Short answer: A toothache in pregnancy most often comes from a cavity, gum inflammation, sensitivity or a wisdom tooth. Rinsing with warm salt water, a cold compress on the outside of the cheek and a soft diet can give temporary relief, but they are no substitute for an exam. Use medication only on your doctor's recommendation. Pain and infection are not left waiting in pregnancy; treatment is planned together by your obstetrician and your dentist.
A toothache that appears during pregnancy is both physically tiring and a source of many questions: Can I take a pain reliever, should I wait until after birth to see a dentist, will this pain harm the baby? Toothache during pregnancy most often comes from familiar causes such as a cavity, gum inflammation, sensitivity or a wisdom tooth, and pregnancy alone is not a reason to postpone necessary dental treatment. In this article, we cover the possible causes of the pain, what can be done to get temporary relief at home, how to approach medication use and which symptoms call for seeing a dentist without waiting.
What causes a toothache during pregnancy?
The most common causes of a toothache in pregnancy are cavities, gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity and inflammation around a wisdom tooth. Pregnancy does not create these problems directly; however, some changes can make it easier for them to appear or progress.
- Cavities: Frequent small meals, sweet cravings and lapses in brushing because of nausea can set the stage for faster decay. A cavity approaching the nerve causes throbbing pain that is triggered by hot and cold or starts on its own.
- Gum inflammation: Pregnancy hormones increase the gum's reaction to plaque; swelling, bleeding and soreness can occur.
- Tooth sensitivity: Stomach acid reaching the mouth during vomiting can wear down the enamel; a brief twinge may be felt with cold drinks or during brushing. For the causes of sensitivity, you can look at our article on what causes tooth sensitivity.
- Wisdom tooth: The gum around a partially impacted wisdom tooth can become inflamed and cause pain and swelling.
- Teeth clenching: Stress and changes in sleep patterns can increase nighttime clenching, which can be felt as a diffuse ache in the jaw and teeth in the morning.
For the general causes of toothache and the evaluation process, our article on what causes a toothache and how it goes away offers more detailed information.
What helps a toothache during pregnancy?
Simple methods at home can give temporary relief for a toothache during pregnancy; however, they do not remove the cause of the pain and are no substitute for an exam. Until you can reach a dentist, you can try the following:
- Rinsing with warm salt water: Add a small amount of salt to a glass of warm water, rinse your mouth gently and spit. This can help clean the area and soothe the gum.
- A cold compress on the outside of the cheek: Apply ice wrapped in a cloth over the cheek for about 10–15 minutes, then take a break. Do not place ice directly on the tooth or gum.
- Soft and lukewarm foods: Stay away from very hot, very cold, hard or sugary foods; do not chew on the side that hurts.
- Gentle cleaning: Clean carefully with a soft brush and floss so that no food debris remains in the painful area.
- Resting with your head slightly elevated: Using an extra pillow when lying down can reduce throbbing in some people.
There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of common home remedies such as applying cloves, alcoholic drinks or various herbal mixtures to the tooth or gum, and these practices can irritate the tissue. It is also recommended not to use herbal products in pregnancy without consulting a doctor. Placing pain reliever tablets next to the aching tooth, on the gum, is not suitable either, since it can cause burns.
Can pain relievers and antibiotics be used?
A pain reliever or an antibiotic may be needed in pregnancy; however, only the doctor decides which medication will be used, how much and for how long. While it is recommended that some groups of pain relievers not be used in certain periods of pregnancy, some antibiotics are also not considered suitable in pregnancy. For this reason, do not take medications from your home medicine cabinet or ones you used before for another complaint on your own decision.
In practice, your obstetrician and your dentist evaluate together; your week of pregnancy, your general health and the degree of infection are taken into account. One point to remember is this: medications often only temporarily suppress the pain or the infection; unless the cavity or infected tooth is treated, the problem usually returns. For this reason, in most cases medication is thought of not as a replacement for dental treatment but as a step that accompanies it. Because local anesthesia can be used at an appropriate dose during pregnancy, procedures such as a filling or root canal can also be planned to remove the source of the pain.
Wisdom tooth pain
Wisdom tooth pain during pregnancy mostly comes from inflammation of the gum flap over a partially impacted wisdom tooth. This condition is called pericoronitis. Swelling behind the tooth, pain when swallowing, limited mouth opening and a bad taste may be seen. The gum being more sensitive in pregnancy can make inflammation in this area easier.
In mild cases, cleaning of the area at the clinic and rinsing with warm salt water at home can give relief. Planned surgical procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction are generally left until after birth; however, if there is a recurring or spreading infection, the dentist may consider a more comprehensive intervention according to your week of pregnancy. For details on tooth extraction in pregnancy, you can look at our article on tooth extraction during pregnancy, and for when wisdom teeth come in, our article on when wisdom teeth come in.
Which situations are urgent?
Swelling in the face or jaw, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, marked limitation in opening the mouth and severe pain that keeps getting worse are situations that call for seeing a dentist without waiting. These signs may show that the infection has spread beyond the tooth.
- Swelling in the cheek, under the jaw or around the eye
- Fever, weakness, chills
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Dental trauma, a broken or displaced tooth
- Pain that does not respond to pain relievers and wakes you from sleep
Urgent dental problems are not postponed in pregnancy. If there is pain or infection, treatment can be planned in any period of pregnancy; for planned procedures, the most comfortable period is generally the second trimester (weeks 14–27). Necessary imaging can be taken with a lead apron and thyroid collar, and the radiation dose of a dental X-ray is very low. For an overview of dental treatments in pregnancy, you can read our article on dental treatment during pregnancy.
Does a toothache harm the baby?
A toothache itself does not directly harm the baby; what matters is that the infection behind the pain is not left untreated. Long-lasting pain can lead to lost sleep, disrupted eating and stress, which negatively affect the expectant mother's overall well-being.
An untreated dental infection, on the other hand, can turn into an abscess, spread to surrounding tissues and cause fever. Fever and widespread infection in pregnancy are conditions that doctors especially want to prevent. For this reason, international organizations recommend that a toothache and infection in pregnancy be treated without waiting. In the meantime, if you have questions about braces or clear aligner treatment during pregnancy, you can look at the article on braces and clear aligners during pregnancy.
When should you come in for a toothache in Ankara?
If you have a toothache that lasts longer than a day or two, gets worse at night or comes with swelling, it is recommended not to put off an exam. At our polyclinic in Park Oran Ofis in Çankaya, the source of the pain is evaluated, and treatment is planned taking your week of pregnancy into account, in communication with your obstetrician when needed. Directions and appointment information are on our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait until after birth for a toothache in pregnancy?
No, a toothache and infection are conditions that should not be left waiting in pregnancy. Necessary dental treatments can be done in every period of pregnancy; for planned procedures, the most comfortable period is generally the second trimester. Your obstetrician and your dentist evaluate the timing together.
Can I take a pain reliever on my own for a toothache while pregnant?
It is recommended that you not use any medication on your own decision in pregnancy. Some groups of pain relievers are not considered suitable in certain periods of pregnancy. Your doctor decides which medication, if any, is needed.
Do cloves or raki help a toothache?
There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of such home remedies, and they can irritate the tissue when applied to the tooth or gum. In pregnancy, simple methods such as rinsing with warm salt water and a cold compress on the outside should be preferred, and a dentist should be seen for the cause of the pain.
Why do my teeth ache in pregnancy?
Stomach acid wearing down the enamel because of vomiting, gum recession or early cavities can cause aching. Rinsing your mouth with water after vomiting and waiting about half an hour before brushing helps protect the enamel. If the aching continues, an exam is needed.
