No. A tooth infection does not go away on its own. The pain may fade for a while, but the bacteria stay inside the tooth or gum and can spread. See a dentist as soon as you can, and go to an emergency room if you have swelling with a fever or trouble breathing or swallowing.
Why the pain can stop while the infection stays
An infection inside a tooth often starts in the nerve. As the infection gets worse, the nerve can die. When that happens, the pain may suddenly stop.
That feels like good news, but it isn't. The infection is still there. It keeps working its way out through the tip of the root and into the bone, where it can form an abscess.
Signs a tooth may be infected
- A toothache that throbs or keeps you up at night
- Pain when you bite or tap on the tooth
- A tooth that hurts with heat, or stays sensitive after cold
- Swelling in the gum, cheek or jaw
- A small bump on the gum that may leak a salty fluid
- A bad taste or bad breath that doesn't go away
- A tooth that has turned darker than the others
Go to the ER first if
- Swelling spreads to your eye, your neck, or under your tongue
- You have a fever, chills, or feel very ill
- You have trouble breathing or swallowing
- You can't open your mouth fully
These signs can mean the infection is spreading. After the ER, you still need a dentist to treat the tooth.
What happens if it isn't treated
Over time, an untreated tooth infection can:
- Destroy bone around the tooth
- Spread to nearby teeth or into the face and jaw
- Cause the tooth to loosen and be lost
- In rare cases, spread to other parts of the body and become life threatening
Mayo Clinic's page on tooth abscess lists these complications.
Can antibiotics alone fix it?
Not by themselves. Antibiotics can help control a spreading infection, but they can't reach the source inside the tooth very well. Once you finish the pills, the infection often comes back. The tooth itself has to be treated.
What you can do until you're seen
- Call a dentist today. If your regular dentist is booked, call an emergency dentist.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label.
- Hold a cold pack on the outside of your cheek, 15 minutes at a time.
- Don't put heat on the swelling, and don't try to drain it yourself.
How a dentist treats a tooth infection
An X-ray shows where the infection is and how far it has spread. Treatment depends on the tooth:
- Root canal treatment removes the infected nerve and saves the tooth.
- Extraction removes a tooth that can't be saved.
- Drainage relieves pressure from an abscess.
- Antibiotics may be added if the infection has spread.
You can read more on our abscess treatment page.
Where to read more
Independent health organizations cover this topic too:
- MedlinePlus: Tooth abscess: symptoms, causes and treatment
- American Dental Association: Root canals: what the treatment involves
Need an Emergency Dentist?
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If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling that is spreading, go to the emergency room or call 911.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a tooth infection last?
It can stay for months or even years, sometimes with no pain at all, while slowly damaging the bone. That's why a dentist should check any tooth you suspect is infected.
My tooth stopped hurting. Do I still need to go?
Yes. Pain stopping is often a sign the nerve has died, not that the infection is gone.
Is a tooth infection an emergency?
Swelling, fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing make it an emergency. Without those, it still needs a dental visit soon, ideally within a day or two.
If you're in Phoenix
Our North 35th Avenue office sees same-day emergencies Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and you can walk in. Call (602) 737-2446 and we'll tell you the current wait. The emergency exam and X-rays are $45.
The $45 covers the emergency exam and diagnostic X-rays. Treatment is priced separately and explained before any work begins.
If you have ER warning signs, the closest hospitals to us include HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center and Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. For payment options, see our cost page.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for an exam by a licensed dentist.