Do you have pain from a cavity or tooth decay? It’s time to see your dentist. But until your appointment, you’ve got to manage the pain.

Decay destroys your tooth’s hard enamel and dentin, the layer under the enamel. That exposes the nerves and leads to sensitivity and toothaches.

This article offers quick dos and don’ts for easing cavity pain until you can get to the dentist.

Call Your Dentist

Before you do anything else, make a dentist appointment for as soon as possible. 

  • Make a dentist appointment right away

  • Brush with warm water

  • Try an OTC anti-inflammatory

  • Apply oil of cloves (eugenol)

  • Keep your mouth as clean as possible

  • Consider a temporary filling material

  • Put off treatment—the cavity could invade the nerves

  • Expose teeth to extreme heat or cold

  • Eat sugary or acidic foods

  • Put topical medication directly on tooth or gum tissue

  • Skip brushing and flossing

If they can’t see you right away, ask for advice on pain relief. Be sure to tell them what medications you take.

If the pain fades temporarily, don’t cancel the appointment. The damage won’t repair itself, so the pain is bound to return.

Watch What You Eat

Avoid foods and drinks that are very cold, very hot, sugary, or acidic.

When decay invades the dentin layer of teeth, it can cause pain in response to extreme temperatures. You may want to brush your teeth with warm, not cold, water.

Acidic and sugary foods can worsen tooth decay. Your teeth may not be sensitive to them like with heat and cold. But they contribute to decay and increase pain.

Acidic foods include:

  • Citrus and citrus juices, especially lemonTomatoesAnything carbonatedAnything sourDried fruitsFlavored teaVinegar, including pickled foods

Pain Management

If your dentist says it’s okay, take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medication.

Recap

When you have a toothache, get a dentist appointment as soon as possible. Avoid food and drinks that are hot, cold, sugary, or acidic. They could worsen pain and tooth decay.

Anti-inflammatories generally work best for dental pain. Most toothaches are caused by inflammation of tissues or nerves.

OTC anti-inflammatories include:

  • Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen)
  • Aleve (naproxen)

If you need more pain relief, Tylenol (acetaminophen) may help. It’s usually safe to combine Tylenol with anti-inflammatories. (If you have concerns, ask your dentist, primary care provider, or pharmacist.)

Another option is oil of cloves (eugenol). It’s used in various dental materials because of its germ-killing and pain-relieving properties.

Never put topical pain relief medication directly on the tooth or gums. It can cause chemical burns.

You can find eugenol in most health food stores. To use it, soak a small piece of cotton. Blot the cotton on a piece of tissue to remove the excess.

Using clean tweezers, hold the cotton on the painful tooth for 10 seconds. Make sure you don’t swallow any of the oil.

Take Care of the Area

Don’t avoid brushing or flossing the painful area. Keeping your mouth clean can help. That’s because clumps of bacteria produce acid and increase pain.

To manage tooth pain, take an OTC anti-inflammatory like Advil or Aleve. If you still have pain, Tylenol may help. Eugenol is also effective for relieving pain from cavities.

Try flossing between the painful teeth. Removing any food particles and plaque may help reduce pain.

Some pharmacies have OTC filling material that temporarily seals the cavity. If you can identify exactly where it is, this may help alleviate pain and protect the area.

Ask your dentist before you do this, though. Some of them believe sealing a painful or infected tooth may cause more pain. It may also worsen the infection by sealing in bacteria.

Summary

When you have tooth pain from a cavity or decay:

7 Tips for Preventing Cavities

  • Get a dentist appointment right away.
  • Avoid hot, cold, sugary, or acidic food and drinks.
  • Take an OTC anti-inflammatory like Advil or Aleve.
  • Tylenol and eugenol may help as well.
  • Gently brush and floss to keep the area clean.
  • Ask your dentist if OTC filling material is a good idea.

A Word From Verywell

Other parts of your body can heal themselves, but teeth can’t. Don’t cancel or delay an appointment if your pain fades. The problem that caused the pain remains.

The longer you wait, the deeper the cavity will go and the more pain it may cause. You could end up needing a root canal or even a tooth extraction instead of a simple filling.

The best course of action is to see your dentist and get the problem fixed.