7 Proven Ways to Solve Painful Teeth (That Actually Work)

Tooth pain can stop you in your tracks. It’s sharp, it’s deep, and it makes the simplest things, like eating, talking, or even thinking, feel unbearable. But here’s the good news: there are real, practical ways to treat it, not just mask the discomfort for a while.

Below are seven solid options that can actually make a difference. Some offer instant relief, others are longer-term solutions. But they all work, depending on the cause and severity of the pain.

1. Dental Implants

When teeth are severely damaged, infected, or missing altogether, implants are one of the most effective solutions. They don’t just sit on top of the gums; they’re fixed into the jawbone, acting like real teeth.

That’s important if your pain is coming from unstable dentures, exposed nerves, or broken roots. Implants help eliminate the problem at its core.

Here’s why they work so well:

• They don’t shift or move around, which means less irritation
• They prevent further bone loss, which often causes hidden pain
• They last for decades with good care

The procedure does involve surgery, but most patients say the healing discomfort is worth the long-term relief. If you’ve got multiple problem teeth, top teeth implants for painful teeth can completely change how your mouth feels and functions.

2. Root Canal Therapy

Sounds intimidating, right? But root canals aren’t the horror stories people once thought they were. In reality, they’re a clever way of saving a tooth that’s causing serious pain due to infection or decay deep in the nerve.

The process clears out the damaged tissue inside the tooth, cleans everything out, and seals it up to stop further problems. It’s done under local anaesthetic, so you’re numb during the whole thing. The relief that comes after is often instant.

If your tooth is throbbing, especially when you bite down or drink hot or cold liquids, this could be what you need.

3. Deep Cleaning (Periodontal Treatment)

Tooth pain isn’t always from the tooth itself. Sometimes it starts in the gums.

If you’ve got red, swollen, or bleeding gums along with dull pain, deep cleaning might be the answer. This isn’t your regular scale and polish. It goes under the gum line to clear out bacteria that standard brushing can’t touch.

Why it matters:

• Gum infections can loosen teeth, making them painful to chew with
• Untreated gum disease causes chronic inflammation
• Removing plaque and tartar gives the gums a chance to heal

It may take a few sessions, depending on how advanced the issue is, but the results are worth it if your pain is tied to gum problems.

4. Night Guards for Clenching or Grinding

Jaw tension, morning headaches, and a constant dull ache in your teeth? You might be grinding without even realising it, especially while you sleep.

A night guard cushions your teeth and absorbs the pressure from grinding. This helps prevent wear, cracks, and the nerve sensitivity that often follows.

You won’t notice much difference right away, but give it a few nights. Less tension in the jaw, fewer cracks in your teeth, and less pain creeping in throughout the day.

5. Tooth Extraction

No one wants to lose a tooth, but if it’s causing persistent, intense pain, it might need to go. This is usually a last resort, used when the tooth is too far gone to save.

Once it’s removed, the area heals, the pressure is gone, and the source of the pain disappears. For many, this brings instant relief after months of suffering.

Afterwards, you can look at options like implants or bridges to replace the missing tooth and restore your bite.

6. Desensitising Treatments

If your pain is triggered by cold drinks, sweet foods, or a cold breeze, you could be dealing with exposed dentin. That’s the layer under your enamel, and when it’s unprotected, it sends pain signals straight to your nerves.

Desensitising treatments, whether in a dental chair or in a prescribed product, help block these signals. These treatments gradually reduce the pain over days or weeks.

They’re best if your enamel has worn down or your gums have receded, leaving the sensitive parts of your teeth exposed.

7. Fillings or Crowns

When cavities or cracks let air and bacteria into a tooth, the nerve reacts, and it can react hard. That’s the sharp pain you might feel when biting into something sweet or cold.

A filling seals the gap, while a crown covers the whole tooth if it’s more badly damaged. Both stop pain at the source by protecting the tooth’s inner layers.

The sooner this is done, the better. Leaving a cracked or decaying tooth exposed makes things worse over time.

Say Goodbye to the Ongoing Ache

You don’t need to live with tooth pain. Whether it’s a deep-rooted infection, gum issues, grinding, or structural damage, there’s a treatment out there that works.

The important part is knowing which solution fits your situation. Some are quick fixes, others are permanent overhauls. But they all serve one goal: to stop that sharp, nagging, impossible-to-ignore pain for good.

And when that pain finally disappears? Everything else feels just a bit easier.