TOOTHACHE Main Symptoms Pain or discomfort in a tooth. Causes Main Cause: tooth decay. Other Common Causes: food wedged between the teeth or injured tooth. See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If If follows a tooth injury, see TOOTH INJURY. WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR TOOTHACHE Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If Your child looks or acts very sick Fever is present Face is swollen Severe pain and not improved 2 hours after taking ibuprofen Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If You think your child needs to be seen. Toothache present for more than 24 hours. Brown cavity visible in the painful tooth. Red or yellow lump present at the gumline of the painful tooth. Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If You have other questions or concerns. Parent Care at Home If Mild toothache present less than 24 hours and you don't think your child needs to be seen. Back to Top HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MILD TOOTHACHE Reassurance: Most toothaches are temporary and due to a sensitive tooth. If the pain becomes worse or doesn't resolve in 24 hours, it could be due to a small cavity. Floss: Floss on either side of the painful tooth to remove any wedged food. Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief. Local Cold: Apply an ice pack to the painful jaw for 20 minutes Expected Course: Most minor causes of toothache resolve in less than a day. Call Your Dentist If: Toothache persists for more than 24 hours The toothache becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Dentist" symptoms Back to Top Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Pediatric HouseCalls Online. Copyright © 2000-2005 Barton Schmitt, M.D. FAAP Reviewed 8/2005 Revised 8/2005 See Other Topics: Tooth Injury View Index of Topics