Progressive Decay
Early cavity: slight sensitivity to cold or sweets. As decay deepens: sensitivity becomes sharp pain when eating or drinking hot/cold. Eventually: constant aching pain, especially when chewing.
Prevent cavitiesDental Emergency
A toothache is a signal that something needs attention.
Tooth pain doesn't resolve on its own. Whatever is causing it needs to be treated before it progresses.
We accommodate emergency dental visits on a same-day basis whenever possible. If you're experiencing a toothache, call us at (905) 479-7777. We'll get you in quickly and address the problem.
Schedule Emergency Appointment
Why Toothaches Happen
Understanding tooth pain
Tooth pain ranges from a dull, persistent ache to sharp, throbbing discomfort that disrupts sleep, eating, and concentration. The pain is your body's signal that something is wrong—and the cause must be identified and treated.
Some tooth pain is temporary—caused by sensitivity to cold, heat, or pressure. But persistent pain always indicates a problem that won't resolve without treatment. The longer you wait, the worse the problem becomes and the more complex the treatment required.
Book Emergency AppointmentCommon Causes of Tooth Pain
What could be causing your toothache
Cavities & Tooth Decay
When cavity decay reaches the dentin (the layer beneath enamel), sensitivity and pain result from exposed tubules that transmit stimuli to the nerve.
As decay deepens toward the pulp, pain becomes more severe and constant, often causing throbbing or aching sensations.
Small cavities can be painless initially, which is why regular exams are essential to catch decay before it causes pain and requires more extensive treatment.
Prompt filling of early cavities prevents progression to nerve inflammation requiring root canal therapy.
Tooth Abscess (Infection)
A bacterial infection in the pulp chamber causes severe, throbbing pain that radiates to surrounding teeth, jaw, or ear.
Pain is often accompanied by swelling, fever, or a visible bump on the gum—signs that the body is fighting a serious infection.
An abscess is a dental emergency requiring immediate treatment: root canal therapy to remove the infected nerve, or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
Untreated abscesses can spread to the sinuses, bone, or even the bloodstream, creating serious systemic health risks.
Cracked or Fractured Tooth
A crack in a tooth can cause intermittent, sharp pain when biting or when the crack flexes under pressure.
Pain occurs because the crack creates a pathway for bacteria to irritate the nerve, or because the crack separates tooth structure, creating movement and stimulation.
Crack location and depth determine treatment options: small cracks may require bonding, larger cracks need crowns, and cracks extending into the root typically require extraction.
Advanced imaging helps identify cracks invisible to the naked eye; early identification prevents progression to severe pain and tooth loss.
What Could Be Causing Your Pain
Understanding different types of tooth pain
Key Details
Cavities are 100% preventable with good home care and regular professional cleanings. Once decay exists, early treatment is far simpler than treatment of advanced decay.
Advanced Periodontal Infection
Advanced periodontal infection can cause aching pain around teeth and gums—particularly when infection has reached the bone supporting the tooth. Pain may be dull, persistent, or sharp.
Prevent gum disease
Key Details
Unlike decay cavities, gum disease pain is often subtle. This is why regular exams are critical—we catch gum disease before significant bone is lost.
Impacted or Erupting Teeth
Pressure from wisdom teeth that cannot fully emerge causes pain in the back of the jaw. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are prone to infection, causing swelling, pain, and difficulty opening your mouth fully.
Learn about wisdom teeth
Key Details
Impacted wisdom teeth often cause no symptoms but are identified through routine x-rays during exams. Early evaluation prevents emergency pain.
Toothache Questions
When should I seek care
What indicates a dental emergency
Call immediately for: severe pain lasting more than a day or two that intensifies, pain accompanied by swelling (face, jaw, throat), fever, difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing, pain after trauma or injury. Dental infections can spread—early treatment prevents complications.
Over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) provides temporary relief. Avoid very hot or cold foods/drinks. Do not apply heat to the outside of your face (it can accelerate infection spread). These are temporary measures—the underlying cause still needs professional treatment.
Not all toothaches are emergencies. Mild sensitivity or a brief ache may be temporary. However, any toothache lasting more than a day, intensifying, or accompanied by swelling deserves prompt professional evaluation. Early diagnosis prevents progression to serious problems.
Not necessarily. The goal is always to preserve your tooth when possible. Early treatment of cavities with fillings, cracked teeth with crowns, and infected teeth with root canal therapy saves the tooth. Only when the tooth is unrestorable is extraction necessary.
Root canal therapy removes infected pulp from inside the tooth, eliminates bacteria, and fills the space with gutta-percha. The tooth is then crowned. Modern root canal therapy is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed. It saves a tooth that would otherwise require extraction.
We examine the tooth clinically, look for visible decay or fracture, test for sensitivity, and take x-rays to see decay beneath the surface and assess bone around the tooth. This comprehensive evaluation identifies the cause so we can recommend appropriate treatment.
Common Toothache Scenarios
Dr. Singh and the Vitality team understand that toothaches are urgent. We accommodate emergency visits same-day whenever possible. We diagnose quickly and treat effectively—either resolving the problem immediately or providing a path to resolution.
Over-the-counter pain medication doesn't address the cause. The sooner the source of pain is identified and treated, the simpler and more comfortable treatment will be.
Call for Emergency Care: (905) 479-7777 →
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