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Record the symptom, check urgent warning signs and understand what information helps a dental assessment.
54 guides
A toothache can have several causes — from tooth decay or a crack to an exposed nerve, a gum problem or an infection — so it should be assessed to find and treat the cause. For now, keep the area clean, take pain relief you normally can, avoid very hot, cold, sweet or hard foods, and note when it hurts.
Read the guide →Sudden severe tooth pain often points to an exposed nerve, deep decay, a cracked tooth or an infection, and it needs a dental assessment soon. For now, keep the area clean, take pain relief you normally can, avoid very hot, cold or hard foods, and note what triggers it.
Read the guide →Pain when biting or chewing often means a cracked or loose tooth, a high or failing filling, or an infection at the root, and it should be checked by a dentist. For now, chew on the other side, avoid hard foods, and note which tooth and which movement brings on the pain.
Read the guide →Sensitive teeth — a short, sharp twinge with hot, cold or sweet things — is common in older or homebound people, often from exposed root surfaces, worn enamel, gum recession or dry mouth. Try a sensitivity toothpaste, avoid acidic drinks, and have it checked, as it can also signal decay or a crack.
Read the guide →A cracked tooth can cause pain on biting or with hot and cold, and sometimes there is no visible line. It needs a dental assessment, because a crack can worsen or let infection in. For now, chew on the other side, avoid hard foods and extremes of temperature, and keep the tooth clean.
Read the guide →A chipped tooth is often minor, but it should be checked in case the chip is sharp, near the nerve or hiding a crack. For now, rinse gently, keep the area clean, cover a sharp edge with dental wax if it cuts the tongue or cheek, and avoid biting on it.
Read the guide →A broken tooth should be assessed by a dentist, as it can be painful, sharp or exposed to infection depending on how much broke. For now, keep any pieces, rinse gently, cover a sharp edge with dental wax, take usual pain relief if needed, and avoid chewing on that side.
Read the guide →A loose adult tooth is not normal and should be checked, as it usually means advanced gum disease, an injury or an infection around the root. For now, avoid wobbling it, eat soft foods, keep it very clean, and do not pull on it.
Read the guide →A lost filling leaves a hole that can be sensitive and traps food, and it should be repaired before decay or a break develops. For now, keep the area clean, avoid chewing on it, and a pharmacy temporary-filling material can protect it briefly. A dentist can place a filling, often at home.
Read the guide →A lost crown or bridge should be seen soon, because the tooth underneath is unprotected and can become sensitive, decay or break. Keep the crown or bridge safe and clean, avoid chewing on the tooth, and do not try to glue it with household glue. A dentist can often recement it at home if the tooth and crown are sound.
Read the guide →A visible hole or brown/black spot on a tooth usually means decay, which will slowly get bigger and can reach the nerve if left. It should be checked and filled. For now, keep it clean, avoid sugary foods and drinks, and use fluoride toothpaste.
Read the guide →Root caries — decay on the softer root surface near the gum — is common in older adults, especially with gum recession or dry mouth. It can progress quickly, so it should be checked and treated. For now, clean gently at the gum line, use fluoride toothpaste and cut down on sugar.
Read the guide →A retained root or broken-down tooth (a stump left after most of the tooth has gone) should be assessed, as it can harbour infection, become painful or make dentures uncomfortable. For now, keep it clean and watch for pain or swelling.
Read the guide →Food trapping between teeth often means a gap has opened up — from a lost filling, a broken tooth, gum recession or a loose crown — and it can lead to decay and gum soreness if left. For now, clean between the teeth gently with floss or an interdental brush, and have the cause checked.
Read the guide →Jaw pain and jaw-joint (TMJ) symptoms — pain near the ear, clicking, or difficulty opening — often come from clenching, grinding, joint strain or arthritis. For now, eat soft foods, avoid wide yawns and chewing gum, apply a warm compress, and gently rest the jaw.
Read the guide →Bleeding gums, especially when brushing, are most often an early sign of gum inflammation from plaque — not a reason to stop brushing, but to brush and clean between the teeth more gently and thoroughly. It usually improves within a couple of weeks of better cleaning.
Read the guide →Swollen gums usually mean inflammation or infection from plaque, but can also come from a gum abscess, medication, ill-fitting dentures or, rarely, something more serious. For now, keep the area clean and rinse with warm salt water, and have it assessed if it does not settle.
Read the guide →Painful or tender gums usually point to gum inflammation, an ulcer, a sore spot from a denture, or infection. For now, keep the mouth clean, rinse with warm salt water, avoid anything that rubs the area, and take usual pain relief if needed.
Read the guide →Receding gums — where the gum pulls back and the tooth looks longer or the root shows — can come from gum disease, hard brushing, grinding or ageing, and can cause sensitivity and root decay. For now, brush gently with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, and have the cause checked.
Read the guide →Signs of gum disease include red, swollen or bleeding gums, bad breath, gums pulling away from the teeth, and, later, loose teeth. Early gum disease is common and reversible with good cleaning; more advanced disease needs professional treatment to stop it damaging the bone that holds the teeth.
Read the guide →A gum abscess is a painful collection of pus from infection, often showing as a swollen, tender lump on the gum, sometimes with a bad taste. It needs dental treatment and should not be left. For now, rinse with warm salt water and take usual pain relief; do not squeeze it.
Read the guide →Pus, a bad taste or drainage from the gum usually means an infection, such as an abscess, that needs dental treatment. For now, keep the mouth clean, rinse with warm salt water and take usual pain relief; do not squeeze the area.
Read the guide →Teeth that have become loose because of gum disease mean the disease has reached the bone that supports them, and this needs professional care to slow or stop it. For now, keep the teeth very clean and gentle, eat softer foods, and avoid wobbling them.
Read the guide →Gum overgrowth — where the gums swell and grow over the teeth — can be a side effect of certain medicines (for example some for blood pressure, epilepsy or after a transplant), made worse by plaque. Very good cleaning helps, and the dentist may liaise with the doctor about the medicine.
Read the guide →A mouth ulcer is a small, painful sore inside the mouth, usually harmless and healing within about two weeks. For now, avoid spicy, acidic or hard foods, keep the mouth clean, and use a soothing gel if needed. An ulcer that has not healed in three weeks should be checked.
Read the guide →Recurring mouth ulcers that keep coming back are common and often linked to stress, minor injury, certain foods, hormonal changes or, sometimes, a deficiency or medical condition. Keep the mouth clean, note any triggers, and mention them to a dentist or doctor, especially if they are frequent or severe.
Read the guide →A mouth ulcer that has not healed in about three weeks should be checked by a dentist without delay. Most ulcers heal on their own, so one that persists — especially if it is growing, has a raised or hard edge, bleeds or is numb — needs to be looked at to rule out anything serious.
Read the guide →A white patch in the mouth that does not wipe away and does not heal within a couple of weeks should be checked by a dentist, as while most are harmless, a persistent patch occasionally needs further tests. Note where it is and how long it has been there.
Read the guide →A red patch in the mouth that does not heal within a couple of weeks should be checked by a dentist promptly, as a persistent red patch needs to be looked at even though many causes are harmless. Note where it is, how long it has been there and any pain or bleeding.
Read the guide →A lump or swelling inside the mouth should be checked, especially if it is firm, growing, or has been there more than two to three weeks. Many lumps are harmless — from irritation, a blocked salivary gland or a denture — but a persistent one needs assessment.
Read the guide →Oral thrush is a fungal infection showing as creamy-white patches that may wipe off to leave a sore, red area, often with a dry mouth or odd taste. It is common in older, unwell, dry-mouthed or denture-wearing people and is easily treated once a dentist or doctor confirms it.
Read the guide →A burning sensation in the mouth — often on the tongue or lips, with no obvious sore — can come from dry mouth, thrush, a denture problem, a nutritional issue or a condition called burning mouth syndrome. It is worth having checked to find and treat any cause.
Read the guide →Cracks or soreness at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis) come from moisture and irritation there, often linked to dry or drooping skin folds, ill-fitting dentures, a fungal or bacterial infection, or a nutritional issue. Keep the corners clean and dry, and have the cause checked.
Read the guide →Dry mouth is a lack of saliva that makes the mouth feel dry, sticky or sore and raises the risk of decay, gum problems and thrush. It is often caused by medicines, some medical conditions, or dehydration. Sip water often, use a saliva gel or spray, keep up fluoride, and mention it to a dentist.
Read the guide →Excessive saliva or drooling can come from difficulty swallowing or controlling the lips and mouth — common after a stroke or with Parkinson’s, dementia or ill-fitting dentures — rather than making too much saliva. Keeping the mouth and skin clean and dry helps, and the cause is worth assessing.
Read the guide →Persistent bad breath most often comes from the mouth — plaque, a coated tongue, gum disease, dry mouth, an unclean denture or tooth decay. Improve brushing, gently clean the tongue, clean dentures nightly, keep the mouth moist, and have it checked if it continues.
Read the guide →A change in the sense of taste can come from a dry mouth, thrush, gum or tooth infection, an unclean denture, or from medicines or a medical condition. Keeping the mouth and any denture very clean and moist often helps, and a dentist can check for a dental cause.
Read the guide →Pain or difficulty when chewing can come from a sore or broken tooth, gum disease, a jaw-joint problem, an ill-fitting denture or a mouth ulcer. Eat softer foods on the comfortable side for now, and note which tooth or area and what movement causes it.
Read the guide →Difficulty opening the mouth can come from a jaw-joint problem, muscle spasm, an infection or swelling near the jaw, or after dental work. Rest the jaw, eat soft foods and use a warm compress. If it comes with spreading swelling, fever or difficulty swallowing or breathing, seek urgent care — call 999.
Read the guide →Swallowing difficulty can affect oral health because food and plaque linger in the mouth, and it also makes mouth care riskier if fluid can go the wrong way. Keep the person upright for mouth care, use very little water, and coordinate with the medical or speech and language team, as new swallowing problems need checking.
Read the guide →When someone cannot tell you they are in pain, their behaviour often shows it: rubbing or guarding the face, refusing food or a favourite drink, pulling at the mouth, new restlessness or agitation, moaning, grimacing, or changes in sleep or mood. Look inside for a broken tooth, swelling, redness or a sore denture.
Read the guide →Loose dentures usually mean the denture no longer fits, often because the gums and bone have gradually changed shape, or the denture is worn. For now, a denture fixative can help temporarily, but a loose denture that rubs can cause sore spots. A dentist can adjust, reline or remake it, often at home.
Read the guide →A broken or cracked denture should be handled by a dentist rather than glued at home, as household glue is unsafe in the mouth and a poor repair can make it worse. Keep all the pieces, stop wearing it if it is sharp, and arrange a repair; a broken denture can usually be assessed at home and repaired via a laboratory.
Read the guide →Denture sore spots are red, tender or ulcerated areas where a denture rubs, usually meaning it needs adjusting. For now, take the denture out to rest the area, rinse with warm salt water, and do not keep wearing a denture that is causing an ulcer. A dentist can ease the denture, often at home.
Read the guide →Difficulty chewing with dentures usually means the dentures are loose, worn, or no longer fit as the mouth has changed, or that the bite is uneven. For now, eat softer foods cut small and chew on both sides. A dentist can adjust, reline or remake the dentures to restore comfortable chewing.
Read the guide →Denture odour and hygiene problems usually mean the denture is not being cleaned thoroughly, letting plaque, food and fungus build up — which also causes sore gums and thrush. Clean the denture daily with a denture brush and cleaner (not toothpaste), soak it overnight, and rinse after meals.
Read the guide →A lost or misplaced denture is a common and stressful problem, especially in care homes, and it affects eating, speech and confidence. Check bedding, bins and food trays first. A replacement denture can be made at home, but it takes several visits, which is why labelling dentures helps prevent loss.
Read the guide →Needing more and more denture adhesive to keep a denture in place is a sign that the denture no longer fits well and should be assessed — not a long-term solution. Over-using adhesive can hide a poor fit and irritate the gums. A dentist can reline or remake the denture for a proper fit, often at home.
Read the guide →Facial swelling near a tooth needs prompt attention — a spreading dental infection can become serious. Seek emergency care (call 999) at once if the swelling is spreading quickly, closing an eye, or comes with fever, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Otherwise arrange urgent dental care the same day.
Read the guide →Jaw swelling can come from a dental infection, a blocked salivary gland, a jaw-joint problem or an injury, and it should be assessed promptly. Seek emergency care (call 999) if the swelling is spreading, comes with fever, or causes difficulty breathing or swallowing. Otherwise arrange urgent dental care.
Read the guide →A dental injury after a fall should be assessed, and it is also a prompt to check the person is otherwise unhurt. Keep any tooth pieces, rinse the mouth gently, control bleeding with gentle pressure, and use a cold compress for swelling. If there was a head injury, loss of consciousness or heavy bleeding, seek emergency care.
Read the guide →An injury to the lip or tongue often bleeds a lot but usually settles with gentle, steady pressure using a clean cloth for ten to fifteen minutes; a cold compress helps swelling. Seek care if bleeding will not stop, the cut is deep or gaping, or something is embedded. Keep the area clean while it heals.
Read the guide →Bleeding from the mouth can come from the gums, a tooth socket after an extraction, an injury, or, importantly, be affected by blood-thinning medicines. For minor bleeding, bite firmly on clean gauze for fifteen minutes and avoid rinsing. Seek emergency care (call 999) for heavy bleeding that will not stop.
Read the guide →Complete tooth loss in an older or homebound adult affects eating, speech, appearance and nutrition, but a lot can be done: a home visit can assess the gums, discuss dentures, and take impressions to make a full set — all without a clinic trip. Keeping the gums and mouth clean remains important even without teeth.
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Whenever you are ready, you can share the area and the main concern. A provider can then advise whether a home visit is suitable, who would attend and what happens next.
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