A sudden toothache is one of those things that immediately derails your day. Whether it hits you at 3pm on a Tuesday or late on a Friday afternoon, the question is always the same: what do I do right now, and how quickly do I actually need to see a dentist?
The short answer depends on what’s happening. Some dental problems need attention today. Others can wait a day or two without lasting harm. Here’s how to tell the difference — and what to do in the meantime.
What to Do Right Now (First-Aid While You Wait)
Before you can get into a dental chair, these steps can help manage pain and reduce the risk of things getting worse.
Rinse with warm salt water. This is genuinely useful, not just an old wives’ tale. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and swish gently for 30 seconds. It helps flush out debris, reduces inflammation, and can ease mild discomfort.
Apply a cold compress. If your face or jaw is swelling, hold a cold pack or a bag of frozen peas (wrapped in a cloth) against the outside of your cheek for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. Cold reduces swelling. Avoid heat — it can make swelling worse.
Take over-the-counter pain relief. Ibuprofen (Nurofen) is usually more effective than paracetamol for dental pain because it reduces inflammation as well as pain. Follow the dosage instructions and only take it if you have no contraindications. Ibuprofen won’t fix the problem — it just makes the wait more bearable.
Don’t put aspirin directly on the tooth or gum. This is a common home remedy that doesn’t work and can actually irritate the soft tissue.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency
These situations need same-day care — or immediate attention at a hospital if no dentist is available.
A knocked-out tooth. This is the most time-critical dental emergency. If you can find the tooth, hold it by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently with milk or saline if it’s dirty — don’t scrub it. Try to place it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in a glass of milk or tucked between your cheek and gum to keep it moist. Get to a dentist within 30 minutes if at all possible. After an hour, the chances of successfully reimplanting the tooth drop significantly.
A cracked or broken tooth with sharp pain. A crack that’s causing severe pain — especially pain that’s worse with biting or temperature changes — may mean the nerve is involved. This needs to be assessed promptly.
Severe swelling, especially around the jaw or neck. Swelling that spreads beyond the tooth and gum into your jaw, cheek, or neck can indicate an abscess. Dental abscesses can become serious infections if left untreated. If you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to an emergency department immediately.
Uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction or injury. Some bleeding after a tooth removal is normal. Bite down firmly on a gauze pad for 20–30 minutes. If bleeding hasn’t slowed after an hour or is heavy and persistent, call a dentist or present to hospital.
A lost or broken crown with an exposed nerve. If losing a crown has left a tooth sensitive and painful, you’ll want to be seen soon. Temporary dental cement (available from pharmacies) can cover the tooth in the meantime.
What Can Usually Wait a Day or Two
Not everything that feels urgent is actually urgent. These situations should still be addressed promptly, but a day or two of careful management won’t cause lasting harm in most cases.
- Mild sensitivity to cold or sweets (without sharp, spontaneous pain)
- A lost filling that isn’t causing severe pain — dental wax or sugar-free gum can temporarily protect the tooth
- A cracked but not painful tooth
- Minor chips on the front teeth with no pain
If in doubt, call us. We’d rather help you figure out whether you need to come in than have you wondering all evening.
The Problem With Dental Emergencies and Business Hours
Here’s something most people in Adelaide’s northern suburbs know all too well: most dental practices open at 8 or 9am and close at 5pm. If a toothache hits on a Tuesday afternoon, you’re either scrambling to get out of work early, or you’re managing pain through the night and hoping to get in the next morning.
At Smile Spot Mawson Lakes, we’re open Monday to Thursday until 7pm specifically because emergencies don’t respect business hours. If you’re in Salisbury, Parafield Gardens, or Mawson Lakes and something happens in the afternoon, you can often come in after work rather than losing a full day’s pay to take time off.
We do our best to accommodate same-day emergency appointments. Call us when you can — the earlier in the day the better — and we’ll find a time that works.
When to Go Straight to Hospital
If you have severe swelling spreading to your throat or neck, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a very high fever alongside tooth pain, or uncontrolled bleeding that isn’t responding to pressure, go to the emergency department at Lyell McEwin Hospital (on Haydown Road, Elizabeth Vale) or the Royal Adelaide Hospital. These are signs of a potentially serious infection that needs more than dental care alone.
Book Same-Day Emergency Care
If you’d like to see us for a dental emergency, book an appointment online — look for same-day slots — or call us directly on (08) 8258 0650. We’re open Monday to Thursday until 7pm and Friday until 2pm.
You can also find more information about our emergency dental services and how to reach us.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual results may vary.