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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Toothache

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth. Minor toothaches can come from a temporary gum irritation which may be treated at home. More serious toothaches are caused by dental and mouth problems that are more difficult and will need to be treated by a dentist.

Possible causes of toothache can include:

  • Tooth decay
  • Abscessed tooth
  • A cracked or damaged tooth
  • A loose or broken filling
  • An infection – this often happens when a tooth (such as a wisdom tooth) has broken the skin, but does not have enough room to fully come through
  • Problems with your braces
  • Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth
  • Infected gums

Symptoms of a toothache may include:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Fever or headache
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth

When should I see a dentist about a toothache?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

  • You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
  • Your toothache is severe
  • You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at St Anne's Dental Practice to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your St Anne's Dental Practice dentist will need to examine you, and possibly take x-rays, in order to identify the cause of your toothache. Once this has been identified, they will conduct any temporary treatment to relieve your pain and advise if further treatment is required to address the underlying issue.

Possible treatments may include:

  • If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or take the tooth out, if necessary.
  • A root canal (a procedure to remove and replace infected pulp with sealing material) may be needed if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.
  • An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw.
  • A small piece of food (like a popcorn hull) can get stuck under the gums causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended followed by further periodontal (gum) therapy if necessary.

Preventing toothache

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your St Anne's Dental Practice dentist regularly for professional cleaning and reviews. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

How do I treat a toothache at home?

For temporary relief of a toothache, the following can be followed at home:

  • Avoid extremes of temperature, such as hot drinks or very cold foods like ice cream
  • Avoid sugary or acidic foods, especially sweets or fizzy drinks, even diet ones, as these can aggravate the pain
  • Eat soft foods, like yoghurt or scrambled eggs, and try to avoid chewing with the sore tooth
  • Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol
  • Use an over-the-counter anaesthetic gel, for example Orajel, which you can buy in a pharmacy, to help relieve the pain
  • Continue to brush and floss your teeth as thoroughly as possible, and rub toothpaste directly onto the sore tooth or area
  • Rinse with warm saltwater. Salt water can loosen debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
  • Use mouthwash suitable for gum problems, such as Corsodyl or Peroxyl, from your local pharmacy
  • Massage the gum around the tooth to help ease pain
  • Use cloves or cotton wool to place clove oil over the painful tooth or area of the mouth. You can buy cloves in supermarkets
  • Keep your head elevated at night. Lying down can increase blood pressure in the tooth and cause pain
  • Keep the area cold by using a cool pack or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Apply this to your cheek. Don’t apply ice directly to the tooth as this can increase pain and damage the tissue

If you have any toothache or discomfort, contact St Anne's Dental Practice in Lewes as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01273 473189.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to St Anne's Dental Practice. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

739 Reviews

5.0

22nd August 2025

The clinician was warm and friendly, making me feel very comfortable. They explained everything they were doing and alerting me to any changes they saw

19th August 2025

Mia Kowal is very thorough and explains everything well both during and after the examination. She is friendly, kind and welcoming.

12th August 2025

Very professional and pleasant. Thank you to all concerned.

10th August 2025

Very good welcome from receptionist, interesting and attractive environment, excellent welcome as always from my dentist, his work has been effective so I Trust his expertise ( borne out by friends who also attend ). And btw he laughs at my jokes!

10th August 2025

The Clinician is so welcoming, efficient and engaging

8th August 2025

Excellent dentist, one of the best I’ve seen

8th August 2025

Easy to book in, Friendly staff, Clean and Tidy, Not to busy

8th August 2025

I was kept informed throughout the process what was being done, the whole process was to a high standard, great service all round.

8th August 2025

I felt my treatment was thorough and I didn't feel rushed at any point- friendly, pleasant staff

8th August 2025

Professional & courteous.

7th August 2025

New hygienist was thorough and gave lots of good advice. As always, Susan and Jess were brilliant.

7th August 2025

Highly satisfied with eberytjimg100%

6th August 2025

Beautiful team all were very accommodating highly recommended

6th August 2025

All staff were friendly and processional. Nothing seemed too much trouble. All went above and beyond, even practice manager took time to talk me through different options

5th August 2025

This is a response to just one checkup appointment, but the review scores apply to all appointments I've experienced in recent times. From routine inspections to crowns to replacement fillings to extractions the team are without exception incredibly diligent, courteous and friendly, knowledgeable and flexible (sometimes scheduling unexpected appointments at very short notice). I couldn't ask for more from them and have full confidence in their expertise and also their care and attention. I hope they get to see this, as they deserve to feel proud of their work.

3rd August 2025

I’m always greeted with a warm welcome & friendly smile, by the manager and receptionists. The waiting area is immaculate. The dentists & dental nurses are very calming and thorough, and they always talk me through all my options.

31st July 2025

The whole team, from my dentist Dr Brink to the dental nurse to the reception team have been outstanding.Thank you so much!

31st July 2025

See previous answers

24th July 2025

Adam listens you as a patient .Listens to what you want and does what he can to achieve what you’re asking.And completes any task given to him

24th July 2025

Everything went smoothly with no real problems. The appointment had to be changed because my regular hygienist was on holiday and this caused me a little confusion when I got a reminder for the appointment. This was quickly sorted out by a phone call and on further checking found the confusion was my own because I had noted the new time in only one of two places that I recorded the original appointment.

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