A severe toothache is a dental problem with multiple potential underlying causes. Extreme tooth decay that’s causing tooth damage and an infection can cause throbbing tooth pain, or trauma or injury to the tooth may be causing your discomfort. Here’s what you need to know about treating a severe toothache.

The steps you take for treating your severe toothache depend on the suspected cause of your dental pain. If you think you may have an infection or debris that’s causing your toothache, combine a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of salt and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds. Saltwater will kill some bacteria and promote faster healing. Gently floss around the achy tooth to remove any food particles that might be causing your pain. Examine your tooth to see if it’s broken or cracked to determine if tooth damage is an obvious cause of their discomfort. Apply a cold compress to the site of your painful tooth to reduce swelling and pain. You can also take pain medication, like ibuprofen, to become more comfortable.

A severe toothache isn’t necessarily a dental emergency, but you should contact us so that we can determine what’s causing your child’s pain. If you have throbbing pain that won’t go away, a pocket of pus in your mouth, fever, or extreme swelling, your severe toothache requires immediate dental care. An infection may be causing your tooth pain; when left untreated, an infection can spread throughout your child’s body, causing serious illness.