The short answer
For toothache tonight, take paracetamol or ibuprofen as the packet directs if they are safe for you, avoid very hot, cold or sweet food, keep your head raised in bed, and book a dentist for the next day. Painkillers and antibiotics do not cure toothache; the cause has to be treated. If your face or neck is swelling, or you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to a hospital emergency department now.
Ask for an urgent dental appointmentMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Step by step
- 1
Take a painkiller
Paracetamol or ibuprofen as the packet directs, if they are safe for you. Ask a pharmacist if you are pregnant, have asthma, stomach ulcers or kidney problems.
- 2
Keep it calm
Avoid very hot, cold or sweet food and drink, and chew on the other side.
- 3
Rinse gently
A warm salt-water rinse can help if food is caught. Floss gently around the tooth.
- 4
Raise your head
Sleep with an extra pillow. Lying flat can make the throbbing worse.
- 5
Book the dentist
Ask for an urgent appointment in the morning. Give your name and phone and a coordinator calls you back.
What usually causes toothache
Most toothache comes from decay that has reached the nerve, a cracked tooth, a lost filling, an infection at the root (an abscess), or a wisdom tooth with an inflamed gum over it. Sometimes the pain is from the gums, or from a blocked sinus above the upper back teeth.
Pain that throbs, wakes you, or lingers after something hot or cold usually means the nerve is involved, and the tooth needs a dentist within a day or two.
What not to do
A few home remedies make things worse.
- Do not put aspirin or any tablet on the gum: it burns the gum
- Do not take antibiotics left over from before, or bought without a prescription
- Do not take more painkiller than the packet says, or mix two products that contain paracetamol
- Do not try to pierce a swelling yourself
When it is an emergency
Go to a hospital emergency department now, not a clinic appointment, if your face or neck is swelling, you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, you cannot open your mouth, or you have a high temperature with tooth pain. Call 112 in Lagos.
Common questions
Can toothache go away on its own?
The pain can settle for a while, but the cause usually remains. A nerve that stops hurting may have died, and an infection can follow. See a dentist even if the pain eases.
Should I take antibiotics for toothache?
Only if a dentist or doctor prescribes them. Antibiotics do not cure most toothache, and for an abscess they are given alongside treating the tooth, not instead of it.
Can I see a dentist tomorrow in Lagos?
Ask for the call back and the coordinator finds the earliest appointment with the Mezo dentist in Surulere.
Read next
Also useful
More patient guides
Colonoscopy preparation in Nigeria: what to eat, what to drink, and whenIs a colonoscopy painful? What it actually feels likeColonoscopy or stool test: which bowel cancer check do you need?When should you have your first colonoscopy?Arranging a colonoscopy or endoscopy for a parent in Nigeria from abroadYour colonoscopy or endoscopy report, explainedHow many physiotherapy sessions will I need?Waist pain: what it means, what helps, and when to see someoneKnee replacement recovery at home, week by weekCaring for someone at home after a stroke: a family guideArranging physiotherapy at home for a parent in Lagos from abroadEbola in Nigeria: what to do if you are worriedCan a hernia heal without surgery? What Nigerians should know before trying belts and herbsHernia surgery recovery: when can I go back to work, lift, drive and have sex?Umbilical hernia in adults vs babies: why one waits and the other needs repairOpen vs laparoscopic (keyhole) hernia repair: which is better for me?Gallstones on my scan: do I need my gallbladder removed?Life and diet after gallbladder removal: what can I eat in Nigeria?Do I need surgery for piles? Pile treatment options in NigeriaPile surgery recovery: the first bowel movement and the weeks afterAnal fissure vs piles: how to tell the differenceAppendicitis signs: is it my appendix, and what should I do tonight?Should I remove my lipoma? When a fatty lump needs surgeryGoitre: when does a swollen thyroid need surgery (thyroidectomy)?Life after thyroidectomy: thyroxine, your voice and calciumIs this mole dangerous? Mole checks and removal on dark skinA lump in the neck: what could it be, and when should I worry?How much does hernia surgery cost in Lagos, and what is included?Is hernia surgery a major operation? How long it takes, how safe it is, and surgery for an elderly parentCan fibroids shrink without surgery? Herbs, diet and drugs in Nigeria, the honest answerMyomectomy or hysterectomy for fibroids: which one is right for me?Can I get pregnant after a myomectomy? Timing, delivery and what to expectMyomectomy recovery week by week: what to expect after fibroid surgeryOpen, keyhole or hysteroscopic myomectomy: which type of fibroid surgery do I need?Do fibroids come back after a myomectomy?Life after a hysterectomy: menopause, sex, your ovaries and your bodyWill I need blood for fibroid surgery? Building your blood before a myomectomyDo ovarian cysts need surgery? When to watch and when to operateWhat is a hysteroscopy, and what does it feel like?D&C after a miscarriage: what to expect, before and afterPlanned (elective) caesarean section in Lagos: planning, timing and what the price includesRecovery after a caesarean section: the first six weeks at homeVaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) in Nigeria: can I deliver normally after a CS?Heavy periods: how heavy is too heavy, and when should I see a gynaecologist?Endometriosis surgery in Nigeria: when it helps, what it involves, and what it cannot doFibroid surgery in India or Turkey, or in Nigeria: counting the true cost of the tripWhen does an enlarged prostate need surgery in Nigeria?TURP recovery in Nigeria: the catheter, bleeding, and sex after prostate surgeryEnlarged prostate or prostate cancer? What your PSA result does and does not meanKidney stone: will it pass on its own, or does it need to be removed?How to stop kidney stones coming back: water, salt and food in Nigerian heatIs cystoscopy painful? What the bladder camera test feels likeVasectomy in Nigeria: is it reversible, and does it affect performance?Varicocele and male infertility: does surgery help you get your partner pregnant?Does a hydrocele need surgery? Swollen scrotum in men and boysAdult circumcision in Nigeria: recovery, pain, and when you can have sexBaby circumcision in Nigeria: the right time, and how to care for it at homeUndescended testicle in a baby: when does he need an operation?Laser surgery in Nigeria: what it really treats for kidney stones, prostate, piles and fibroidsHow soon after sex can I test for STIs?What is toilet infection, really?PEP in Nigeria: what to do in the first 72 hours after a possible HIV exposurePrEP in Nigeria: who should take it, and how it worksHow to get an STI test in Lagos without anyone knowingWhat does a reactive HIV test mean?Weak erection in your 20s and 30s: causes and what helpsHow to tell a partner you have an STIWhen is a cataract ready for surgery? Do you have to wait for it to ripen?Cataract surgery in Nigeria: what happens on the day and in the first weekArranging cataract surgery for a parent in Nigeria from abroadGlaucoma treatment in Nigeria: drops, laser or surgery?Does pterygium come back after removal? What lowers the chance in NigeriaDroopy eyelid (ptosis) in adults and children: when is surgery needed?Chalazion or stye? Lumps on the eyelid and when they need removingDoes my child need their tonsils out? When tonsillectomy is worth itWhat to eat after tonsillectomy: Nigerian foods that help and foods to avoidGrommets for glue ear in children: does my child need them?Deviated septum and blocked nose: is septoplasty worth it?Chronic sinusitis in Nigeria: when is sinus surgery the answer?Phaco or SICS cataract surgery: which one is better for you?Choosing a lens for cataract surgery: monofocal, toric or multifocal?Cataract surgery if you have diabetes: is it safe and what changes?Vision cloudy again after cataract surgery? Posterior capsule opacification and YAG laserHow much is cataract surgery in Nigeria, and what should the price include?Questions to ask your eye surgeon before cataract surgeryWho should be checked for glaucoma, and how often? Family history and ageWhy glaucoma eye drops are for life, and what to do if you cannot afford themSLT laser for glaucoma: what it is, who it suits and how long it lastsGlaucoma or cataract: what is the difference, and which is more serious?How often should someone with diabetes have an eye check?Diabetic retinopathy treatment: laser or eye injections?Avastin eye injection: what it is, does it hurt, and how many will I need?Diabetic macular oedema: what it means and how it is treatedDiabetes in pregnancy and your eyes: why you need extra eye checksIs LASIK available in Nigeria, and is it right for you?LASIK, PRK or SMILE: which laser eye surgery is best?LASIK or glasses and contact lenses: which is better in the long run?Keratoconus: why your glasses keep changing, and the treatment optionsAm I too old for LASIK? Laser eye surgery after 40Will my child's squint go away on its own?Lazy eye (amblyopia) and patching: how long, and is it too late?Squint surgery for adults: is it too late to straighten your eyes?Squint surgery recovery: what to expect for adults and childrenFlashes and floaters in your eye: when is it an emergency?Retinal detachment surgery: vitrectomy or scleral buckle, and head positioning afterCan you fly after retinal surgery with a gas bubble in your eye?Red eye: is it Apollo (conjunctivitis) or an emergency?Am I too young or too old for a knee replacement?Knee replacement in Nigeria or abroad in India: how to decideHip replacement for sickle cell: avascular necrosis of the hip in NigeriaHow to prepare for a knee or hip replacement: the weeks before surgeryKnee arthroscopy (keyhole knee surgery): what it can and cannot fixACL tear: do I need surgery, or can physiotherapy fix it?Traditional bone setters in Nigeria: bone setter or hospital for a broken bone?Carpal tunnel syndrome: splint, injection or surgery?Trigger finger, ganglion and other hand problems: when do they need surgery?Slipped disc: when do you need back surgery?Bone doctor in Nigeria: what an orthopaedic (orthopedic) surgeon treatsBest orthopaedic hospital in Lagos, Abuja or Nigeria? How to choose an orthopaedic surgeonPlate removal surgery: do plates and screws need to come out?Knee surgery cost in Nigeria: knee replacement, arthroscopy and ACL pricesIs liposuction safe in Nigeria? How to tell a safe surgeon from a dangerous oneTummy tuck or liposuction: which one does my stomach need?When is the right time for a mommy makeover after having children?Is a BBL safe in Nigeria? The honest answer before you bookRecovery after liposuction or a tummy tuck: garment, heat, travel and warning signsDo I need a breast reduction? Who it helps and what to try firstMale breasts (gynecomastia): do I need surgery or will it go away?Rhinoplasty for African noses: what can change and what should stayWhy do keloids come back after removal, and what actually works?How to choose a plastic surgeon in Lagos: MDCN checks and the questions to askAm I a candidate for a hair transplant? Who it helps and who should waitAre fillers and Botox safe? What to know before injections in LagosHow to prepare for surgery in Nigeria: fasting, medicines, blood tests and who takes you homeArranging surgery for a parent in Nigeria from the UK, US or CanadaGeneral vs spinal vs local anaesthesia: which one will I have, and is spinal safe?Is it safe to have surgery in Nigeria? The questions to ask the hospital firstWhat should an all-in surgery price include in Nigeria? The bill surprises to watch forShould I get a second opinion before surgery in Nigeria?Surgery with diabetes or high blood pressure in Nigeria: getting fit for the operationSickle cell and surgery in Nigeria: how to have an operation safely with SS or SCBlood for surgery in Nigeria: why families are asked to bring donors, and what to doComing home after surgery: wound care, warning signs and when to callSurgery cost in a government hospital vs a private hospital in Nigeria: hernia, appendix, fibroid and CSDoes HMO cover surgery in Nigeria? What plans pay for, what they leave out, and what to askHow to pay for surgery in Nigeria: a written quote, deposits, HMO top-ups and family abroadHow to choose a surgeon in Nigeria: registration, experience, a written quote and who handles complicationsHow long do babies stay in NICU? What Lagos parents should expectNewborn jaundice: when to worry about a yellow babyPreparing your child for surgery: fasting, what to say, and the day itselfPaediatrician or specialist? Choosing the right children's doctor in LagosSickle cell in children: what a specialist addsMy child had a fit with a fever: what to do now and nextHeart murmur in a child: innocent or a hole in the heart?Is my child too short? When to see a growth specialistGroin hernia in a baby: why it should be repaired soonBringing a premature baby home from the neonatal unitOnline consultation for a child: can a doctor treat my child by video?Malaria and typhoid test results: what they mean, and do you need both?Can an online doctor prescribe medicine in Nigeria, including antibiotics?Online doctor or hospital: which do I need?How to prepare for an online doctor consultationHow much does an online doctor consultation cost in Nigeria?Baby vaccination schedule in Nigeria: every routine vaccine from birth to 15 monthsDoes teething cause fever in babies? What teething does and does not doHow to check a child's temperature: the right thermometer and the right wayChild fever at night: what to do, and why it seems gone by morningAntibiotics for children in Nigeria: can I give them without a doctor?When to deworm a child: the age to start and how oftenHow to know if a baby is dehydrated, and what to doHow to check your blood pressure at home, and get a reading your doctor can useHow often should a diabetic check their blood sugar at home?HbA1c test: what it means, the normal range and what your result saysWhat should a full body checkup include? The tests that matter, by ageCataract surgery in Kaduna: what to expect, what is included and what to askEye doctor in Kaduna: ophthalmologist or optometrist, and how to chooseGlaucoma check in Kaduna: who needs one and what the test involvesDiabetic eye check in Kaduna: why every person with diabetes needs oneRetinal laser for diabetic eye disease in Kaduna: what it does and what to expectRetinal detachment in Kaduna: flashes, floaters or a curtain need help todaySquint in children in Kaduna: when glasses, patching or surgery are neededTravelling to Kaduna for eye surgery from Zaria, Kafanchan, Katsina, Kano or AbujaEye care for an elderly parent in Kaduna: what to check and how to helpEye surgery in Kaduna from Zaria: cataract, squint and retinaEye surgery in Kaduna from Kafanchan: planning the trip northEye care in Kaduna from Kachia and Zonkwa: what to sort out at home firstEye care in Kaduna from Saminaka and Lere: the road west and what to bringEye surgery in Kaduna from Funtua: the Zaria road and a two-night planEye surgery in Kaduna from Katsina: making a long journey one tripEye surgery in Kaduna from Kano: when it makes sense to travelEye surgery in Kaduna from Gusau: planning a journey across two statesEye surgery in Kaduna from Minna: by road through Suleja or by trainEye surgery in Kaduna from Suleja: the expressway or the train from KubwaEye surgery in Kaduna from Abuja: taking the train to RigasaEye surgery in Kaduna from Jos: retina surgery and the climb back up the plateauArthritis treatment in Nigeria: what works, and who to seeJoint pain that won't go away: the causes, and when to worryWhen to see a rheumatologist, and what happens at the first visitLupus treatment in Nigeria: finding a lupus doctor, and what care involvesArthritis blood tests: which ones you need, what they show, and the priceHeart surgery in Nigeria or abroad: how to decideBrain surgery in Nigeria or abroad: how to decideSpine surgery in Nigeria or abroad: how to decideCancer surgery in Nigeria or abroad: how to decideHow often should you see a dentist?Bleeding gums: causes, treatment and when to see a dentistYour child's first dental visit: when to go and what happensDentures or dental implants: which is right for you?Sensitive teeth: why it happens and what helps
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Toothache. NHS. Patient information.
- Dental abscess. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 4 November 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.