Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsWhen to Seek CareManaging PainDental Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
When to Seek Care
Managing Pain
Dental Treatment
Never try to live with cavity pain. Left untreated, the decay can spread to the entire tooth and start to affect adjacent teeth as well.
Verywell / JR Bee
How Do Cavities Cause Pain?
A cavity is a hole in a tooth that develops due totooth decay. It forms when acids in your mouth erode your tooth’s hard outer layer, called theenamel.
Poor dental hygieneis the primary cause of this. When you don’t brush and floss regularly as you should, a thin film of bacteria calledplaquebuilds up on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce the acid that can harm enamel and cause cavities.
As theenamel gradually erodes, the bacteria will continue to push into the softer inner material, called the pulp, which is rich in nerves and blood vessels. The invasion will trigger aninflammatory reactionas the immune system tries to control the infection.
The inflammation, in turn, causes the pulp to swell, compressing nerves in the tooth and resulting in tooth pain.
What Does Cavity Pain Feel Like?
Dental cavities cause localized pain that can radiate to the jaw and face, particularly when you bite down or chew. The pain, described as atoothache, can be persistent, throbbing, or jolting depending on the size and location of the cavity.
Other symptoms of a cavity include:
Hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods make toothaches worse because the layer underlying the enamel, calleddentin, is populated with tiny fluid-filled channels. Eating or drinking these foods can alter the flow of fluid in these channels, increasing pressure within the pulp and leading to sudden jolts of pain.
Throbbing pain is often a sign of a pocket of pus called atooth abscess. As the infection worsens, the abscess can enlarge, compressing not only nerves but also blood vessels in the pulp. The resulting pain is not only throbbing but persistent and will almost invariably get worse until treatment is delivered.
When to Call Your Dentist
Call your dentist to make an appointment if you have or suspect you have a cavity. This is especially true if an abscess develops, during which you may experience:
The pain can come and go, so don’t cancel your appointment if the pain fades temporarily. The damage won’t repair itself, so the pain will surely rebound.
How to Manage Pain Before Your Appointment
Watch What You Eat
The first rule of thumb is to avoid foods and drinks that are very cold, very hot, sugary, or acidic.
This includes sugary foods or beverages made with refined sugar, brown sugar, glucose, honey, maple syrup, or high-fructose corn syrup.Artificial sweetenersmay be a reasonable, short-term option as they do not have the same effect on dentin and are notcariogenic(cavity-causing).
Acidic foods to avoid include:
You should also focus on eating amechanical soft dietthat requires less chewing but still provides the nutrition you need. These include foods like:
Use Cold Therapy
While eating or drinking cold foods should be avoided if you have a cavity, applying a cold compress to your cheek may be a reasonable option if there is pain or swelling of your face or jaw.Cold therapyshrinks underlying blood vessels, reducing redness and swelling, while helping numb the pain.
The cold compress or ice pack should only be applied for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Always place a cloth barrier between the ice pack and your skin to preventfrostbite.
Cold therapy can be performed several times a day as needed.Heating pads, on the other hand, are avoided as they cause blood vessels to dilate (widen), increasing inflammation and making symptoms worse.
Consider Pain Medication
If your dentist says it’s okay, you can take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever to ease toothache pain.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)work best as they are bothanalgesic(pain-relieving) and block compounds calledprostaglandinsthat trigger inflammation.
OTC NSAIDs commonly used for this include:
If you need more pain relief,Tylenol (acetaminophen)can be combined with an NSAID. Tylenol is not an NSAID but has analgesic properties similar to NSAIDs.
Try Clove Oil
Another option is cloves oil which contains a volatile agent calledeugenolthat has a numbing effect. Clove oil is used in certain dental materials because of its analgesic and antimicrobial (germ-killing) properties.You can find clove oil in most health food stores.
To use clove oil:
You can apply clove oil every two to three hours but do not swallow any of the oil. If swallowed or overused, clove oil can cause sore throat, stomach upset, gum redness, and gum sores.
Clove oil is intended for the short-term relief of tooth pain, and should not be used as a substitute for appropriate dental treatment.
Keep Your Mouth Clean
Do not avoid brushing or flossing if you have a cavity. Doing so allows damaging bacteria to remain in your mouth, further eroding teeth and potentially causing other cavities.
When brushing, use the softest toothbrush possible. Avoid vibrating toothbrushes and water flossers that can make the pain worse. You can also trydental flossdesigned for sensitive teeth, like Tom of Maine’s Dental Floss.
After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. It is not only soothing but also helps to kill bacteria.
To make a saltwater rinse, dilute up to 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of baking soda (optional) in 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Swish the salt water around your mouth for about 30 seconds. Spit out and do not swallow.
You can also use an OTC mouthwash likeListerinewhich contains essential oils—like eucalyptol from the eucalyptus tree, menthol from mint plants, and thymol from thyme—that have antimicrobial and numbing properties.
1:367 Tips for Preventing Cavities
1:36
7 Tips for Preventing Cavities
Fill It at Home
Some pharmacies sell OTC filling material that can temporarily seal a cavity. If you can identify exactly where the cavity is, a filler may help ease pain and protect the tooth.
With that said, ask your dentist before using any filling material. Overpacking the cavity may increase pressure within the pulp and make the pain worse. It may also trap bacteria that will continue to grow and promote the formation of an abscess.
Products like DenTek and Dentemp are used as interim solutions until dental treatment can be delivered. But, it is important to note that these products are intended for the temporary replacement offillingsorcaps, not cavities.
What to Expect at the Dentist Appointment
Depending on the extent of the tooth erosion, the treatment may involve:
Summary
You will also need to maintain good dental hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. A saltwater rinse or mouthwash like Listerine may help.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.National Institute of Aging.Taking care of your teeth and mouth.Liu XX, Tenenbaum HC, Wilder RS, Quock R, Hewlett EF, Ren YF.Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of dentin hypersensitivity: an evidence-based overview for dental practitioners.BMC Oral Health. 2020 Aug 6;20:220. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01199-zMiranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E, et al.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.Open Dent J. 2018 Jul 31;12:520–528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520National Health Services (UK).Dental abscess.Al Humaid J.Sweetener content and cariogenic potential of pediatric oral medications: a literature.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2018 May-Jun;12(3):75–82.Gupta M.Sugar substitutes: mechanism, availability, current use and safety concerns-an update.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018 Oct 19;6(10):1888–1894. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.336American Dental Association.Erosion: what you eat and drink can impact teeth.Christianson TM, Morris K.6.4 Special diets. In:Personal Care Skills for Health Care Assistants. Kamloops (BC): Thompson Rivers University; 2023.Alberta Health Services (Canada).Abscessed tooth: care instructions.American Dental Associations.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.Aitken P, Stanescu I, Playne R, Zhang J, Frampton CMA, Atkinson HC.An integrated safety analysis of combined acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Maxigesic ® /Combogesic®) in adults.J Pain Res. 2019;12:621–34. doi:10.2147/JPR.S189605Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066MedlinePlus.Clove.International Journal of Dental Clinics.Salt water rinse for gums: is it effective?Alsheri FA.The use of mouthwash containing essential oils (Listerine) to improve oral health: a systematic review.Saudi Dent J. 2017 Dec 19;30(1):2–6. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2017.12.004
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.National Institute of Aging.Taking care of your teeth and mouth.Liu XX, Tenenbaum HC, Wilder RS, Quock R, Hewlett EF, Ren YF.Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of dentin hypersensitivity: an evidence-based overview for dental practitioners.BMC Oral Health. 2020 Aug 6;20:220. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01199-zMiranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E, et al.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.Open Dent J. 2018 Jul 31;12:520–528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520National Health Services (UK).Dental abscess.Al Humaid J.Sweetener content and cariogenic potential of pediatric oral medications: a literature.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2018 May-Jun;12(3):75–82.Gupta M.Sugar substitutes: mechanism, availability, current use and safety concerns-an update.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018 Oct 19;6(10):1888–1894. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.336American Dental Association.Erosion: what you eat and drink can impact teeth.Christianson TM, Morris K.6.4 Special diets. In:Personal Care Skills for Health Care Assistants. Kamloops (BC): Thompson Rivers University; 2023.Alberta Health Services (Canada).Abscessed tooth: care instructions.American Dental Associations.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.Aitken P, Stanescu I, Playne R, Zhang J, Frampton CMA, Atkinson HC.An integrated safety analysis of combined acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Maxigesic ® /Combogesic®) in adults.J Pain Res. 2019;12:621–34. doi:10.2147/JPR.S189605Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066MedlinePlus.Clove.International Journal of Dental Clinics.Salt water rinse for gums: is it effective?Alsheri FA.The use of mouthwash containing essential oils (Listerine) to improve oral health: a systematic review.Saudi Dent J. 2017 Dec 19;30(1):2–6. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2017.12.004
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.National Institute of Aging.Taking care of your teeth and mouth.Liu XX, Tenenbaum HC, Wilder RS, Quock R, Hewlett EF, Ren YF.Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of dentin hypersensitivity: an evidence-based overview for dental practitioners.BMC Oral Health. 2020 Aug 6;20:220. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01199-zMiranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E, et al.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.Open Dent J. 2018 Jul 31;12:520–528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520National Health Services (UK).Dental abscess.Al Humaid J.Sweetener content and cariogenic potential of pediatric oral medications: a literature.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2018 May-Jun;12(3):75–82.Gupta M.Sugar substitutes: mechanism, availability, current use and safety concerns-an update.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018 Oct 19;6(10):1888–1894. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.336American Dental Association.Erosion: what you eat and drink can impact teeth.Christianson TM, Morris K.6.4 Special diets. In:Personal Care Skills for Health Care Assistants. Kamloops (BC): Thompson Rivers University; 2023.Alberta Health Services (Canada).Abscessed tooth: care instructions.American Dental Associations.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.Aitken P, Stanescu I, Playne R, Zhang J, Frampton CMA, Atkinson HC.An integrated safety analysis of combined acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Maxigesic ® /Combogesic®) in adults.J Pain Res. 2019;12:621–34. doi:10.2147/JPR.S189605Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066MedlinePlus.Clove.International Journal of Dental Clinics.Salt water rinse for gums: is it effective?Alsheri FA.The use of mouthwash containing essential oils (Listerine) to improve oral health: a systematic review.Saudi Dent J. 2017 Dec 19;30(1):2–6. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2017.12.004
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.
National Institute of Aging.Taking care of your teeth and mouth.
Liu XX, Tenenbaum HC, Wilder RS, Quock R, Hewlett EF, Ren YF.Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of dentin hypersensitivity: an evidence-based overview for dental practitioners.BMC Oral Health. 2020 Aug 6;20:220. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01199-z
Miranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E, et al.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.Open Dent J. 2018 Jul 31;12:520–528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520
National Health Services (UK).Dental abscess.
Al Humaid J.Sweetener content and cariogenic potential of pediatric oral medications: a literature.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2018 May-Jun;12(3):75–82.
Gupta M.Sugar substitutes: mechanism, availability, current use and safety concerns-an update.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018 Oct 19;6(10):1888–1894. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.336
American Dental Association.Erosion: what you eat and drink can impact teeth.
Christianson TM, Morris K.6.4 Special diets. In:Personal Care Skills for Health Care Assistants. Kamloops (BC): Thompson Rivers University; 2023.
Alberta Health Services (Canada).Abscessed tooth: care instructions.
American Dental Associations.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.
Aitken P, Stanescu I, Playne R, Zhang J, Frampton CMA, Atkinson HC.An integrated safety analysis of combined acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Maxigesic ® /Combogesic®) in adults.J Pain Res. 2019;12:621–34. doi:10.2147/JPR.S189605
Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066
MedlinePlus.Clove.
International Journal of Dental Clinics.Salt water rinse for gums: is it effective?
Alsheri FA.The use of mouthwash containing essential oils (Listerine) to improve oral health: a systematic review.Saudi Dent J. 2017 Dec 19;30(1):2–6. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2017.12.004
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