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

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Kingsclere Dental Practice 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 Kingsclere Dental Practice 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 Kingsclere Dental Practice in Alton as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01420 82365.

Meet the team

Preetpal Marjara

Dentist

GDC NO. 283324

Jaymal Kotecha

Dentist

GDC NO. 259185

Ashwynn Dhar

Dentist

GDC NO. 258351

Vladimir Fazekas

Dentist

GDC NO. 100899

Mohammed Riaz

Dentist

GDC NO. 230632

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Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Kingsclere Dental Practice. 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

971 Reviews

5.0

11th July 2025

Professional caring staff

10th July 2025

Preet is a great dentist. He is friendly & professional.

10th July 2025

No

D

Durwood

It's always a pleasure to visit Kingsclere!

8th July 2025

Friendly staff. They make you feel comfortable and at ease. I would certainly go back them for future dental work.

JP

jackie pilcher

As always, a really good and thorough service. Great communication and paient understanding from Jay. Thank you.

6th July 2025

I always feel I receive good care and appreciate all the people who work there.

5th July 2025

Generally good but your about to ask a question about my gender, I’m a female which you’re already aware of for over 30 years, I am offended by that question you have put ahead of this summery

3rd July 2025

Just a fabulous team, highly professional, and very friendly Always a joy having Jay as my dentist (words I never thought would be said together!)Always feel welcomed, and not an inconvenience, nor do I feel that I have reason to fear the treatments, which was a significant issue prior to joining Jay's list, and the surgery.

2nd July 2025

I am so glad that we found your practice. Jay is an exceptional dentist who always makes my children feel comfortable. He’s very good at explaining the condition of their teeth, and how they can improve upon their care.

27th June 2025

Excellent receptionist, hygienist, and Jay and his nurse were brilliant as always

18th June 2025

Friendly staff and Jay is great, makes you feel at ease and explains everything so well

JB

Julie Bunney

So friendly and they always make me feel relaxed. I’ve seen some changes over the last 40 years of being a patient at the practice and all good ones. Wonderful Dentist Preetpal Marjsra and Hygienist. Thank you

16th June 2025

I am a very nervous patient and this was my first appointment with the new dentist so i was very anxious, so much so i was going to cancel my appointment but i came in and my dentist was gentle and did not hurt me at alland i had the filling so i was very satisfied thank you.

11th June 2025

The service I receive at this practice is always first class. The dentist I see (Preetpal Marjara) is always friendly, helpful and very gentle.

F

Frankie

Staff have always been lovely here. I usually get seen by Jaymal and he’s really nice, professional and talks you through everything he’s doing. ☺️

5th June 2025

Prompt and on time, friendly reception staff and the hygienist and dentist are always very professional and explain everything.

4th June 2025

The practice is clean and tidy, the staff are very friendly and always welcoming and very professional all

3rd June 2025

My dentist Preet is skillfull, careful and efficient.

30th May 2025

General process and reminders of booking and making appointments very convenient, the text and email reminders are helpful. The staff are always friendly and very considerate and feel they have my best interest at front. I take my oral hygiene and teeth seriously and it is reassuring the advice and feedback I get

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