A toothache, also known as odontalgia or, less frequently, as odontalgy, is an aching pain in or around a tooth. In most cases toothaches are caused by problems in the tooth or jaw, such as cavities, gum disease, the emergence of wisdom teeth, a cracked tooth, jaw disease, or exposed tooth root.

Causes of a toothache may also be a symptom of diseases of the heart, such as angina or a myocardial infarction, due to referred pain. After having one or more teeth extracted a condition known as dry socket can develop, leading to extreme pain. The severity of a toothache can range from a mild discomfort to excruciating pain, which can be experienced either chronically or sporadically. This pain can often be aggravated somewhat by chewing or by hot or cold temperatures. An oral examination complete with X-rays can help discover the cause. Severe pain may be considered a dental emergency.

The pain of toothache can be treated with oil of cloves on packing in the sore tooth. Analgesics such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) or NSAIDs may also help. When tolerated by gastro-intestinal system (e.g. stomach), ibuprofen has proven to provide the strongest relief of dental pain. 400mg, or two standard 200mg tablets of ibuprofen (advil, motrin, or generic) is indicated. While only 600mg of ibuprofen is useful at a time, taking up to 800mg is acceptable, as the 600mg level is maintained in the bloodstream for longer. Systemic antibiotics have been shown to not effect dental pain, but are important for halting systemic infection if infection has transmitted through the tooth, as in an abscess.