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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 The Mayhill Dental and Specialist Centre to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your The Mayhill Dental and Specialist Centre 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 The Mayhill Dental and Specialist Centre 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 The Mayhill Dental and Specialist Centre in Monmouth as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01600 712020 .

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to The Mayhill Dental and Specialist Centre. 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…

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Patient reviews

794 Reviews

5.0

18th July 2025

I trust your expertise so am relaxed when treated by you.

17th July 2025

The team are very personable, knowledgeable and always helpful with advice. It's very rare you have to wait for your appointment and most importantly the team have great expertese. I also like that they are continuing to invest in new methods, treatment practices and ideas. It's the best practice that I have been a part of, so for me they are doing a great job.

16th July 2025

It’s good to be able to combine visits to the dentist and hygienist at the same appointment. The staff are always friendly and professional here.

15th July 2025

From first contact with the Reception staff through to the welcome once I attended the clinic and the expertise and professionalism of the dentist and dental nurse, I experienced the highest standards of service and customer care. I was provided with a full explanation of my treatment plan with thorough examination and medical history taken together with time taken to ensure I fully understood the process. I had to wait a short time for the appointment but had a personal apology for the delay twice during that short time. This is a practice that upholds the highest standards of customer care and makes you feel very welcome and that you are the priority during your time at the practice.

11th July 2025

WelcomingFriendly Professional

10th July 2025

It is a profesionally run, pleasent, and forward thinking practice

9th July 2025

Staff have always been excellent. Tracey has been excellent throughout, explaining what has to be done to keep my teeth clean. Also very personable. Similarly Jason has been thorough and explains what/why he is doing during the check up. Reception are always helpful and pleasant, we both think it was the best thing we did coming to this Dental Clinic - 10+ years ago.

9th July 2025

Always an A1 service

8th July 2025

A totally professional experience, everyone was helpful and nothing appeared to be too much trouble.I cannot fault anything during my visit, even the staff seemed happy to be at work and that was clear when speaking to the staff.

6th July 2025

Just excellent all round

5th July 2025

I always get great care from Tracey and Jason - and their support team.

4th July 2025

Excellent knowledgeable staff. Very welcoming.

4th July 2025

Excellent service, friendly, all very well explained. Ben G is simply the best.

4th July 2025

This is an amazing dental surgery. Everyone I’ve met there has been friendly, welcoming and utterly professional. I trust them completely with my treatment and always have a great experience there. Fantastic team!

4th July 2025

Seen immediately, friendly service and everything explained clearly.

3rd July 2025

Everyone is extremely professional and pleasant.

DT

Deb Tennant

Friendly, professional. Thanks

2nd July 2025

Totally reassured that the best is being done to care for my dental health and hygiene - very professional and caring staff - thank you.

2nd July 2025

Always kind and polite

1st July 2025

The treatment was completed at one session.

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