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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

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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

774 Reviews

5.0
SD

Stephen Dawson

Very professional , thorough & informative. Jason was also very personable/ stand up guy

26th June 2025

Option of enhanced treatment offered/explained and accepted

26th June 2025

Welcoming at reception and hygienist was outstanding

19th June 2025

Mayhill is an outstanding dental practice.

15th June 2025

Ellen reception always helpful and pleasant.Catherine hygienist excellent. Takes time to explain and does not rush you. Used a new machine today EMS which was a lot less uncomfortable for me.Am considering joining , with my husband the dental Mayhill plan.

15th June 2025

Treatment explained well. Listened to my feedback. Polite and friendly staff

12th June 2025

Caring, professional service.

11th June 2025

I am a nervous patient but dentist totally put me at my ease. He explained everything that he was doing.

11th June 2025

Credit is due for the personal attention, professional service and good humour from Sarah and Holly in the first appointment and for Tracey and Casey in the second appointment. They were of a high order to their personal credit. As I said to Sarah and Tracey while they deserve credit so do Holly and Casey supporting them. They concurred!

11th June 2025

Great staff and service.

11th June 2025

Attention and care cannot be faulted. Compared to my previous experiences at a previous dentist, though less costly, they were poor. Happy to pay the price for the exceptional care at Mayhill on offer.

10th June 2025

My dentist is professional, has time to discuss and explain all options, he gives great feedback is very encouraging on what I need to do and remember ( or does his homework before I arrive ) as Iv had a few problems they have been amazing at working through which makes me feel valued.

10th June 2025

It felt as if nothing was too much trouble for everyone looking after me that morning. The receptionists, dental nurses and both of the dentists. Absolutely wonderful care and loving attention.

7th June 2025

I have built a wonderful rapport with the team at Mayhill. They are extremely knowledgeable, and explain everything very clearly. In the two years I've been there, I have completely transformed my daily brushing routine with the amazing support of Tracy the hygienist, and completely overcome my fear of dental treatment. I was even able to have a tooth extraction performed without sedation, which I never dreamt would be possible, since I was such a nervous patient when I started. Transfering to Mayhill was one of the best decisions I have ever made for my health and wellbeing

6th June 2025

Good consultant and clerical staff.

6th June 2025

Always make you feel welcome , and nothing is to much trouble. X

5th June 2025

I am a nervous patient and I feel I am being looked after very well

5th June 2025

The friendliness and professionalism of the whole team, particularly Jason and Tracy who are excellent.

5th June 2025

The care from David Guppy. He has been superb all the time I have attended

5th June 2025

Excellent treatment from start to finish.

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