TOOTHACHE

Main Symptoms

Causes

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WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Call your doctor now (night or day) if:

Call your doctor within 24 hours (between 9am and 4pm) if:

Call your doctor during weekday office hours if:

Parent care at home if:


HOME CARE ADVICE

  1. Reassurance: Most toothaches are temporary and due to a sensitive tooth. If the pain becomes worse or doesn't resolve in 24 hours, it could be due to a small cavity.
  2. Floss: Floss on either side of the painful tooth to remove any wedged food.
  3. Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
  4. Local Cold: Apply an ice pack to the painful jaw for 20 minutes
  5. Expected Course: Most minor causes of toothache resolve in less than a day.
  6. Call Your Dentist If:
    • Toothache persists for more than 24 hours
    • The toothache becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.


REFERENCES

  1. Bimstein E. Peridontal health and disease in children and adolescents. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1991;38:1183-1207.
  2. Dorfman DH, Kastner B, Vinci RJ. Dental concerns unrelated to trauma in the pediatric emergency department. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:699-703.
  3. Edelstein BL. Evidence-based dental care for children and the age 1 dental visit. Pediatr Ann. 1998;27:569-574.
  4. Marek MA, Lindsell CJ, Jauch EC, Panioli AM. Effect of education and guidelines for treatment of uncomplicated dental pain on patient and provider behavior. Ann Emerg Med. 2004;44:323-329.
  5. Mueller W. When baby teeth decay. Contemp Pediatr. 1993;10:75.
  6. Wilson S, et al. Nontraumatic dental emergencies in a pediatric emergency department. Clin Pediatr. 1997;36:333-337.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

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