Teeth don’t wait for opening hours. Toothache, a broken tooth or a swollen face often turns up on a Sunday night or a bank holiday, when your usual practice is shut. A few sensible steps at home can keep the pain down and stop things getting worse until you can be seen.
The common ones are severe toothache, facial swelling, broken or chipped teeth, a knock to the mouth, bleeding that won’t stop, and a lost filling or crown that’s causing pain. Swelling that’s spreading, difficulty swallowing or a fever is urgent.
If your practice is closed, start at home. Rinse gently with warm salt water, keep the area clean and chew on the other side. Over-the-counter painkillers help, but don’t put tablets directly on the tooth or gum. A cold compress on the outside of the face can bring swelling down.
Don’t ignore pain that’s getting worse. Left alone, it can turn into an infection and a bigger problem later. If you need urgent dental care outside normal opening hours, call NHS 111, which can direct you to an urgent dental service. Swelling that is spreading quickly, or any difficulty breathing or swallowing, needs A&E straight away. Toothi patients can call us on 020 3148 2444 during opening hours.
If you’re not sure how serious it is, get it checked. The sooner a problem is looked at, the simpler it usually is to sort out.
