Toothache Self-Care Guide: Everyday Rules to Keep Pain From Getting Worse Until the Dental Visit

Toothache self-care is only a way to get through to the dental visit with less irritation and does not replace treatment. Do not chew on the causative tooth, keep the mouth clean, and use painkillers only within approved directions. If swelling, fever or difficulty swallowing appears, stop self-care and get care right away.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Care for sensitive teeth	Soft toothbrush, sensitivity toothpaste, cutting down on hard or side-to-side brushing (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal)
Acidic foods to cut down	Carbonated drinks, sour fruit, alcoholic drinks, yogurt (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)
What not to chew	Hard things such as ice, pens and nails (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)
Care for muscular toothache	Stress management and relaxation, physical therapy such as warm compresses, good posture (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)
Painkiller rules	Only one medicine containing acetaminophen at a time; no increasing the dose on your own if it does not work (source: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS, 식품의약품안전처))

How should I eat and chew when I have a toothache?

The most basic rule is not to chew on the painful side. Chew on the other side, but after you have been seen, go back to the original so that a habit of chewing on only one side for a long time does not set in.

The KDCA advises avoiding hard food if you have pulpitis, and not chewing hard things such as ice, pens and nails if you have a cracked tooth. Avoid nuts, hard candy and ice especially while you have a toothache.

If pain gets worse with cold or hot things, choose food at a lukewarm temperature. Once decay has progressed to the dentin, you may become sensitive to sweet taste, so also cut down on sweet food and drinks.

If chewing is so hard that you skip meals, get your meals with soft, lukewarm food such as porridge or soup. After eating, rinse with water first and then brush gently so that no food stays on the painful side.

How should I brush and care for the mouth?

If you skip brushing because it hurts, plaque and food build up and the inflammation can get worse. Brush the painful area gently with a soft toothbrush, and carefully remove food caught between the teeth with floss or an interdental brush.

The KDCA advises that when you have sensitivity you switch to a soft toothbrush, use sensitivity toothpaste, and cut down on rubbing hard or brushing side to side. Also cut down on acidic foods such as carbonated drinks, sour fruit, alcoholic drinks and yogurt.

If you want to use an antibacterial mouthwash, consult a professional. The approved labeling for chlorhexidine mouthwash lists staining of the teeth and oral surfaces as an adverse reaction, so long use without a prescription is not recommended.

How do I use painkillers?

When using a painkiller bought at a pharmacy, follow the directions on the product. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) advises that acetaminophen may also be in other medicines such as cold medicines, so take only one medicine containing this ingredient at a time.

People who drink more than 3 drinks a day, people with liver disease, and people taking warfarin should get a doctor's or pharmacist's confirmation before choosing a painkiller. Do not increase the amount because it is not working; instead, hurry the visit.

When giving a painkiller to a child, choose a product for children, and the MFDS advises that it is better to set the dose by weight than by age. Keep the medicine in its original container, out of the child's reach.

Does what I can do at home differ by cause?

If the cause of the toothache can be guessed, care suited to the cause can be added. The care methods the KDCA gives by cause are as follows. If the cause is not certain, get a dental diagnosis first.

Whatever the cause, if it does not improve within a few days despite following the care, or even gets worse, treat it as a condition self-care cannot solve and get care.

Sensitive teeth: soft toothbrush and sensitivity toothpaste, cutting down on acidic food
Pulpitis: proper brushing after meals, avoiding foods that cause decay and hard food
Periodontitis: careful brushing after meals together with interdental brushes and floss
Cracked tooth: correct one-sided chewing, do not bite hard things
Muscular toothache: stress management and relaxation, warm compresses, good posture
Sinus toothache: during treatment, avoid low-pressure environments such as air travel

When should I stop self-care and see a dentist?

In the situations below, do not continue self-care; get care. In particular, if the face and neck swell or swallowing is difficult, care is needed right away.

Relying only on anti-inflammatory painkillers during self-care can leave inflammation growing while the symptoms are masked. Even if self-care has reduced the pain, have the causative tooth checked at the dental clinic.

When it hurts even at rest, or hurts enough to wake you at night
When the gum or face swells and a fever develops
When the mouth does not open well or swallowing is hard
When chest or shoulder pain comes with the toothache
When it does not improve after taking painkillers for several days

Common myths and facts

Myth: If self-care lessens the pain, I do not need to go to the dentist.

Less pain can be a sign that the nerve is dying, and if the causative tooth is left alone, inflammation can spread to the bone.

Myth: Strong, frequent antiseptic gargling cures a toothache.

Gargling does not treat the cause, and chlorhexidine mouthwash has adverse reactions such as tooth staining, so it should be used after consulting a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Should the compress for a toothache be warm or cold?

It depends on the cause. The KDCA advises physical therapy such as warm compresses for muscular toothache from the jaw muscles. Infectious pain with swelling of the gum or face is not solved by compresses alone, so get care and follow the dentist's guidance.

Does rinsing with salt water help a toothache?

It can help rinse out food debris from the mouth, but it does not treat the cause of the toothache. If the pain continues even after rinsing, have the cause checked at the dental clinic.

Can I brush my teeth when I have a toothache?

You should. Brushing the painful area gently with a soft toothbrush and removing caught food with floss helps keep the inflammation from getting worse. If it bleeds or hurts a lot when brushing, tell the dentist at the visit.

Are coffee or alcohol all right when I have a toothache?

Alcoholic drinks are among the acidic foods the KDCA advises cutting down for sensitive teeth, and drinking them with painkillers raises the risk of liver damage and gastrointestinal bleeding. Hot coffee can worsen pain by thermal stimulation, so it is better to avoid it.

How many days can I keep doing self-care?

There is no set period, but self-care is only a temporary method until you are seen. The MFDS advises not taking painkillers for pain for 10 days or more in adults without a doctor's or pharmacist's instruction, so it is good to see a dentist well before that.

References

Korean version →