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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Toothache

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth. Minor toothaches can come from a temporary gum irritation which may be treated at home. More serious toothaches are caused by dental and mouth problems that are more difficult and will need to be treated by a dentist.

Possible causes of toothache can include:

  • Tooth decay
  • Abscessed tooth
  • A cracked or damaged tooth
  • A loose or broken filling
  • An infection – this often happens when a tooth (such as a wisdom tooth) has broken the skin, but does not have enough room to fully come through
  • Problems with your braces
  • Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth
  • Infected gums

Symptoms of a toothache may include:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Fever or headache
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth

When should I see a dentist about a toothache?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

  • You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
  • Your toothache is severe
  • You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at Envisage Dental Ferndown to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Envisage Dental Ferndown dentist will need to examine you, and possibly take x-rays, in order to identify the cause of your toothache. Once this has been identified, they will conduct any temporary treatment to relieve your pain and advise if further treatment is required to address the underlying issue.

Possible treatments may include:

  • If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or take the tooth out, if necessary.
  • A root canal (a procedure to remove and replace infected pulp with sealing material) may be needed if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.
  • An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw.
  • A small piece of food (like a popcorn hull) can get stuck under the gums causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended followed by further periodontal (gum) therapy if necessary.

Preventing toothache

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your Envisage Dental Ferndown dentist regularly for professional cleaning and reviews. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

How do I treat a toothache at home?

For temporary relief of a toothache, the following can be followed at home:

  • Avoid extremes of temperature, such as hot drinks or very cold foods like ice cream
  • Avoid sugary or acidic foods, especially sweets or fizzy drinks, even diet ones, as these can aggravate the pain
  • Eat soft foods, like yoghurt or scrambled eggs, and try to avoid chewing with the sore tooth
  • Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol
  • Use an over-the-counter anaesthetic gel, for example Orajel, which you can buy in a pharmacy, to help relieve the pain
  • Continue to brush and floss your teeth as thoroughly as possible, and rub toothpaste directly onto the sore tooth or area
  • Rinse with warm saltwater. Salt water can loosen debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
  • Use mouthwash suitable for gum problems, such as Corsodyl or Peroxyl, from your local pharmacy
  • Massage the gum around the tooth to help ease pain
  • Use cloves or cotton wool to place clove oil over the painful tooth or area of the mouth. You can buy cloves in supermarkets
  • Keep your head elevated at night. Lying down can increase blood pressure in the tooth and cause pain
  • Keep the area cold by using a cool pack or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Apply this to your cheek. Don’t apply ice directly to the tooth as this can increase pain and damage the tissue

If you have any toothache or discomfort, contact Envisage Dental Ferndown in Ferndown as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01202 871488.

Meet the team

Sue Walker

Dentist

GDC NO. 64514

Dr. Tom Rowland

Dentist

GDC NO. 279282

Sarah Mussell

Dentist

GDC NO. 251312

Rebecca Jones

Dentist

GDC NO. 81893

Ibrahim Karakus

Dentist

GDC NO. 211372

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Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Envisage Dental Ferndown. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

1312 Reviews

5.0

5th July 2025

Welcoming friendly co-operative, helpful and understanding reception staff combined with courteous, polite and experienced dentist as well as pleasant and attentive dental nurse. Thanks to everyone involved for arranging my appointment at very short notice on a Friday saving me a weekend of pain.

4th July 2025

very friendly and professional hygenist

3rd July 2025

Claire is the best hygienist I have experienced in Dorset. I have a very lower threshold to pain and Claire is mindful of this. Great care and great service. Thank you.

3rd July 2025

The reception staff are always welcoming and polite. Tom is friendly and efficient and explains everything as he goes along.

3rd July 2025

My teeth don't just look great they also feel good. Good to use!? I have my own Hollywood smile

3rd July 2025

Friendly & Happy staff was great to have some banter too !

3rd July 2025

Friendly staff

27th June 2025

The reception staff were very helpful with a question I had about my dental plan. They did not know the answer so they phoned and came back to me with the answer before my appointment. They are always very polite and welcoming.I am not a fan of going to the dentist having had some not so good experiences with the dentist as a child and with one previous dentist.The dentist and hygienist are mindful of this and always reassure me explaining what they are going to do before starting. This had made it a much more positive experience since joining Envisage Ferndown several years ago.

27th June 2025

Just great really

26th June 2025

Have been going there for a very long time. Always polite , helpfull and very informative

26th June 2025

Friendly and helpful

25th June 2025

Envisage has always made me feel totally comfortable and confident during my visits.

17th June 2025

Friendly atmosphere, experienced staff.

17th June 2025

First class service

15th June 2025

Beckky takes great care to do the best job she can. She and the assistant were friendly, efficient and professional

14th June 2025

Staff are always friendly and helpful. My dentist is excellent and explains everything well and not pushy. Also has a lovely manner.

14th June 2025

The overall friendliness, efficiency and surroundings.

14th June 2025

Thank you for your excellent service ,keep the best job.Tom and his team is amazing dentist, very friendly, helpful and he kept me informed what they were doing,before, during, and after tretament/ surgery , and make me so relax during the tretment.

13th June 2025

All persons were very friendly and helpful with a high degree of professionalism.

13th June 2025

I am a very nervous patient. Sue walker is understanding and patient with me

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