A cavity that hurts is a sign that decay has gone beyond the outer surface of the tooth. It is natural to want it to stop, and to wonder what you can do tonight. This page explains what a painful cavity can mean, which gentle steps are safe while you wait for an appointment and what a dentist may do. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Your dentist examines the tooth and decides what it needs. To read about one common treatment, see our composite fillings page.
What a painful cavity can mean
A cavity is a hole that forms when decay wears through the outer layer of a tooth. Early cavities often cause no pain at all. When a cavity begins to hurt, the decay has usually reached the softer layer underneath, or is getting close to the nerve inside the tooth. The pain can show up in different ways:
- A sharp twinge when you eat or drink something hot, cold or sweet
- A dull ache that comes and goes
- Pain when you bite down
- A throbbing tooth, sometimes worse at night
- A visible dark spot or hole in the tooth
Only a dentist can tell how deep the decay goes, usually with an exam and X-rays.
Why it should not wait
A cavity does not heal on its own. Once decay has made a hole in the tooth, it tends to keep spreading. Pain that eases for a day is not a sign that the problem has gone. It can mean the nerve is changing, and the trouble may still be there. The longer decay is left, the more of the tooth it can reach, and the more a treatment may involve. Seeing a dentist sooner usually means a simpler visit.
What you can do until your visit
Home steps do not treat a cavity. At most they may ease discomfort for a short time while you arrange care. Some gentle steps that are generally safe:
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clear away food
- Brush gently, and clean carefully around the sore tooth, to keep trapped food out
- Avoid very hot, very cold or sugary food and drink if they set off the pain
- Chew on the other side of your mouth
- Hold a cold pack against the outside of your cheek for a short time, if the area feels sore
- For pain relief, ask your dentist or pharmacist what suits you
Do not put anything on the gum or the tooth unless your dentist tells you to, and do not apply heat. If you are unsure about something, call us and ask.
What a dentist may do
Treatment depends on how far the decay has gone, and your dentist decides what suits the tooth after an exam.
- A filling. If the decay is not deep, the dentist removes it and fills the space.
- A crown. If a large part of the tooth is damaged, your dentist may suggest a dental crown to cover and protect it.
- A root canal. If the decay has gone to the inside of the tooth, a root canal treats the inner part, and we do root canals at our office.
Your dentist explains the options, what each involves and what to expect, and answers your questions before you decide. We offer same-day emergency appointments.
Signs to call right away
Call us promptly if you have:
- Pain that keeps you awake or does not ease
- Swelling in your gum, cheek or face
- A bad taste, or pus near the tooth
- A fever along with tooth pain
- A tooth that hurts when you bite and feels different from before
We answer emergency calls at (858) 748-2101 at any time, including after hours. If swelling spreads, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Questions people ask
What can I do about severe tooth pain?
See a dentist soon. Until your visit, the gentle steps above may ease it for a short time, but they do not treat the cavity. If swelling or fever comes with the pain, contact us right away.
Can hydrogen peroxide help with tooth pain?
Ask your dentist, and do not use it on your own. Putting things on a sore tooth or gum can irritate the area, and it does not treat the decay.
How do I care for a cavity until I see the dentist?
Keep the area clean with gentle brushing and rinsing, avoid food and drink that set off the pain, and book your visit without delay. Do not try to fill or cover the hole yourself.
How do I get rid of a cavity?
A cavity does not go away by itself, and it cannot be cleaned out at home. A dentist removes the decay and treats the tooth. Which treatment is right depends on your tooth, and your dentist advises.
Does a cavity always hurt?
No. Many cavities cause no pain, especially early on. That is one reason regular checkups and X-rays matter.
Ask about a painful tooth
If a tooth is hurting, you do not have to wait it out. Our team is glad to take a look and talk through your options. Read about our composite fillings, then call (858) 748-2101 or book a visit at our Poway office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: Composite Fillings in Poway, CA
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: Individual results vary. How long a treatment lasts, and how it looks and feels, depends on each patient.