In pain now
What to do until you get here, and when to go straight to the hospital.
Last updated:
Call us first
Every day we're open, we keep time for people in pain, and on the phone we'll tell you when to come in.
Out of hours, the answerphone tells you when we open.
When to go straight to hospital
Go straight to the emergency department at Rhodes General Hospital if:
- the area around your eye or your neck is swollen
- swelling in your mouth or neck makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak
- your eye is painful or swollen, or your eyesight suddenly changes
- you can hardly open your mouth
Do not drive yourself: ask someone to take you, or call 166 for an ambulance. Bring any medicines you take.
Until you get here
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen; a pharmacist can tell you which. No aspirin for children under 16, and never more than the dose on the packet.
- Eat soft food, like yoghurt, on the other side. Nothing sweet, very hot or very cold, and no smoking.
- Adults can rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon in a glass) and spit it out.
If a whole tooth has come out
A tooth is most likely to be saved within 20 minutes. For an adult tooth (never put back a baby tooth):
- Hold it by the white part, not the root.
- Rinse it briefly in water and put it straight back, even if it bleeds. Then close your mouth on gauze.
- If it will not go in, keep it moist in milk or saliva and come in straight away.
If a piece has broken off
It is usually not serious and can be repaired. Bring the piece in milk or saliva: it may be glued back on.
When to book without waiting
An abscess will not go away on its own. Call us if the pain:
- lasts more than 2 days or does not ease with painkillers
- comes with a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums or a swollen cheek
Sources: NHS “Toothache”, NHS “Dental abscess”, IADT “Knocked out”, NHS “Chipped, broken or cracked tooth”
