Toothache
Why does my tooth hurt?
A toothache is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
Start with what you feel
Dental symptoms and what they usually mean
Patients describe symptoms, not diagnoses. Each page below explains what that symptom usually turns out to be, what you can sensibly do before you are seen, and when it should be treated the same day — written and reviewed by the specialists who treat it here.
Do not wait for these
- Swelling that is spreading, or that affects swallowing, mouth opening or breathing
- A permanent tooth knocked out — replanting works best within the first hour
- Bleeding after an extraction that does not stop with firm pressure
- Pain with fever and feeling unwell
- An ulcer, lump or white or red patch lasting more than two weeks
Facial or gum swelling
Why is my face or gum swollen?
Swelling means infection has spread beyond the tooth into the surrounding tissue.
Bleeding gums
Why do my gums bleed when I brush?
Healthy gums do not bleed when cleaned.
Sensitive teeth
Why are my teeth sensitive to cold and sweet things?
Sensitivity is dentine responding to a stimulus through open tubules — the layer under the enamel is exposed somewhere.
Bad breath
Why do I have persistent bad breath?
In most cases persistent bad breath (halitosis) is produced in the mouth, by bacteria breaking down protein and releasing volatile sulphur compounds.
A loose tooth
Why is my tooth loose?
In an adult, a loose tooth means the attachment holding it has been lost or damaged.
Mouth ulcer or sore
Why do I have a mouth ulcer that will not heal?
Most mouth ulcers are minor aphthous ulcers or trauma from a sharp tooth, a denture edge or an orthodontic bracket, and they settle within ten to fourteen days once the cause is removed.
Jaw pain or clicking
Why does my jaw hurt or click when I open?
Pain, clicking or restricted opening usually comes from the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that move it.
A knocked-out or broken tooth
What do I do if a tooth is knocked out or broken?
This is one of the few dental situations where minutes matter.
Stained or discoloured teeth
Why are my teeth discoloured?
Discolouration is either extrinsic — a surface film from tea, coffee, tobacco or chromogenic bacteria, removable by cleaning — or intrinsic, where the tooth structure itself is darker, from ageing dentine, fluorosis, tetracycline, trauma or a dead nerve.