Dental advice and emergency guides

Toothache can have several causes. This guide explains what may be happening, what you can do safely while waiting, and when symptoms need urgent help.

A dental abscess is a pocket of infection that needs urgent dental treatment. This guide explains warning signs, what you can do while waiting, and when swelling becomes a medical emergency.

Facial swelling can come from a dental infection, injury or another medical cause. This guide explains dental warning signs, urgent next steps and when swelling needs 999 or A&E.

A broken tooth can range from a small chip to a painful fracture or dental injury. This guide explains safe immediate steps, urgent dental signs and when trauma needs 999 or A&E.

A knocked-out adult tooth is time-critical. This guide explains what a permanent tooth means, how to handle it safely, and when injuries need emergency medical help.

A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back into the socket. This guide explains why, what to do next, and when a child needs urgent medical help.

A lost filling can leave a tooth sensitive or open to trapped food. This guide explains temporary steps, when dental care is urgent, and when symptoms need medical emergency help.

Wisdom tooth pain can come from a tooth partly coming through, trapped food, gum inflammation or infection. This guide explains safe steps today and when symptoms need urgent help.

Dry socket is painful inflammation of a tooth socket after an extraction. This guide explains typical symptoms, safe steps while waiting, and when to seek urgent dental care.

A loose or lost dental crown needs dental assessment. This guide explains how to reduce risk, when care is urgent, and why household glue is unsafe.

A broken filling can leave a tooth sharp, sensitive or open to trapped food. This guide explains short-term steps, urgent signs and what a dentist may do.

Some blood-stained saliva can happen after a tooth is removed, but active bleeding from the socket needs firm pressure and may need urgent assessment.

A tooth can become loose, displaced or tender after a knock or fall. This guide explains how to protect it and when injury signs need urgent help.

A broken brace, sharp wire or loose orthodontic part can irritate the mouth. This guide explains safer temporary steps, who to contact and when airway symptoms need emergency help.

A cracked, loose or broken denture can rub, cut, affect eating or create a choking risk. This guide explains safe temporary steps and when symptoms need urgent help.

Tooth sensitivity is usually a short, sharp feeling triggered by cold, hot, sweet or touch. Persistent, severe or worsening symptoms need dental advice.

Pain when biting can be linked with a tooth, filling, crown, crack, gum or bite problem. It needs assessment if it persists, worsens or follows trauma.

Toothache that feels worse at night can affect sleep and may need urgent dental advice if it is severe, worsening or linked with swelling.

Some sensitivity can happen after a filling, but pain that is worsening, not settling or painful on biting should be checked by the treating dental practice.

A treated tooth can feel tender for a time, but worsening pain, swelling, fever or a bad taste needs advice from the treating practice or urgent dental care.

Pain under a crown can be linked with the tooth, gum, bite, cement or the crown itself. A dentist needs to assess the cause if symptoms persist or worsen.

Temperature sensitivity can be brief or lingering. Pain that lasts after the trigger, wakes you or appears with swelling needs dental advice.

Bleeding gums can happen with brushing or eating hard foods. Persistent, worsening or unexplained bleeding should be assessed by a dentist.

Swollen gums may be local or more general. Spreading swelling, facial swelling, fever or difficulty opening the mouth needs urgent advice.

Gum pain can come from inflammation, injury, ulcers, dental infection or irritation. Pain with swelling, fever or pus needs prompt dental advice.

A painful gum lump, pus, bad taste or swelling may need urgent dental assessment. Do not try to drain gum swelling yourself.

Gum recession can expose tooth roots and increase sensitivity. A dentist can assess the cause and advise how to reduce further damage.

Bad breath is common and often improves with mouth cleaning, but persistent bad breath, bleeding gums or a bad taste should be checked.

Mouth ulcers are common, but ulcers lasting more than three weeks, recurring often or linked with worrying symptoms should be assessed.

Dry mouth can feel uncomfortable and may increase the risk of tooth decay. Persistent dry mouth should be discussed with a dentist, GP or pharmacist.

Teeth grinding or clenching can be linked with tooth wear, sensitivity, jaw pain and headaches. A dentist can assess signs and discuss options.

Jaw pain can be dental, muscular, joint-related, injury-related or medical. Severe swelling, trauma or jaw locking needs prompt assessment.

A clicking jaw is common and may not need treatment if painless, but pain, locking or limited opening should be assessed.

Cracks can be difficult to identify. Pain on biting, release pain or sensitivity may need dental assessment even when no break is visible.

A filled tooth may feel different or sensitive. Contact the treating practice if pain is worsening, not settling or the bite feels high.

After root canal treatment, tenderness can occur. Contact the treating practice if pain is worsening, swelling develops or a temporary restoration feels loose.

A new crown may feel different at first. Contact the treating practice if the bite feels high, the crown is loose or pain is worsening.

After a tooth extraction, protect the socket and follow the treating clinician's aftercare advice. Worsening pain, bleeding or swelling needs advice.

After implant surgery, follow the implant team's instructions. Worsening swelling, discharge, fever, bleeding, numbness or implant movement needs assessment.

A first dental visit can help a child become familiar with dental care and lets parents or carers ask about toothbrushing, diet and development.

Children usually need help with brushing. UK guidance supports fluoride toothpaste, small age-appropriate amounts and parent or carer supervision.

Fluoride toothpaste helps protect children's teeth when used in age-appropriate amounts. A dentist may advise a different strength for individual risk.

Teething can cause mild gum discomfort, dribbling or chewing, but serious illness, high fever or severe symptoms should not be assumed to be teething.

Thumb sucking and dummy use are common. Effects on teeth depend on frequency, intensity, duration and the child's stage of development.

Tooth decay in children can start with subtle changes. A dentist needs to assess marks, holes, pain or swelling and advise on prevention.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste helps reduce dental disease risk. Technique, gumline cleaning and not rinsing straight away can matter.

Cleaning between teeth helps remove plaque from areas a toothbrush may miss. The best method can differ between people.

Mouthwash does not replace brushing or interdental cleaning. Some products may be useful when chosen for a specific reason or advised by a dental professional.

Dental decay risk is linked with how often teeth are exposed to sugars, not just one food or drink. Advice should stay practical and non-judgemental.

Smoking is linked with oral health problems including gum disease and delayed healing. Vaping should not be presented as harmless.

Dental check-up intervals should be personalised. Not everyone needs to attend every six months, and review timing depends on oral health risk.

A dental filling repairs a tooth affected by decay or damage. Material choice and suitability depend on the tooth, clinical findings and discussion with a dentist.

A dental crown covers a tooth to restore shape or protect remaining structure. It does not make a tooth immune to decay or gum problems.

Root canal treatment treats infection or inflammation inside a tooth. It aims to manage the tooth, but no treatment can promise that a tooth will be retained.

Tooth extraction removes a tooth when it is clinically appropriate. Alternatives, difficulty and aftercare depend on the tooth and dental findings.

Dental implants may replace missing teeth for some people, but suitability depends on assessment, bone, gum health, medical factors and maintenance.

Dentures replace missing teeth and may be full, partial or immediate. Adaptation, fit, cleaning and review are part of denture care.

Teeth whitening should follow professional assessment and legal UK requirements. Suitability, sensitivity and uneven results should be discussed first.

Composite bonding can change tooth shape or appearance in selected cases. It can chip, stain and need maintenance or replacement.

Dental veneers cover the front surface of teeth in selected cases. Tooth preparation may be irreversible and veneers need maintenance.

Clear aligners move teeth in selected cases and still require assessment, monitoring, attachments where needed and retention afterwards.

Fixed braces use brackets and wires to move teeth. Treatment time, suitability and results vary and need orthodontic assessment and monitoring.

Retainers help maintain tooth position after orthodontic treatment. Requirements vary, and teeth can move if retainers are not worn or no longer fit.