Throbbing Toothache: What It Means and When You Need an Emergency Dentist
A throbbing toothache is difficult to ignore. The pain may come in waves, feel as though it is beating in time with your pulse, become worse at night or suddenly become much stronger when you lie down.
Sometimes tooth pain begins as mild sensitivity and gradually becomes more intense. In other cases, severe pain can appear with little warning.
A persistent throbbing toothache should not be ignored. It can be a sign of decay, inflammation inside the tooth, infection, a cracked tooth or another dental problem that requires professional treatment.
If you are experiencing severe tooth pain in Leeds, the most important step is to contact a dentist and have the cause assessed rather than relying on painkillers alone. If the pain is severe or accompanied by swelling, you can also read our guide to emergency dental care in Leeds.
Why does a tooth start throbbing?
The hard outer surface of a tooth protects softer tissue inside it. At the centre of the tooth is the dental pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels.
When decay, trauma or infection reaches deeper layers of the tooth, the pulp can become irritated or inflamed. Because this tissue is enclosed inside the tooth, inflammation can produce intense pressure and pain.
This is one reason dental pain can feel unusually strong compared with the visible size of the problem.
A throbbing sensation does not identify the exact cause on its own. Several different dental conditions can produce very similar symptoms, which is why an examination and sometimes a dental X-ray are needed.
Common causes of throbbing toothache
One of the most common causes is tooth decay.
A small cavity may initially cause no symptoms. As decay progresses deeper into the tooth, you may notice sensitivity to sweet foods, cold drinks or hot drinks. If the decay approaches the pulp, the pain can become stronger and more persistent.
Another possibility is pulpitis – inflammation of the dental pulp.
In its earlier stages, irritation may still be reversible. More advanced inflammation can produce spontaneous pain, prolonged sensitivity and throbbing that continues even when you are not eating or drinking.
A dental infection or abscess can also cause severe toothache. An abscess may develop when bacteria reach the pulp or tissues surrounding the root of a tooth.
Other possible causes include:
- a cracked or fractured tooth;
- a damaged or leaking filling;
- decay beneath an old filling or crown;
- gum infection;
- trauma to the tooth;
- pressure around an erupting wisdom tooth;
- excessive pressure from grinding or clenching the teeth.
If you have recently lost a filling, see our guide on what to do when a filling falls out.
Why is toothache often worse at night?
Many patients notice that dental pain becomes much more noticeable when they go to bed.
During the day, work, conversation and other activities can distract you from pain. At night there are fewer distractions, making the discomfort much more noticeable.
Lying flat may also make a throbbing sensation feel stronger in some patients.
This does not mean that night-time toothache has a different cause. However, pain that repeatedly wakes you from sleep is a good reason to arrange a dental assessment promptly.
When is throbbing toothache an emergency?
Not every brief episode of tooth sensitivity requires an emergency appointment.
However, you should contact a dentist promptly if the pain is:
- severe;
- persistent;
- getting progressively worse;
- preventing you from sleeping;
- making it difficult to eat;
- occurring without an obvious trigger;
- continuing long after exposure to hot or cold food.
The situation becomes more urgent if toothache is accompanied by swelling, fever, an unpleasant taste in the mouth or tenderness around the tooth.
Facial or gum swelling may indicate that an infection is developing or spreading.
Poldent Dental Care aims to provide same-day emergency dental appointments in Leeds whenever possible. You can find the practice details on our Leeds contact page.
Toothache with swelling
Pain combined with swelling deserves particular attention.
You may notice swelling of the gum around the tooth, a small lump on the gum, swelling of the cheek or tenderness under the jaw.
These symptoms can be associated with dental infection.
Do not try to burst, puncture or drain a swelling yourself.
Dental infections usually require treatment of the source of the problem. Depending on the diagnosis, this may involve drainage, root canal treatment, extraction or another dental procedure.
Antibiotics may be appropriate in some situations, but they do not necessarily remove the source of the dental problem.
What does a dental abscess feel like?
Symptoms can vary, but a dental abscess may cause:
- intense or throbbing toothache;
- pain when biting;
- swelling of the gum or face;
- sensitivity to temperature;
- a bad taste in the mouth;
- tenderness around the tooth;
- sometimes fever or feeling generally unwell.
Pain can occasionally decrease if pressure inside an abscess is released. That does not necessarily mean the infection has resolved.
Dental assessment is still required.
What if the tooth suddenly stops hurting?
This can be misleading.
If a severely painful tooth suddenly becomes painless, it does not always mean that the tooth has recovered.
In some cases, the nerve inside a badly damaged or infected tooth can lose vitality. The original pain may decrease even though infection remains around the root.
For that reason, a history of severe toothache should still be discussed with a dentist even if the pain later improves.
What can a dentist do for severe toothache?
The first priority is to determine where the pain is coming from.
Your dentist will normally ask when the pain started, what triggers it, whether it wakes you at night and whether you have noticed swelling or other symptoms.
The tooth and surrounding gums can then be examined.
A dental X-ray may be required to look for decay, infection around the root, bone changes or other problems that cannot be seen directly.
Treatment depends entirely on the cause.
For example, a damaged filling may need to be replaced. Deep decay may require more extensive restoration. If the pulp is irreversibly inflamed or infected, endodontic treatment may be considered. A tooth that cannot be predictably restored may sometimes require extraction.
You can also view current treatment fees on the Poldent dentistry price list.
Can I treat toothache at home?
You can sometimes reduce discomfort temporarily, but home treatment cannot repair decay, remove infected pulp or restore a cracked tooth.
While waiting for your dental appointment, avoid chewing on the painful side and avoid foods or drinks that trigger the pain.
Over-the-counter pain relief may help when taken according to the instructions and when suitable for you. A pharmacist can advise if you are uncertain about which medication you can safely take.
Do not place aspirin or other painkillers directly against the gum or tooth.
Do not apply household chemicals, alcohol or adhesive to a painful tooth.
Do not use leftover antibiotics from an earlier illness.
These approaches can delay proper treatment or damage the surrounding tissues.
Should I go to hospital for toothache?
Most toothache should be assessed by a dentist rather than a hospital or GP.
However, urgent medical attention may be necessary if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, rapidly increasing swelling of the face or neck, major facial trauma or bleeding that cannot be controlled.
When you cannot access urgent dental care, NHS 111 can advise you on appropriate services.
Can a painful tooth still be saved?
Often, yes.
The chances depend on the amount of healthy tooth structure remaining, the extent of decay or fracture, the condition of the roots and surrounding tissues and how quickly the problem is treated.
A tooth that might initially be restored can become more difficult to save if decay or infection is allowed to progress.
This is why repeatedly treating severe toothache with painkillers without having the tooth examined is generally a poor long-term strategy.
Early assessment usually gives the dentist more treatment options.
Throbbing toothache after a filling
Some sensitivity after dental treatment can occur, particularly after a deep filling.
However, increasing pain, spontaneous throbbing, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold or pain that begins to disturb your sleep should be reported to your dentist.
Occasionally, a heavily restored tooth may have inflammation deeper inside the tooth that requires further treatment.
A filling may also occasionally feel too high when biting, producing discomfort when the tooth is under pressure.
The cause needs to be assessed rather than guessed.
Pain when biting on a tooth
Pain that occurs mainly when biting can have several causes.
It may be associated with a cracked tooth, inflammation around the root, an infected tooth, a damaged filling or excessive bite pressure.
Cracks can be particularly difficult to diagnose because they are not always visible and may not appear clearly on a standard X-ray.
If you repeatedly experience a sharp or deep pain when chewing on one particular tooth, arrange an examination.
Toothache in Leeds: when should you call a dentist?
You do not need to wait until the pain becomes unbearable.
Contact a dentist if the pain persists, repeatedly returns, wakes you at night or begins to interfere with eating and normal activities.
You should make contact more urgently if there is swelling, fever, trauma or rapidly increasing pain.
At Poldent Dental Care in Leeds, patients with severe toothache, broken teeth, swelling and other urgent dental problems can contact the practice to ask for the earliest available emergency appointment.
For a wider explanation of urgent situations, read when you should seek emergency dental care in Leeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my tooth throbbing but there is no swelling?
Inflammation can develop inside a tooth before visible swelling occurs. Decay, pulp inflammation or a crack can therefore cause significant pain without facial or gum swelling.
Does throbbing pain mean I need root canal treatment?
Not necessarily. Throbbing pain has several possible causes. Root canal treatment is appropriate only when examination and diagnosis show that the pulp is irreversibly inflamed or infected and the tooth is suitable for treatment.
Can toothache disappear on its own?
Symptoms can fluctuate, but disappearance of pain does not necessarily mean that the underlying problem has resolved.
How long should I wait before seeing a dentist?
Persistent, worsening or severe pain should be assessed promptly. Do not wait several days if the pain prevents you from sleeping or is associated with swelling or fever.
Can an emergency dentist stop toothache immediately?
The dentist will first identify the cause. In many cases treatment can significantly reduce pain, but the exact procedure and whether definitive treatment can be completed during the first appointment depend on the condition of the tooth.
Emergency Dentist in Leeds
If you are suffering from severe or throbbing toothache, contact Poldent Dental Care in Leeds rather than waiting for the symptoms to become worse.
The Leeds practice is located at Unit 3–4, Dock Green Court, Stanley Road, Leeds, LS9 7BF.
Call Leeds: 0113 249 1119
Poldent aims to provide same-day emergency appointments whenever possible. Calling as early as possible gives the reception team the best opportunity to arrange the earliest available appointment.