Ice or heat for tooth and jaw pain: Which works when?

When a tooth throbs or your jaw aches, you want relief. But should you reach for ice or heat? The answer depends on what’s causing the pain. 

A cold compress may help with tooth pain after an injury, while warmth may ease certain types of jaw muscle discomfort. Either can offer temporary relief, but feeling better doesn’t tell you whether the underlying problem needs dental care. 

What you'll learn: 

• Why ice and heat are not one-size-fits-all fixes 

• When a cold compress may help after an injury 

• When gentle warmth may ease jaw muscle soreness 

• Which symptoms need a dental visit and which need emergency care 

If pain is already keeping you up, schedule an appointment with an Aspen Dental provider. They can help you figure out what is going on and suggest the right next step.

Ice or heat for tooth pain vs. jaw pain 

Tooth pain and jaw pain can be hard to tell apart. That matters because a compress that soothes one type of pain may do little for another. 

A toothache can come from decay, a crack or an infection.¹ If the pain feels like it is coming from inside a tooth, that is useful to mention when booking care. Do not rely on a compress to explain or fix it. 

Jaw pain is a different story. Pain in the chewing muscles or jaw joint is the most common symptom of a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMDs can involve the joint, the chewing muscles or both, and the pain can spread into the face or neck.² The right response varies from one condition to the next. 

When a cold compress may help 

After an injury to a tooth, a cold compress applied to the cheek, on the outside of the mouth, is one option for temporary comfort.¹ For acute TMD pain, ice is also a recommended self-care option.³ That guidance does not mean every swollen or painful jaw should be treated at home. 

Use the pack outside your face, with a cloth between it and your skin. Do not put bare ice against your skin or press it onto a tooth or gum. Follow the pack's instructions and stop if it feels painful or irritates your skin. 

Cold may ease discomfort while you arrange care. If you are unsure whether an injury affected the tooth, the jaw or both, explain what happened when you call. 

When gentle warmth may help with jaw muscle pain 

For an ongoing, dull ache related to TMD, warmth is a recommended option. Holding a warm, damp cloth against your jaw area may ease the pain.³ This is different from assuming heat is right for a swollen tooth or a possible infection. 

Use comfortable warmth, not heat that burns or stings. The goal is relief, so there is no reason to push through discomfort from the compress itself. A pack's instructions and your provider's advice can help you use it appropriately. 

Early on, a provider may pair heat or cold with simple stretching and strengthening exercises for the jaw muscles. Ask a dental provider or physical therapist to show you suitable exercises rather than forcing a sore jaw through stretches.²^,³

Should you alternate ice and heat for jaw pain? 

Heat and cold are both options for TMD symptoms, but that does not make alternating between them a universal routine. Ask which approach fits your symptoms and whether there is a reason to switch. 

For TMDs, general guidance includes sessions of 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.³ That timing is not a rule for every toothache, injury or dental procedure. Follow any specific instructions you receive, and do not keep a compress on longer just because the ache remains. 

Using ice or heat after a dental procedure 

If you have just had a dental procedure, follow the instructions your provider gave you. Those directions take priority over general advice about ice or heat. 

If they are unclear, ask when to use the compress, how long to leave it on and when to stop. Mention any new or worsening symptoms rather than assuming you simply need to change the temperature. 

Symptoms that need attention 

For ongoing jaw discomfort, stiffness or trouble moving your jaw, arrange an assessment. These can occur with TMDs, but other conditions may need to be ruled out.² Notes on when the pain starts and what eases or aggravates it can help your provider sort out the cause. 

Call a dental provider right away if a toothache comes with any of these:¹ 

• Pain that lasts longer than a day or two 

• A fever 

• Signs of infection, such as swelling, red gums, pain when you bite or a bad-tasting fluid in your mouth 

Trouble breathing or swallowing means going to a hospital emergency department.¹ Do not wait for a routine dental appointment in that situation. 

If you are unsure what to try, schedule an assessment with your local dental provider. Describe what you feel and when it started so your provider can point you toward the right care. 

Ice or heat for tooth and jaw pain: Which works when? FAQs 

Is it safe to put ice directly on a tooth? 

The cold-compress advice for an injured tooth means holding it against the outside of your cheek. It does not mean pressing an ice cube onto the sore tooth. If cold itself triggers pain, mention that at your appointment rather than repeatedly testing the tooth with ice. 

Can warmth make a dental infection worse? 

Warmth is not a treatment for a dental infection. It is an option for certain jaw joint and muscle symptoms. Rather than trying to judge an infection by whether heat helps or hurts, have the tooth assessed. Temporary comfort cannot tell you whether the underlying problem has been resolved.

What should I tell my dentist if a compress helps? 

Explain which temperature you tried, where you placed it and whether the relief lasted after you removed it. Providers who evaluate jaw pain typically ask about triggers, relief and whether the pain travels to other areas.² Those observations are useful, but they are one part of the assessment rather than a diagnosis on their own. 

Sources 

¹ Mayo Clinic: “Toothache: First aid.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-toothache/basics/art-20056628 

² National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: “TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders).” https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tmd 

³ Mayo Clinic: “TMJ disorders.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350945