Toothache & Dental Emergency

What to do right now – and how to reach us.

During our opening hours

How we handle emergencies

So that every treatment gets the time it needs, we don't hold fixed emergency slots. We still try to fit acute cases in between scheduled treatments – your best chance is to call early in the day. If we genuinely can't fit you in, we'll tell you openly and point you to the next place to turn.

+49 431 57667
Mon, Tue, Thu8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Friday8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Evenings, weekends & public holidays

Emergency dental service

Outside our opening hours, the Schleswig-Holstein emergency dental service takes over. The emergency service begins at 3:00 pm on Fridays and on the day before public holidays.

+49 431 260926 969

Or online via zahnaerztlicher-notdienst-sh.de – enter your postcode and you'll be directed to the practice on duty. (German site.)

When not to wait

Most toothache is unpleasant but not life-threatening. With the following signs, an infection may be spreading – please seek help immediately:

  • Swelling spreading towards the eye, jaw angle or neck
  • Fever and an increasingly unwell general condition
  • You can barely open your mouth
  • Bleeding that won't stop

If you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, call the emergency services immediately on 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a dental appointment in that case.

First aid until your appointment

What helps

  • Cool from the outside – place a damp, cool cloth or a cold pack wrapped in fabric against your cheek, repeatedly for a few minutes at a time.
  • Keep your upper body elevated – lying flat increases pressure in the head and often worsens the pain. Sleeping with your head raised is easier.
  • Rinse with lukewarm water – this gently removes food debris without irritating the area.
  • Painkillers as per the package leaflet – ibuprofen also acts as an anti-inflammatory; paracetamol is an alternative. Take pre-existing conditions and other medication into account.
  • Soft, lukewarm food – very hot, very cold and sweet things are especially irritating to an inflamed nerve.

What to avoid

  • Never place a tablet on the tooth – painkillers applied directly to the gum or tooth can chemically burn the mucous membrane.
  • No heat if there's swelling – hot water bottles, infrared lamps or hot compresses can fuel an infection.
  • Avoid aspirin if possible – products containing acetylsalicylic acid inhibit blood clotting and can complicate upcoming treatment.
  • No alcohol – it doesn't numb anything, dilates blood vessels, and doesn't mix with painkillers.
  • Don't lance it yourself – never open a swelling or "abscess" on your own. That spreads the infection.

These are general recommendations to bridge the gap and do not replace an examination. The cause of toothache can only be determined at the practice.

Knocked-out tooth? Every minute counts

If a tooth is completely knocked out by a fall or accident, it can often be replanted – provided the sensitive cells on the root surface stay alive. The chances are greatest within the first hour.

  1. Find the tooth and hold it by the crown only. Never touch, wipe or scrub the root.
  2. Don't clean it. Don't even rinse it – this destroys the attached tissue.
  3. Keep it moist. Ideally in a tooth rescue box from the pharmacy. If none is available: cold UHT milk, or as a last resort your own mouth, between cheek and teeth. Never in water – that destroys the cells.
  4. Set off straight away. To us during opening hours, otherwise to the emergency service. Please also bring baby teeth and broken-off fragments.

Where toothache can come from

The character of the pain often gives a first clue – we make the definitive diagnosis with an examination and, if needed, an X-ray.

Sharp pain with sweet, hot or cold

Often decay that has already reached the dentine, or exposed tooth necks. If the pain subsides quickly once the stimulus is gone, the nerve is usually still healthy.

Throbbing, pounding, worse at night

Typical of inflammation of the tooth nerve. Usually only a root canal treatment can save the tooth here. Please have it checked promptly.

Pain under pressure when biting

Can indicate inflammation at the root tip, a crack in the tooth, or a filling that sits too high.

Gums bleed and hurt

Often gum inflammation or periodontitis. It is painless for a long time – which makes early treatment all the more important.

Pressure in the jaw, tense in the morning

Can come from grinding your teeth at night. A splint protects the teeth and relieves the jaw muscles.

Pain at the back of the jaw

In young adults, often an erupting wisdom tooth, frequently with swollen tissue over it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an appointment today with acute toothache?
So that every treatment gets the time it needs, we don't hold fixed emergency slots. We still try to fit acute cases in between scheduled treatments – your best chance is to call early in the day. A same-day appointment isn't always possible; if that's the case, we'll tell you openly and point you to the next place to turn. Our number: +49 431 57667.
What do I do with toothache at the weekend or at night?
Outside our opening hours, the Schleswig-Holstein emergency dental service can help on +49 431 260926 969. The emergency service begins at 3:00 pm on Fridays and on the day before public holidays. Alternatively you can find the practice on duty at zahnaerztlicher-notdienst-sh.de by entering your postcode.
Which painkiller helps with toothache?
Ibuprofen usually works well for toothache because it is also anti-inflammatory; paracetamol is an alternative. Stick to the dosage in the package leaflet and take pre-existing conditions and other medication into account. If possible, avoid products containing acetylsalicylic acid such as aspirin, as these inhibit blood clotting and can complicate upcoming treatment. Never place tablets directly on the tooth or gum – this can chemically burn the mucous membrane.
When is toothache a genuine emergency?
Warning signs are swelling spreading towards the eye, jaw angle or neck, fever, an increasingly unwell general condition, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. In these cases you should not wait but seek medical help immediately – with breathing or swallowing difficulties, call the emergency services on 112. A tooth knocked out in an accident is also an emergency in which every minute counts.
My tooth was knocked out in an accident – what should I do?
Find the tooth and hold it by the crown only, never by the root. Do not clean or scrub it. Place it immediately in a tooth rescue box; if none is available, cold UHT milk works, or as a last resort your own mouth. Do not store it in water. Come to us or to the emergency service as quickly as possible – the chance of saving the tooth is greatest within the first hour.
I don't speak German. Can I still be treated?
English is spoken at our practice – please simply say so at the start of the call. If you're worried about understanding something in an emergency, it can help to have a German-speaking friend or colleague with you on the line, but that isn't a requirement.

In pain right now?

Call us during opening hours – the earlier in the day, the better.

Call +49 431 57667 Appointment & contact