Tooth tender to touch, Pain kept you awake last night, Hot drinks make the pain worse, Cold drinks may make it Better.
- This is an abscess. You need this tooth treated as soon as possible. It will not get better by itself. For pain take Nurofen (if you are not allergic to aspirin), otherwise take Panadol or Panadeine.
Tooth will ache for no reason, possibly in waves. Pain is severe but then passes.
- This is probably an abscess starting. You need this tooth treated as soon as possible. It will not get better by itself. For pain take Nurofen (if you are not allergic to aspirin), otherwise take Panadol or Panadeine.
Tooth hurts when chewing hard things. Pain comes quickly and goes quickly. There is no pain at other times.
- This is most likely a cracked tooth of filling. This is generally not urgent if you avoid biting on the tooth, but should be looked at as soon as possible.
Tooth hurts when drinking or eating sweet things.
- This is most likely decay. This is not urgent but should be looked at as soon as possible.
Tooth sensitive to cold drinks.
- This can be any one of a number of things (new dental work, decay, cracked tooth, clenching and grinding). This is not urgent but should be looked at as soon as possible.