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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 Sturminster Dental Care to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Sturminster Dental Care 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 Sturminster Dental Care 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 Sturminster Dental Care in Sturminster Newton as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01258 473397.

Dentist

Ian Mercer

Ian joined {{ practice_name() }} in January 2016. lan-qualified from Guys Hospital Dental School in 1991 and has spent much of his professional career in the Royal Army Dental Corps including operational commitments in many countries. lan left the army in 2012 after serving for 21 years. Ian is really enjoying being part of the team and providing the best care to all of our patients.

Ian Mercer
Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Sturminster Dental Care. 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…

Patient reviews

705 Reviews

5.0

12th September 2025

I have complete trust in my dentist and the other staff are always extremely helpful.

10th September 2025

I was very satisfied with the treatment and care I received at my appointment, as I always have been.

9th September 2025

Excellent prompt response to a broken tooth requiring a filling/crown although the initial timescale for completing the work was delayed. The timescale was subsequently improved following replacement of a a temporary filing.

9th September 2025

The dentist is extremely professional and puts patients at ease.

8th September 2025

This was an extra appointment which was made for me between my regular checkups because à tooth was sensitive and I wanted it checked.I saw Ian as always and he was very kind and supportive. He explained that the filling is shallow and may need more work in the future, but he applied a cover and we agreed to monitor it. Problem solved. Thanks Ian!

7th September 2025

The efficiency, competence, and pleasant manner of the dentist. I had felt slightly anxious after the retirement of my previous dentist in whom I had great faith and disappointment that I could not register with Ian. This appointment with Mike Wiktor was a great start to dispelling those negative feelings.

6th September 2025

The team are all very courteous, helpful with queries and timely in their service.

5th September 2025

Professional throughout and just fantastic!

5th September 2025

Absolutely everyone made me feel that I was important to them. It went a long way to make me feel less nervous for my appointment.

3rd September 2025

Everything is fine. One comment re timing: the minor problem with appointments running late (which I accept is sometimes unavoidable) is that it can make parking very difficult - because the small car park is still full from the previous appointments.

2nd September 2025

Very professional service. Everyone is helpful and friendly. The car magazines in the loung (aka waiting room) are the latest so no problem with if the previous patient overruns a bit.I have dental plan with Stur Dental Care which is good value, in my opinion.

2nd September 2025

Friendly, spotlessly clean. Good treatment.

29th August 2025

Professional and friendly and respectful manner of all staff.

29th August 2025

Clinician is lovely and the reception staff are so friendly, polite and professional

29th August 2025

Friendly helpful staff, everything explained clearly, feel confident with everything there

28th August 2025

The friendliness and courtesy of the personel. I am a nervous patient and my dentist always talks to me in a relaxed and reassuring manner.

28th August 2025

Everything completed by competent and knowledgeable staff. Up to date with IT and dental practices. Everyone is welcoming, smiles and able to speak intelligible English. Thank you.

27th August 2025

All the staff from reception through to the hygienist, nurses and dentists are always welcoming and helpful . The level of care is excellent and everything is always explained.

27th August 2025

First of all, the reception staff are always pleasant and polite, and deal with you as soon as they can- sometimes the surgery is busy!Secondly, the clinician always shows proper old-fashioned courtesies when greeting you and saying goodbye after a consultation. He explains what treatment he is going to do with any possible outcomes, and always puts my mind at ease. A thoroughly easy and pleasant experience, regardless of what treatment is being performed. I have complete confidence in my dentist- and I'm sure the same can be said for all the clinicians at the practice.

27th August 2025

A problem with a previous treatment with a different dentist in the practice was sorted quickly and efficiently and more importantly cheaper than I thought it would be.

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