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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 Envisage Dental to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Envisage Dental 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 Envisage Dental 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 of discomfort, contact Envisage Dental in Portsmouth as soon as possible. Give us a call on 02392 380822.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Envisage Dental. 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

1197 Reviews

5.0

31st July 2025

The reception staff are lovely - they recognise me immediately and were so kind to me, following my husband’s recent death. The hygienist and dentist were also very pleasant and I trust them to look after me

29th July 2025

Listens to my concerns and wishes and explains options

25th July 2025

Lovely staff. Very friendly, welcoming and warm. Dentist was on time and able to help us with the issue my daughter had. Really happy, they make her feel safe and included which eases a lot of worry or anxiousness for her.

25th July 2025

My filling came out the night before and I was able to get an appointment that day

25th July 2025

The efficiency of the receptionist and the clinical expertise of the dentist, dental nurse and hygienist.

25th July 2025

The staff are always so friendly, and very attentive, they always make sure that you are ok during treatment, and are very good with you if you are a nervous patient, the reception ladies, are always bright and cheery, and make you feel at ease prior to going in to see the dentist, great team.

24th July 2025

Professional staff across the board. Clean, well maintained, asthetically pleasing surgery.

CM

Chris Le Manquais

Leona & assistant are lovely, makes you feel relaxed & puts you at ease ! Reception staff always pleasant too.

KM

Kathy Mullins

The girls on reception are always very friendly and accomodating.

23rd July 2025

After not attending for a few years the staff made me feel at ease , The dentist was very friendly and helpful

AF

Adrian Fretter

Lovely staff at this non-NHS dental practice.

19th July 2025

Lovely dentist

19th July 2025

With both the dentist and hygienist both carried out their examination with complete courtesy and professionalism giving advice and explaining any way to improve dental hygiene etc.

19th July 2025

I was welcomed in a very friendly manner. I only waited a couple of minutes to be seenMy dentist was extremely efficient in her work. I asked her for follow up advice on information she had given me at my last appointment. She talked me through options and has enabled me to make a decision on future treatment ie a particular type of denture. The dental assistant was attentive. The surgery was clean and smart.

19th July 2025

All the Staff are perfect, they really look after you, Rodica, has been my dentist for nearly 15 years now, she has looked after me brilliantly and without any pain, and im not the best patient and a little lazy

DH

Dawn Harris

It was very friendly and professional made me feel relaxed as I always get nervous .

JD

Julie Dennett

A good overall experience today - no work required. The reception staff were lovely as was the hygienist. The dentist and her assistant were, lovely, friendly and welcoming.

KB

Kane Benham

All the staff are fantastic, always helpful, accommodating and supportive, Rodica, is simply amazing, been my dentist for many years now, has always looked after me, and advises and tells me off when needed lol, the hygienist team do a fantastic job, and all in all it’s a great practice

WJ

Will Jones

The team at Envisage Drayton are friendly, helpful and very professional. I’d really recommend this dental practice for their great service!

KP

Kim Pullen

Excellent service as always, thank you!

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