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Kids’ dentistry · Urgent care
Child Toothache: What to Do and When It’s Urgent
Most toothaches in children come from a cavity, trapped food or a tooth coming through, and need a dental visit within a day or two. Facial swelling with fever, or swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, is an emergency. At Yonsei Baro near Isu Station, Dr. Ho-seon Lee, a board-certified pediatric dentist, sees children for urgent visits.
How urgent is your child’s toothache?
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, or trouble breathing, swallowing or opening the mouth | Emergency: call 119 or go to a hospital emergency room now |
| Facial or gum swelling, or fever with tooth pain | Same day: call us, or go to an emergency room if we are closed |
| Pain that wakes your child at night, or a pimple-like bump on the gum | Contact us within a day |
| Brief twinges with cold or sweet foods | Book a check-up soon |
What causes toothache in children?
Toothache is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The most common causes are:
- Tooth decay. A cavity that reaches deeper layers of the tooth can cause sensitivity, then lasting pain.
- Trapped food. Popcorn husks or fibrous meat wedged between teeth can make the gum sore.
- New teeth coming through. Baby molars in toddlers and the first permanent molars around age 6 can make gums tender.
- An injured or cracked tooth. Pain may start days after a fall; see dental injuries .
- A dental abscess. An infection at the root or in the gum, often with swelling, a bad taste or a bump on the gum.
Occasionally, pain that feels like a toothache comes from a blocked sinus or an ear infection, which is another reason to have it checked.
Which signs mean it’s an emergency?
A dental infection can occasionally spread into the face. Seek urgent medical care, at a hospital emergency room or by calling 119, if your child has:
- facial swelling that is spreading toward the eye, under the jaw or down the neck;
- difficulty breathing, swallowing or opening the mouth;
- a fever with facial swelling, or seems unusually drowsy or unwell;
- bleeding that won’t stop, or toothache after a head injury.
English interpretation is available through 119.
How can I comfort my child at home?
These steps can help until your child is seen. They don’t treat the cause, so please still book a visit.
- Have your child rinse with warm water, then floss gently around the sore tooth to remove trapped food.
- Hold a cold pack wrapped in a cloth against the outside of the cheek for short periods.
- Offer soft, lukewarm food and avoid very hot, cold or sugary food and drinks.
- Use pain relief only as directed by a doctor or pharmacist, choosing a product suitable for your child’s age and weight. Pharmacists (약국, yakguk ) in Seoul can advise.
- Do not put aspirin or any tablet on the gum or tooth. It can burn the gum, and aspirin is generally not recommended for children unless a doctor advises it.
If the pain fades, keep the appointment: an infected tooth can stop hurting while infection continues.
What happens at an urgent visit?
Dr. Ho-seon Lee will ask when the pain started and what makes it worse, examine your child’s teeth and gums, and take X-rays if needed to find the cause. Depending on what she finds, treatment may include a tooth-coloured filling or a crown for a baby tooth . She will explain the options before anything is done.
For children who are nervous, we take things at their pace, and laughing gas may be an option. Our page on anxious children has tips for preparing your child.
Let us know when you book that you’d like English support — Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee and our team can help explain your child’s care in English.
Where can we go in Seoul, and when?
Call +82 2-592-2080 or message us on WhatsApp or KakaoTalk , ideally with a photo of any swelling, and we will advise how soon your child should be seen. Contact us for pediatric dentistry appointment times. We are one minute from Isu Station Exit 2.
We are closed on Wednesdays, Sundays, public holidays and in the evenings outside clinic hours. If your child has swelling, fever or severe pain at those times, go to a hospital emergency room (응급실, eunggeupsil ), phoning ahead if you can.
How can we prevent the next toothache?
Most childhood toothache comes from decay, which is largely preventable. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, keep sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes, and keep up regular check-ups so small cavities are found before they hurt. See our cavity prevention guide .
Toothache and urgent care FAQs
Is a swollen face from a tooth an emergency?
It can be. Swelling with fever, or swelling spreading toward the eye, under the jaw or down the neck, needs same-day medical attention; go to a hospital emergency room or call 119 if your child has trouble breathing or swallowing. Milder gum swelling still needs a dental visit soon, as it usually signals an infection.
What can I give my child for toothache pain?
Use only a pain reliever suitable for your child’s age and weight, and give it as directed by a doctor or pharmacist. Pharmacists in Seoul can help you choose. Never place aspirin or any tablet directly on the gum or tooth, as it can burn the soft tissue. Pain relief is a stopgap, not a treatment, so please still book a visit.
My child's toothache went away. Do we still need to see a dentist?
Yes. Pain that disappears is not always a good sign: when the nerve inside a decayed tooth is badly affected, it can stop hurting while infection continues quietly. A dental examination, and X-rays if needed, will show whether the tooth needs treatment before the problem returns or spreads.
Can a new molar coming in cause pain?
Yes. Baby molars in toddlers and the first permanent molars, which usually appear behind the baby teeth around age 6, can make the gum sore for a few days. A cold cloth or soft food may help. If there is swelling, fever, pus or pain lasting more than a few days, have it checked.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ho-seon Lee
Board-certified pediatric dentist (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare) · Director of Pediatric Dentistry · Last updated October 2026
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Every child is different; your child's dentist will recommend care after an examination. In an emergency involving breathing, heavy bleeding, a head injury or facial swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, call 119.
Worried about your child’s toothache?
Call or message us with a photo and we will advise how soon your child should be seen. Isu Station Exit 2, Seoul · Contact us for pediatric dentistry appointment times.