Is My Toothache an Emergency?

Blonde woman with her hand to her cheek due to a toothache.

The short answer

A toothache is a dental emergency when it comes with swelling in your face or jaw, a fever, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, or bleeding that won’t stop. Call us the same day. If swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Pain that is mild, comes and goes, or only shows up with cold drinks or sweets usually isn’t an emergency. However, you will still need to schedule an appointment soon, because most toothaches don’t fix themselves.

Tooth pain is hard to judge from the inside. Sometimes it’s a sensitive spot that can wait for your next visit, and sometimes it’s an infection that needs care today. This guide sorts the most common symptoms into three levels so you know what to do next. If you’re still not sure, give us a call, and our team will help you decide.

Is it an emergency? Three levels of tooth pain

What you’re noticing	How urgent	What to do
Trouble breathing or swallowing; swelling spreading to your neck, under your jaw, or around your eye; fever with facial swelling; a possible broken jaw; bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure	Medical emergency	Go to the ER or call 911 now. Then call us to follow up on the tooth.
Severe pain that over-the-counter pain relievers don’t control; swelling of the gum or face; a pimple-like bump on the gum or a bad taste (signs of an abscess); a knocked-out adult tooth; a broken tooth with pain or a pink spot showing; pain that keeps getting worse after recent dental work	Urgent: same day	Call us right away. For a knocked-out tooth, minutes matter (see below).
Pain that lingers more than a day or two; pain that wakes you up; pain when you bite down; a lost crown	Prompt: within a few days	Call to book the first available appointment.
Brief sensitivity to cold or sweets that fades; a small chip with no pain; a lost filling with no pain; gums that are sore when you floss	Routine	Schedule a visit. Don’t wait for it to get worse.

Pain that sticks around is worth taking seriously, but on its own it’s usually not an ER problem. An emergency room can manage pain, swelling, and infection, but it usually can’t repair the tooth itself, so you’ll still need a dental visit afterward.

Signs a toothache needs the ER instead of the dentist

Most tooth infections stay in and around the tooth. Occasionally one spreads into the face, neck, or bloodstream, and that can become dangerous within hours. Get emergency medical care if you have any of these along with tooth pain:

Difficulty breathing or swallowing, including trouble swallowing your own saliva
Swelling that spreads below your jaw, into your neck, or up toward your eye
A high fever, chills, a racing heart, or confusion
Swelling under your tongue or trouble opening your mouth
A hard hit to the face with a possible broken jaw, or bleeding that won’t stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure

Common causes of a toothache

Knowing the likely cause can help you judge urgency. Our dentists will confirm what’s going on with an exam and, if needed, an X-ray.

Cavities. Decay that reaches the inner layer of the tooth causes sensitivity to sweets, cold, or pressure. Caught early, it’s usually fixed with a filling.
Infected nerve or abscess. Deep decay or a crack can let bacteria reach the nerve. Throbbing pain, swelling, or a gum bump often means you need root canal therapy or, in some cases, an extraction. Our post on signs you may need a root canal goes deeper.
Cracked tooth. Sharp pain when you bite or release, often hard to pinpoint. A crown can protect a cracked tooth before the crack spreads.
Worn enamel or gum recession. Exposed root surfaces cause quick zings of pain with cold. See our guide to tooth sensitivity.
Wisdom teeth. Pressure or swollen gums at the back of the mouth. Learn about wisdom teeth removal.
Sinus pressure. An ache across several upper back teeth during a cold or allergy flare may come from your sinuses, not the teeth.
Grinding or clenching. Sore teeth and jaw, especially in the morning. TMD therapy or a night guard can help.

What to do at home until you can be seen

These steps can ease pain for a few hours. They don’t treat the cause.

Rinse with warm salt water (about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water).
Gently floss around the tooth in case food is stuck there.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label, if it’s safe for you.
Hold a cold pack against your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling.
Sleep with your head raised, and chew on the other side.

Avoid: putting aspirin or pain pills directly on your gum (it can burn the tissue), applying heat to a swollen area, and popping a bump on your gum.

What happens at an emergency dental visit

We start by relieving your pain and finding the source, usually with an exam and an X-ray. Depending on what we find, we may place a filling or a temporary crown, start a root canal, or remove a tooth that can’t be saved. If an infection is spreading, we may prescribe antibiotics, but they only calm the infection; the tooth itself still needs treatment.

We’ll walk you through costs before treatment and can check your insurance benefits. See our financial options for payment plans.

Toothache care in Corvallis

Same-day appointments may be available depending on our schedule and the problem, so call as early as you can. Our office is open Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm, at 2318 NW Kings Blvd in Corvallis.

Learn more about our emergency dental care, or read what to do if a dental emergency happens over the holidays.

Frequently asked questions

Should I go to the ER for a toothache?

Go to the ER if tooth pain comes with trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading to your neck or eye, a high fever, or a possible broken jaw. For other toothaches, call your dentist first, since an ER usually can’t repair the tooth.

Can a toothache go away on its own?

Sometimes the pain fades, but the cause usually doesn’t. If an infected nerve dies, the pain can stop while the infection keeps spreading. Have any toothache that lasts more than a day or two checked.

How long is too long to wait with tooth pain?

Call within a day or two if pain lingers, wakes you up, or hurts when you bite. Call the same day for swelling, severe pain, or a broken or knocked-out tooth.

What can I take for tooth pain at home?

An over-the-counter pain reliever taken as the label directs, warm salt-water rinses, and a cold pack on your cheek can help for a few hours. Don’t put aspirin directly on your gum.

Is a cracked tooth an emergency?

A crack with severe pain, swelling, or a large broken piece needs a same-day call. A small chip with no pain can wait for a regular appointment, but don’t put it off, because cracks can spread.