April 30, 2026 5 min read
What to Do When You Have a Toothache in Anchorage
Practical triage steps for tooth pain, what to try at home, what to watch for, and when it's time to call the dentist.
A toothache that doesn't settle on its own is your body asking for attention. Here's how to think about it without panicking, and when to make the call.
Start with simple at-home steps
- Rinse with warm salt water to clean the area.
- Floss gently around the tooth in case food is trapped.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever you normally tolerate.
- Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gum. It can burn the tissue.
Call us if any of these are true
- Pain has lasted more than a day or wakes you at night.
- There's swelling in the gum, jaw, or face.
- A specific tooth hurts when you bite down.
- You see a pimple-like bump on the gum (possible abscess).
- Hot or cold sensitivity lingers for many seconds after the trigger.
If facial swelling spreads quickly, affects breathing or swallowing, or you have a high fever, go to the nearest emergency room first, then call us about follow-up.
What we'll do at your visit
We'll examine the tooth, take an X-ray when needed, and explain in plain language what's going on. Treatment may be a simple filling, a crown, or a root canal, and we focus on saving the tooth whenever it's reasonable.