How to describe tooth pain to your dentist
Tooth pain can be hard to pin down, and it is easy to forget the details by the time of the appointment. A short note helps.
Where exactly
Say which side, upper or lower, and which tooth if you can tell.
- upper or lower
- left or right
- front or back teeth
- one tooth, or hard to tell which
- the gum around it, or the jaw
What it feels like
Pick the words that fit, or use your own:
- sharp, quick twinge
- dull ache
- throbbing
- sensitive
- pressure when biting
What sets it off, and how long it lasts
Write down what you were doing when you noticed it. These are the details that tend to get forgotten:
- hot or cold food and drinks
- sweet food
- biting or chewing
- lying down
- whether it fades in seconds or keeps going
When it started
Write when you first noticed it, even as a range, or "not sure". The day you first wrote it down can be later, so keep that date separate.
A note to take with you
Copy the prompts that matter to you:
- Where it is:
- What it feels like:
- When it is worse:
- When I first noticed it, or "not sure":
- What I want to ask:
To put your notes on one printable page, use the free visit summary.
Related guidance: NHS: preparing for an appointment
Keep dated notes in Ever Since
A symptom entry can include where it is, how strong it feels, and your own words. Each entry keeps the date it was logged. Symptom logging is included in the free plan.
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