

Pain in the jaw, temple or several teeth

Sometimes the pain comes from the chewing muscles or the jaw joint.

Self-care

What you can do until you see the dentist

  1. Pain reliefParacetamol or ibuprofen can ease the pain until you are treated. Follow the leaflet. If you take blood thinners, check before using ibuprofen.
  2. Avoid triggersAvoid very cold or very hot food and drinks, and chew on the other side.
  3. Call your dentistIf the pain continues, as soon as possible. In the evening and at weekends there is a dental emergency service in your area.

Antibiotics usually do not cure toothache. The cause has to be treated by the dentist, for example with a filling, a root canal treatment or by draining an abscess.

Getting help

When should you see a dentist?

Make an appointment if

  • you have short pain with cold, sweet food or biting
  • the pain comes and goes but keeps coming back

Call your dentist straight away if

  • the pain lingers, keeps you awake or comes on by itself
  • painkillers do not help enough
  • your cheek or gum is swollen
  • you have a fever

Short of breath or unable to swallow? Call 112.

Outside office hours, call the dental emergency service (tandartsenspoeddienst) in your area. Your own dentist’s voicemail or website gives the number.

More information

Read more in Dutch

This is a short English version. The full page, with more detail and sources, is available in Dutch: Nederlandse versie.

Note: This page gives general information and does not replace advice from your own dentist or doctor.
Based on the Dutch page Kiespijn on Mondenmeer, which follows patient information from the KNMT and the KIMO guideline on antibiotics in dental care (2025).

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