Dental Conditions
Toothache & tooth pain
Tooth pain does not resolve on its own. Whatever is causing it needs treating before it progresses — and it will progress.
Common causes
Cavities & Decay
Pain begins once decay reaches the dentine beneath the enamel. Early on it is triggered by cold or sweetness; later it becomes sharp when eating and eventually a constant ache.
Abscess or Infection
Severe, throbbing pain, often keeping you awake. Carries genuine systemic risk if the infection spreads, and requires urgent treatment rather than painkillers.
Cracked or Fractured Tooth
Intermittent sharp pain on biting, classically on releasing the bite rather than on pressing down. Easy to dismiss because it comes and goes.
Call immediately if you have
These indicate infection that may be spreading. Do not wait for a routine appointment — call (905) 479-7777.
- ✓ Severe pain lasting more than a day or two
- ✓ Swelling of the face, jaw, or throat
- ✓ Fever alongside dental pain
- ✓ Any difficulty swallowing or breathing
How we treat it
Our default is to preserve the tooth. Depending on the cause, that means a filling, a crown, or root canal therapy — extraction is the last resort rather than the quick answer.
Getting there requires a diagnosis, not just pain relief. Two teeth can hurt identically and need entirely different treatment, and pain frequently refers from one tooth to another or even from the opposite arch.
While you are waiting to be seen
Over-the-counter pain medication as directed on the packet helps most people. Avoid extremes of temperature in food and drink, which will usually trigger the pain.
Do not place aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue and does nothing for the tooth.
What the pain is telling you
Pain that comes and goes with hot or cold and settles quickly usually means the nerve is irritated but still healthy. Pain that lingers for minutes afterwards, wakes you at night, or throbs on its own suggests the nerve is inflamed beyond recovery, and the treatment is different.
Pain on biting, especially a sharp jolt on release, often points to a crack rather than decay. None of this is diagnosis at a distance, but it does explain why we ask such specific questions when you call.
When not to wait
Swelling of the face or gum, a fever, or difficulty swallowing means an infection is spreading and needs to be seen the same day. So does pain that painkillers no longer control.
A toothache that stops hurting is not necessarily better. A nerve that dies goes quiet, and the infection continues without the warning signal. If pain disappears on its own, it is still worth an appointment.
Concerned about your symptoms?
We keep same-day emergency appointments. Call (905) 479-7777.