If a tooth starts aching at night, first check whether you need urgent medical help. Otherwise, arrange a dental assessment and use temporary care while you wait. Pain relief does not tell you what caused the problem.
The short answer
- Get emergency medical care for breathing or speaking problems, or swelling around your eye or neck.
- Contact a dentist about toothache, particularly persistent pain, swelling, fever or pain when biting.
- Write down when the pain began, what changes it and any medicines you have taken.
By Dr Abhi Singh (Dentist), Byford Smiles. Published and sources checked: 14 November 2026.
When should I seek help rather than wait until morning?
Healthdirect advises emergency medical care if toothache or gum swelling causes problems breathing or speaking, or swelling around the eye or neck. Do not wait for a routine dental booking in those circumstances.
After an injury, trouble swallowing, heavy bleeding down the throat, or a very swollen mouth or tongue also needs urgent help. Healthdirect's dental-injury advice says to call triple zero (000) or go straight to an emergency department for those signs.
For toothache without those emergency signs, contact a dentist. Healthdirect says to see a dentist as soon as possible when pain lasts more than two days or does not improve with pain-relief medicine. It also advises a dental visit for fever, pain when biting, a bad taste, or cheek or jaw swelling. Those timeframes are not a reason to delay asking for help with a worsening concern.
What can I do temporarily while arranging a visit?
Temporary measures are for the waiting period, not a replacement for finding the cause. Healthdirect suggests the following:
- Rest with your head supported on a pillow; lying flat can sometimes make dental pain feel worse.
- Choose foods that are easy to chew and swallow, and avoid very hot or cold drinks.
- Keep your mouth clean with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Try a cold compress wrapped in a cloth against the side of your face.
If you need pain-relief advice, ask a pharmacist or doctor what is suitable for you and follow the packet instructions. Tell them about your medical conditions and other medicines. This article does not recommend a dose or a medicine for an individual person.
Healthdirect lists several possible causes of toothache, including decay, a cracked tooth, gum disease and an abscess. Symptoms alone do not establish which one you have. An examination, and sometimes an X-ray, helps the dentist identify the cause.
What should I say when I contact Byford Smiles?
Start with the concern and the symptoms rather than a treatment request: “I have a toothache that started last night. It hurts when I bite, and I have noticed swelling. Can you advise about an assessment?” Change those details to match what is actually happening.
Our Byford emergency dental service covers concerns such as toothache, damaged teeth and dental infection. Ask reception about current availability; this article does not promise an after-hours service or an appointment on a particular day.
- Describe the area and when the pain began.
- Say whether pain is constant, comes and goes, or changes with chewing, heat or cold.
- Mention swelling, fever, bleeding, a bad taste or a recent injury.
- List medicines already taken, relevant health conditions and allergies.
- Ask what to do if symptoms change before your appointment.
These notes follow the information Healthdirect says a dentist may ask about: dental and medical history, and what makes symptoms worse or better. They are a conversation aid, not an online diagnosis.
Does toothache mean I need an extraction?
Not necessarily. Healthdirect describes treatments that depend on the cause, including a filling, crown, root canal treatment or removal of a badly infected tooth. The appropriate option needs assessment; a painful night alone does not decide the treatment.
Ask what the examination shows, which options apply and what their risks, costs and follow-up involve before agreeing to treatment. Our first-visit information explains the practice's assessment and medical-history discussion. Confirm whether your booking is for assessment only or whether treatment may also be discussed.
What if I am breastfeeding or already wear dentures?
Tell the team before discussing medicines or treatment. Our related articles explain planning dental care while breastfeeding and questions about dry mouth and loose dentures. Neither replaces assessment of a new painful tooth or swelling.
To ask about an appointment, contact Byford Smiles or call (08) 9532 0247. If you are unsure what help you need outside opening hours, Healthdirect's nurse helpline is 1800 022 222, available 24 hours a day. Use emergency medical care for the warning signs above.
Sources
Sources checked on 14 November 2026. This is general patient information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment or medicine plan.
- Healthdirect Australia: Toothache and gum swelling and Dental injury, both reviewed February 2026. These support the symptom, escalation, temporary-care and assessment guidance.
- Byford Smiles: emergency dentistry, first-visit information, Dr Abhi Singh's profile, related articles and contact page linked above. Clinic information is not a promise of appointment availability.
