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

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Your Temple Square Dental 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 Temple Square Dental 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 of discomfort, contact Temple Square Dental in Aylesbury as soon as possible. Give us a call on 01296 434848.

Dentist

James Lakin

Dr. Lakin is a caring and approachable dentist who takes pride in helping patients of all ages feel relaxed and confident in the dental chair. Known for their gentle manner and attention to detail, Dr. Lakin is passionate about providing high-quality care in a calm, friendly environment. After earning an undergraduate degree from King’s College London, Dr. Lakin graduated with Honours in Dentistry...

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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 Temple Square Dental. 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

1212 Reviews

5.0

23rd July 2025

Nervous patient. Acknowledged by staff and always carefully monitored. Particularly nervous on this visit for unknown reason. Immediately noticed and treatment progressed slower to counter this.

23rd July 2025

Excellent personal care by the clinician and staff. Everything explained in advance including any options. Aftercare explained as well plus follow up calls to check I was ok after some unpleasant treatment.

TJ

Teresa Jones

Great dentist. Had a major root canal done and Dr Landau was amazing. He genuinely cared about me as a patient, knowing I was anxious and helped calm my nerves. Plus we had a good sing along to the radio whilst drilling my tooth!!

18th July 2025

I am very happy with my treatment and feel confident with my dentist who is doing a good job

17th July 2025

Aaron was fantastic with my son making his first experience of tooth extraction easy. Follow up call was greatly appreciated by me and my son!

17th July 2025

Aaaronensures that you are aware of the procedures and implications

17th July 2025

Always exceptional service from all

11th July 2025

Everyone was very helpful and kind, smiling and relaxed, making my son’s visit a pleasant one

5th July 2025

Efficiency ,highly competent and professional. Warm friendly inter-relational skills. Felt all staff really cared and were genuinely interested about the patient and their experience, not just now but in time ahead too. Don’t think it was just because they knew there would be a patient satisfaction survey. Has been my consistent experience over a number of years. They have their organisational values set up on the entrance, which they do seem to meet, for me at least. Congratulations to this practice.

5th July 2025

Everyone is professional, very courteous and always willing to help in any way they can.

5th July 2025

Kind , calm and professional .I dislike dental treatment , have had many treatments in the past .Always having attended as requested .Although expensive I doo feel that this practice has my health and dental fitness as their top considereration . In a nutshell I trust Dr Arron Landau .

5th July 2025

Dr Prab Morgan is an excellent dentist. She explains every procedure which makes me feel more relaxed.

4th July 2025

The care to patients is first class, from all staff, there are delays in waiting for appointment but I don’t mind that as they are looking after the patient before me which is the right thing to do.

4th July 2025

I have been attending this surgery for many years, the environment is comfortable, the service very good and all members of staff are efficient and helpful. I would particulary single out Lucie and Prab. I don't enjoy going to the dentist but I have total confidence in this practice.

3rd July 2025

Humans dealing face to face with humans! Not reduced to second hand operations by way of a machine which replaces the warmth of human contact.

3rd July 2025

Great caring team, fantastic service been a client for over 30 years

28th June 2025

The dentist and nurse were very caring and helped overcome my fears. The treatment was excellent and no problems were experienced afterwards. Throughout the treatment, I felt confident in the dentist’s skill, as well as the competence of the nurse. The experience was less difficult than expected. Thank you.

28th June 2025

I saw Dr Aron for my routine check up. He was very professional, remembered my issues, asked about my personal situation and explained his findings very clearly. I felt listened to and was confident with his skills and recommendations.

27th June 2025

Prab the dentist is so lovely and accommodating as was her assistant and the reception team. A faultless visit all round.

27th June 2025

Friendly front of house. Excellent dentist made me feel at ease and explained everything at every step.

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