Emergency Toothache in Istanbul, Turkey

Identifying the source of the pain by examination and X-ray
First relief, if needed, with drainage or opening the tooth
Assessing options such as re-bonding a broken fragment, root canal treatment, filling repair or extraction
Preliminary assessment by WhatsApp and telephone during working hours

In short: What you do at home for an emergency toothache is only for temporary relief: rinsing with lukewarm water, applying cold from the outside and avoiding hard food. Even if the pain eases, the source must still be found by examination. If there is swelling that makes breathing or swallowing difficult, or a high fever, call 112 (the emergency number in Turkey) or go to the nearest emergency department without waiting for the clinic.

When is it an emergency?

Not every toothache is equally urgent; however, some signs mean you should not wait:

Throbbing pain that wakes you at night and starts on its own
A reaction to heat or cold that is strong and lasts a long time
Sharp pain on biting, or a tooth that feels "high"
Swelling or redness of the gum, a bad taste, or a small point of pus (fistula)
A tooth that is broken, has become loose, or has fallen out completely

The pain easing on its own after a while does not mean the problem has gone. When the nerve tissue loses its vitality the pain can stop, yet the infection at the root tip can keep progressing in the bone.

What you can and should not do at home in the first 24 hours

The aim is to get relief without making things worse until you are examined at the clinic:

Rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm water. If food debris is stuck, remove it gently with floss.
Apply cold to the outside of the face. Do it for short periods and wrapped in a cloth; ice is not placed directly on the skin.
Sleep with your head raised. Lying flat can increase the throbbing.
Take a painkiller only in the way that has previously been considered suitable for you and according to the instructions for use. People with a chronic illness, stomach or kidney problems, or who use blood thinners should consult a doctor first.
Avoid hard food and very hot or cold food on the painful side.

What should not be done is at least as important as the above:

Do not place aspirin, painkiller tablets, cologne, alcohol or vinegar on the tooth or gum; it burns the mucosa.
Do not apply heat when there is swelling.
Do not try to puncture or squeeze an abscess yourself.
Do not start leftover antibiotics at home on your own; they mask the symptoms temporarily, contribute to resistance and do not remove the source.

Common causes and what is done at the clinic

At the examination, besides the painful tooth, the neighbouring teeth, the gum and the jaw area are also assessed; if considered necessary, an X-ray is taken. Then, first, a procedure to relieve the source of the pain is carried out, followed by a plan for permanent treatment.

Deep decay and pulp inflammation (pulpitis): When decay approaches the nerve, inflammation of the tooth nerve causes pain. With suitable findings the inside of the tooth is opened to reduce the pressure of the inflammation; root canal treatment is then planned.
Dental abscess: A collection of pus at the root tip of the tooth or around the gum. Treatment is aimed at the source of the infection: root canal treatment, drainage, gum treatment or, for a tooth that cannot be saved, extraction. When antibiotics are needed they are used on the dentist's decision; they are not a treatment on their own.
Broken tooth: Small enamel chips are often not urgent, but if the fracture has reached the dentine or the nerve it should be assessed the same day. If the fragment has been kept, store it in milk or salt water and bring it; in suitable cases the dentist can bond the fragment back.
Filling or crown problem: Pain on biting after a filling is often because the filling has been left high, and is resolved with a brief adjustment. For biting pain lasting more than a few days, spontaneous throbbing or a filling that has come out, you should come for a check.
Pain after root canal treatment: Mild sensitivity is expected in the first days and gradually decreases. If there is increasing pain, swelling or fever, the canal is re-evaluated.
Pain after tooth extraction: Pain that increases steadily a few days after extraction, a bad smell or a bad taste in the mouth suggests there may be a problem with healing of the socket; a check is needed.

What is done after the examination depends on the findings; in some cases a single relieving procedure is enough, in others treatment is completed in several stages. Whether the tooth can be saved is determined by examination and X-ray; for teeth that cannot be saved, extraction and then missing-tooth solutions such as an implant are discussed separately.

Dental trauma in children

When a child falls or is hit, first stay calm and press lightly with clean gauze on the bleeding area. If a permanent tooth has come out completely, hold the tooth only by the crown, do not touch the root; if it is dirty, rinse briefly with milk or saline and do not scrub. If possible, try to place it back in its socket the right way round; if that is not possible, store it in milk and come immediately, because the first minutes affect the outcome. A baby tooth is not put back, because its root is very close to the permanent tooth bud beneath it. Darkening, swelling of the gum or discomfort on biting can appear even weeks later, so follow-up checks continue after trauma. For details, see our paediatric dentistry page.

When to call 112 or go to an emergency department

In the following situations an emergency department is needed first, rather than a dental clinic:

Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Swelling spreading to the neck, the floor of the mouth or around the eye; closing of the eye
High fever, shivering, weakness
Being unable to open the mouth
Bleeding that cannot be stopped
After trauma: a change in consciousness, fainting, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or ear, disturbed vision

With these signs, do not wait for a reply from the clinic; dental treatment is planned once the situation has stabilised.

How we proceed at our clinic

Özel Denttek does not offer a 24/7 emergency service. You can write by WhatsApp or telephone between 09:00-22:00 on weekdays and 09:00-20:00 on Saturdays; your symptoms go through a preliminary assessment and we reply as soon as possible. Appointment planning is done after the examination according to need. In emergencies, if surgery or root canal treatment is needed, it is coordinated with the relevant dentist.

For patients from abroad

Patients who have toothache while travelling, or who run into a problem during a short visit to Istanbul, can send us their symptoms and any X-rays or treatment records they have during working hours. For information on accommodation, communication and the process, you can look at the international patients page.

Points to consider

Do not place painkiller tablets, aspirin, cologne or alcohol on the tooth or gum; it causes burns to the mucosa.
An antibiotic is not a treatment on its own; unless the source of the infection is removed, the symptoms come back. Do not use antibiotics without a prescription or leftover antibiotics.
The pain easing does not mean the problem has gone; infection at the root tip can progress without symptoms, and an examination is needed.
Do not apply heat when there is swelling, and do not try to puncture or squeeze an abscess yourself.
With swelling that makes breathing or swallowing difficult, a high fever, or a change in consciousness after trauma, call 112 or go to an emergency department without waiting for the clinic.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if toothache starts at night?

Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water, apply cold to the outside of the face, keep your head raised, and take a painkiller only in the way known to be suitable for you and according to the instructions. Write to us by WhatsApp or telephone in the next working hours. If there is swelling that makes breathing difficult or a high fever, go to an emergency department.

The pain has gone away on its own; do I still need to come in?

Yes. When the nerve tissue loses its vitality the pain can stop; however, the infection at the root tip can progress in the bone and return after a while as swelling or an abscess. An examination and X-ray will show this.

Will taking antibiotics solve the problem?

No. In some cases antibiotics are used as support on the dentist's decision, but they do not remove the source of the infection. The real treatment is a procedure aimed at the source, such as root canal treatment, drainage, gum treatment or extraction.

My tooth has broken; what should I do with the fragment?

Store the fragment in milk or salt water and bring it with you. In suitable cases the dentist can bond the fragment back. If the fracture has reached the nerve, assessment on the same day is important.

My tooth has come out completely; what should I do?

If it is a permanent tooth, hold it only by the crown, do not touch the root, and if it is dirty rinse briefly with milk or saline. If possible, place it back in its socket the right way round; if that is not possible, store it in milk and come immediately. Baby teeth are not put back.

Is pain normal after a filling or root canal treatment?

Mild sensitivity is normal in the first days and gradually decreases. If there is biting pain lasting longer than a few days, spontaneous throbbing, swelling, fever or a bad taste, you should come for a check.

The information on this site is for general guidance only; diagnosis and treatment require an examination by a dentist.

Emergency Toothache