Will Hospital See Me for Toothache?

Toothaches are a very common ailment among adults and children alike. Research has shown that 84% of adults in the UK are at increased risk of tooth decay, due to poor oral hygiene, excessive sugar intake, and not having enough dental check-ups.

So, when a toothache or tooth emergency arises, patients often wonder whether they can seek help from any other medical professionals, aside from dentists.

Have you ever wondered, will hospital see me for toothache? Well, keep reading to find out the answer to this question, so you can better understand how best to deal with a toothache.

Will hospital see me for toothache?

Are you wondering, will hospital see me for toothache?

Well, if your tooth emergency has brought on serious symptoms, then we would urge you to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

You should go to A&E as soon as possible if:

you are experiencing heavy bleeding.
the symptoms have spread to your body (e.g. if you have a fever).
you experience swelling in the mouth or neck.
you have difficulty breathing.
you have injured your mouth, teeth, or face.

If your toothache is less severe, but you still want to be examined by a healthcare professional, then you should book an emergency appointment at your dental practice. You will receive the appropriate advice, care and treatment from a dental professional to fix the problem.

If your toothache is mild, then there is no reason to visit a hospital to seek medical attention. It is normally okay to wait 24 hours, to see if your toothache goes away with the help of painkillers.

However, by day 2, if your tooth pain has worsened, and you have started experiencing more severe symptoms (such as bleeding, swelling, and being unable to chew), then you should make a dentist appointment as soon as possible.

If your toothache is very serious from the onset (for instance, if you have suffered a blow to the face), then you should see a dentist as quickly as you can. This would be a genuine tooth emergency, which requires fast intervention from a dental professional.

If your dental practice does not offer any out-of-hours appointments, then you should:

visit another dental practice which does operate out-of-hours, and can provide you with an emergency appointment.
check whether your town, city, or county has an urgent dental care service, where you can access an emergency dental appointment. Click here to find a dentist near you.
use the NHS 111 service and take advice from the medical professionals there.
wait until your dental practice opens again, and book the next available emergency appointment.

What should I do if I have a mild toothache?

Oftentimes, a toothache can go away on its own, or after you use home remedies.

Take Ibuprofen or paracetamol regularly, but never more than 4 doses a day. You may find it beneficial to use tooth pain gels, which are available over the counter.

To make your natural tooth gel, apply a small amount of aloe vera gel to the painful area of your mouth. Aloe vera contains natural antibacterial qualities, so it can destroy the germs in the mouth that cause tooth decay.

You can also try holding a cold compress to the side of your face to reduce swelling.

Moreover, rinsing your mouth with salt water can ease tooth inflammation. Children should never do this, however.

Research has shown that peppermint tea bags can soothe sensitive gums and numb pain, as it kills bacteria found in the mouth. Simply pour boiling water over a peppermint tea bag and wait for it to cool. While the tea bag is slightly warm, apply it to the affected area.

If you are having trouble biting or chewing, then you may find it useful to eat soft foods, such as porridge, smoothies and mashed potatoes, rather than hard, sugary foods.

If none of the above methods offers you any relief, and your pain and symptoms worsen, then you should consult a dentist as soon as possible.

You would benefit from advice from a dental professional and you may even need treatment to resolve the dental problem, especially if there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed (such as gum disease).

What might happen if I don’t get my toothache looked at?

If you are experiencing a genuine dental emergency, you should visit a dentist as soon as possible. Many things could go wrong if you don’t get examined by a dentist. Your tooth pain or inflammation could worsen, necessitating more intense treatment.

Ignoring a very severe toothache could have harmful consequences for your oral hygiene and even your long-term health.

For instance, the pulp inside your tooth may become infected– which can lead to a dental abscess, severe gum inflammation, or other serious complications.

Moreover, your severe toothache may be an early indicator of gum inflammation or a bacterial infection. But if you don’t visit a dentist, then this may develop into periodontitis, which damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

Dental emergencies can also affect the entire body- as the bacteria in your mouth can also enter into your bloodstream and create problems like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other medical issues.

All of these examples demonstrate why it is important to see a dentist as soon as a tooth emergency happens. The earlier you get seen by a dental professional, the faster they will be able to help you overcome your problem, prevent further damage, and instruct you on the correct aftercare.

What can I do if my child has a dental emergency?

As a parent, it can be distressing when your child experiences a tooth emergency. They may cry, become very upset, or constantly complain of pain and discomfort.

Follow these steps if your child has a tooth emergency:

Stay calm. Your child may be irritable and upset if they have hurt themselves or lost a tooth. Be patient and speak to them in soothing, reassuring tones.
Assess the situation. Check your child out thoroughly. Look out for any facial swelling or bleeding.
Remove any objects from the child’s mouth, such as food, a dummy or a bottle.
If your child is bleeding from the mouth, grab a clean gauze or paper towel and ask your child to bite down on it. You can also apply a cold compress to the child’s face.
Make an emergency dental appointment for your child as soon as possible. The dentist will carry out a thorough examination and provide the necessary advice and treatment.
If your child has lost a tooth, try to find the tooth and bring it with you to the emergency dental appointment. Do not touch the root of the tooth as you handle it. Place the tooth in a container of milk to preserve it.
If the problem is more serious, call your GP, call 111, or take your child to A&E as soon as you can.

Emergency dental care at Didsbury Dental Practice

At Didsbury Dental Practice, our emergency dental care is second to none.

Our emergency dental care service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including on Bank Holidays and Christmas Day.

Our team of dental professionals can provide treatment for any type of dental emergency: from severe toothache and tooth infections to broken teeth, lost fillings or gum inflammation.

Didsbury Dental Practice has got you covered, at any time of day or night. Dental emergencies can be very painful, so we offer out-of-hours treatment because we know that dental problems don’t always stick to 9.00 am to 12.00 am.

To book an emergency appointment with us, it is not necessary for you to be an existing patient at our practice.

If you experience a dental emergency, simply call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2509, or walk into our dental practice, and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

We also offer compassionate dental care for nervous patients, because we understand that dentist appointments can bring on feelings of anxiety. Click here to learn more about our services for nervous patients.

Click here to learn more about the emergency dental care offered at Didsbury Dental Practice.

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About Didsbury Dental Practice

We are a 24-hour emergency dentist in South Manchester. Our team is highly experienced, and we deliver a level of patient comfort like no other dental practice. Every patient is treated with the most sophisticated care and the best customised treatment in a truly relaxed atmosphere.

In addition, all of our staff are multi-lingual. Languages spoken at our dental practice include German, French, Polish, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.

If you need an emergency appointment, call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2835, or walk into our practice and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

We offer a wide range of dental services and treatments, including teeth whitening, Invisalign, Alias lingual braces, Six Month Smiles Braces and Damon Clear Braces.

To learn more about Didsbury Dental Practice, visit our website here.

Check out our blog to read more articles on all things dental health.

We hope this article has answered the question ‘will hospital see me for toothache?’