Tooth Pain That Comes and Goes: Should You Worry?

When That Sharp Twinge Strikes Out of Nowhere

You’re sipping an iced drink when a sudden zing shoots through your molar. The pain vanishes as quickly as it arrived, leaving you wondering if it was just a fluke. Later that week, you feel the same jolt while chewing dinner. By the next morning, it’s gone again.

Many adults brush off these episodes because the discomfort doesn’t linger. But here’s the truth: tooth pain that comes and goes is still your body’s way of saying something isn’t right. The question isn’t whether it’s serious—it’s whether you catch it early enough to prevent bigger problems.

Why Tooth Pain Comes and Goes

Not all toothaches behave the same way. Some are sharp and sudden, others dull and nagging. The “comes and goes” type can be especially confusing because it tricks you into thinking it’s not urgent.

Small Cavity, Big Signals

Even a tiny cavity can trigger pain when food or liquid hits the sensitive dentin layer beneath the enamel. Once the irritant is gone, the pain subsides—but the cavity is still there, slowly expanding.

Cracks and Fractures

A cracked tooth may only hurt when you bite in a certain direction or on a specific spot. Over time, that crack can deepen and lead to infection or the need for root canal therapy.

Gum Issues That Flare Up

Early gum disease can create occasional soreness, especially if food debris gets lodged below the gumline. Swelling may go down temporarily, but bacteria remain active without professional treatment.

Sinus or Jaw Pressure

Not all tooth pain originates in the teeth. Sinus infections or TMJ/TMD problems can cause pressure that radiates as intermittent tooth discomfort.

When to Take It Seriously

Pain that disappears often tricks patients into waiting months before calling their dentist. But here’s what dentists know: tooth pain rarely resolves on its own. It either escalates—or the nerve inside the tooth quietly dies, masking symptoms until the damage is more advanced.

Red flags that mean it’s time to call the dentist:

• Pain wakes you up at night
• Sensitivity lingers after hot or cold foods
• You notice swelling, bad taste, or persistent bad breath
• Biting feels uneven or creates a sharp twinge in one spot

The Science Behind Tooth Pain

Understanding why pain flickers on and off can help you see why acting early matters.

Inside every tooth is a chamber containing nerves and blood vessels. When decay, cracks, or infection irritate those nerves, the pulp sends pain signals. If irritation is brief, the nerves calm back down—explaining the “on again, off again” sensation. But if irritation is frequent, those nerves eventually become inflamed. Once inflammation progresses too far, pain can become constant or, paradoxically, disappear if the nerve dies. Unfortunately, nerve death doesn’t equal healing—it usually means infection is spreading deeper.

Patient Story: The Pain That Waited Too Long

Maria, a 42-year-old patient, felt sharp pains while chewing but brushed them off because the pain faded quickly. Six months later, she came in with swelling and constant throbbing. The culprit? A cracked tooth that had progressed into an infection. Instead of a simple filling, she needed a crown and root canal. She later told us, “I wish I’d come in sooner—it would have saved me so much time and stress.”