Can Toothaches Go Away on Their Own

Can toothaches go away on their own? What causes them? We will explore these questions in this article and get to the bottom of it.

Got a toothache and want to know, “Can toothaches go away on their own”? The answer depends, because there are several things to consider.

At Didsbury Dental Practice, we are happy to help with dental emergencies, dentures, fillings, crowns, check-ups, and anything else you can think of to get your smile and confidence back. We also have articles to help you learn about the world of dentistry and oral hygiene, with a look into whether fluoride and oil pulling works, if water flossers are bad for you, and which is the best way to floss.

What Causes Toothaches?

There are a number of reasons why you might get a toothache, and it’s up to you and your doctor or dentist to determine which one is right.

We will go through the common causes of toothaches below:

Bruxism – this includes clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, which exerts pressure onto your teeth and will eventually result in tooth and jaw pain. Untreated bruxism can result in cavities, loose filling, and tooth fractures, and you might notice symptoms such as teeth that are yellowing, becoming more sensitive, rough, or have tiny cracks.
Abscesses – abscesses form when all or some of the tooth pulp (soft inner part of the tooth) dies to create a pocket where bacteria grow. The bacteria will transform into a painful abscess. Injuries that cause a cracked tooth can also result in abscesses.
Tooth decay – the most common cause of toothaches and the result of poor oral hygiene that leads to the enamel of the tooth being worn away by bacteria. An excess of bacteria will form plaque, which will read to the decay and create white, brown, or black spots on the teeth.
Loose crowns – since crowns bond teeth together, a loose crown will leave space for bacteria to get into the area and cause infections and nerve pain. In this case, the loose crown will need to be removed, and a new one fitted in.
Tooth eruption – this means that a new tooth is coming through. The primary tooth eruption that will cause pain are the wisdom teeth, which can grow in the wrong direction or cause the mouth to become too crowded. It is common for wisdom teeth to be removed in a minor surgical operation.
Tooth fractures – cracked or damaged teeth can result in tooth fractures, which can get worse over time. Many people will experience a throbbing pain that will come and go, and pain is likely to worsen if the pulp of the tooth gets irritated by air, water, bacteria, or food.
Gum infections – infected gums can lead to tooth pain and potentially periodontitis and gum disease. This can be the result of poor oral hygiene, genetics, health conditions (e.g. diabetes), excessive drinking or smoking, and a poor diet.
Sinus tooth pain – it isn’t uncommon for sinus issues to trick you into thinking that you have tooth pain due to how close the teeth and sinuses are. If the pain comes from the sinus problem, you need to treat that issue.
Tooth extraction pain – you are likely to experience pain up to two weeks after getting a tooth extracted, whether the removed tooth gets replaced with an implant or you leave the area open. Make sure to follow the correct care and hygiene procedures to minimise pain and encourage healing.
Bad or damaged fillings – fillings will wear down and become damaged due to normal wear and tear. When this happens, the filling will need to be fixed or replaced, which is a very common procedure and nothing you need to stress about – just make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

Some Additional Causes of Toothaches

Heart disease (particularly angina) – this only happens in rare cases, but is something to be aware of.
Malocclusion (misaligned teeth) – misaligned teeth can become sensitive due to incorrect positioning and use, and overcrowding can worsen the issue.
Food stuck in teeth – we’ve all had popcorn stuck in our teeth. This can happen with all kinds of foods, so make sure to floss and brush correctly to ensure that there is no debris or food between teeth or stabbing your gums.

Can Toothaches Go Away on Their Own

In some cases, a toothache will go away on its own. However, this won’t always happen due to the underlying cause of the issue in the first place. Often, the pain will come and go, where you might be in less pain for a while before it comes back.

Toothache caused by abscesses, cavities, gum disease, and bad filling, to name a few, will not go away on their own, and you will need to get the appropriate medical help. However, if you have food stuck in your teeth or a toothache from sinus issues, these are likely to go away on their own when you remove the food or get better.

How to Get Rid of a Toothache

There are several things that you can try to get rid of a toothache, but again, it will depend on what is causing the pain in the first place. In some cases, some simple “hacks” like the ones below can alleviate the pain and help to get back on the right track:

Diluted hydrogen peroxide – mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water (1:1 ratio) and use it as a mouthwash, but do not swallow it. Hydrogen peroxide can relieve inflammation and pain as it kills bacteria, helps bleeding gums, and reduces plaque.
Peppermint tea bags – used to help soothe sensitive gums and numb, peppermint tea bags should be heated, then allowed to cool slightly, and placed on the affected area. You could also freeze the tea bag for a few minutes to get the cold compress effect.
Cold compress – this is particularly effective if there has been trauma (e.g. a facial injury) that has resulted in the toothache. Blood vessels constrict and the pain is reduced. Only place a cold compress on the area in 20-minute increments for a few hours.
Saltwater rinse – salt will help to disinfect your mouth, and the combination of salt and water work well to remove any debris that might be stuck in your teeth that is causing pain. This remedy can also help with wound healing and reducing inflammation.
Vanilla extract – due to the alcohol in vanilla extract, the pain of a toothache can be numbed. Additionally, real vanilla contains antioxidant properties that can help with healing.
Garlic – garlic is excellent for reducing pain and promoting healing due to the antibacterial You can chew some fresh garlic or crush some into a paste to be applied to the affected or painful areas.

It Depends on the Cause

As we said before, whether your toothache will go away on its own or not will depend on the reason why you are experiencing it in the first place. There are many instances where you will need to get some kind of medical treatment to get rid of the toothache for good.

Below are the most common methods of relieving a toothache:

Fillings – if you have a cavity that is causing the toothache or sensitivity, you will need to get a filling to resolve the issue.
Tooth removal – if there is a larger issue or if there is too much tooth decay, tooth extraction might be the only option to consider. This might sound scary, but it’s better than dealing with excruciating pain.
Over the counter medication – some toothaches will only require painkillers or over the counter medication. Speak to your dentist and see if this will be suitable for the cause of your toothache.
Another kind of medical treatment – other treatments like fluoride treatments might be suitable, but again, you will need to speak to your dentist about this as it might not work for your particular case.

Final Thoughts

It’s imperative that you work towards or maintain good dental hygiene, but there are emergency dentists and appointments that can help – like our emergency clinic in Manchester.

If you want to find out more about tooth extractions, we explore the price if you go private, if it hurts more than a filling, how to stop the bleeding, and what you can eat a week after getting a tooth extracted, among other things.

At Didsbury Dental Practice, we answer all of your burning dental questions – if it is better to go private or NHS? Can GPs or hospitals help with a tooth infection? What classifies as a dental emergency? There are dozens of questions, and we have the answers.

So, can toothaches go away on their own? Sometimes they can, but we always recommend going to your dentist.