Tooth Pain During Pregnancy: Causes, What Is Safe to Do, and When to See a Dentist

Pregnancy hormones make gums more reactive to plaque, so they swell, redden and bleed easily. This is often called pregnancy gingivitis. Sore, tender gums can feel like toothache, and our guide on gingivitis explains how it is managed.

Repeated vomiting brings stomach acid into the mouth, which softens enamel and can make teeth sensitive. Cravings and small frequent snacks, especially sweet or sticky ones, give decay more chances to start. An existing cavity can also worsen quickly, and a partly erupted wisdom tooth may flare up.

Pregnancy does not make teeth lose calcium. Tooth pain in pregnancy still means a dental cause, so it should be examined and not put down to being pregnant.

Rinse with warm salt water, as our guide on the salt water rinse for toothache describes. Hold a cold pack wrapped in a cloth against the cheek, sleep with your head raised, and brush gently with fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

After vomiting, rinse your mouth with plain water and wait a while before brushing, because brushing straight away rubs acid over softened enamel.

Do not take any painkiller, including paracetamol or ibuprofen, without checking with your doctor first. Do not use clove oil or other remedies without asking, and do not take antibiotics left over from earlier illnesses.

No. Untreated decay and gum infection do not clear up by waiting, and pain and infection are harder on you and the pregnancy than careful dental treatment. Tell the dentist how far along you are, and your doctor can be involved in decisions about medicines and treatment.

Planned, non-urgent work such as polishing, cosmetic treatment or elective procedures is often arranged for a comfortable stage of pregnancy. Urgent problems should not wait. Our guide on dental treatment during pregnancy covers X-rays, anaesthetic, timing and what can safely be done, and the toothache page explains causes in general.

Seek care the same day if there is swelling of the face or jaw, fever, a bad taste with discharge from the gum, or difficulty opening the mouth or swallowing. Go to a hospital emergency department if breathing or swallowing is affected.

Pain that keeps you awake or throbs, or a tooth that has broken, also needs prompt attention. Do not wait to see whether it settles.