Toothache While Traveling in Korea: What to Do, Step by Step
If you get a toothache while traveling in Korea, first check for spreading swelling or trouble breathing or swallowing; if present, call 119. Otherwise, rinse with warm salt water, take an over-the-counter painkiller as labelled, and message an English-speaking dentist. Lucid Dental Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul answers on WhatsApp at +82-10-8354-2975.
Key facts
- Call 119 or go to hospital for swelling near the eye or neck or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking (NHS guidance).
- The NHS advises seeing a dentist if toothache lasts more than 2 days or painkillers don't help.
- Pharmacies are called 약국 (yak-guk); some first-aid medicines such as acetaminophen are sold at 24-hour convenience stores in Korea.
- The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline offers multilingual help: 1330 in Korea, +82-2-1330 from abroad.
- Lucid Dental Clinic (Eonju Station Exit 3, Line 9) takes English WhatsApp messages at +82-10-8354-2975.
- Do not put aspirin directly on the tooth or gum (ADA).
Medically reviewed by Dr. Park Hyun-min, Prosthodontist, Chief Dentist at Lucid Dental Clinic. Last reviewed 27 September 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis; individual results vary, and a consultation and exam are required.
What should I do first if I get a toothache in Korea?
Start by checking for warning signs, then manage the pain and contact a dentist. Most toothaches are not dangerous, but a few signs mean you need hospital care straight away. Here is a simple order to follow:
- Check for danger signs. If swelling is spreading toward your eye or neck, or you have trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, call 119 or go to a hospital emergency department now.
- Rinse and clean gently. Rinse with warm water or salt water and gently remove trapped food. Avoid very hot, very cold or sweet food and drink.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief. Use a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as labelled or as a pharmacist advises, if it is safe for you. Do not put aspirin on the gum or tooth.
- Find a pharmacy or convenience store. Look for a pharmacy (약국, yak-guk). Some first-aid medicines, including acetaminophen, are also sold at 24-hour convenience stores.
- Message a dentist with a photo. Send a photo and short description to an English-speaking clinic. Lucid Dental Clinic in Gangnam can be reached on WhatsApp at +82-10-8354-2975.
- Get treated and keep your records. Ask for an English receipt, a treatment summary and copies of X-rays for your insurer and your dentist at home.
The NHS recommends painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen), rinsing with salt water, soft food and a soft toothbrush while you wait to be seen. The American Dental Association advises against placing aspirin directly on the tooth or gums, because it can burn the tissue.
When is a toothache an emergency?
A toothache becomes an emergency when infection or swelling spreads. The NHS lists swelling around the eye or neck, and swelling that makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, as reasons to go to hospital immediately.
| Symptom | How urgent | Where to go in Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling affecting breathing, swallowing, eye or neck | Immediately | Call 119 or go to a hospital emergency department |
| Facial swelling with fever | Same day | Dentist today; hospital if it spreads or the clinic is closed |
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Immediately | Dentist at once; keep the tooth moist in milk |
| Severe pain not eased by painkillers | Within a day | Dentist |
| Broken tooth or lost crown with mild pain | Within a few days | Dentist |
| Mild ache that settles with painkillers | Soon; within 2 days if it continues | Dentist, ideally before your flight home |
The NHS advises seeing a dentist if toothache lasts more than two days or does not settle with painkillers.
Where can I buy painkillers in Korea?
Pharmacies (약국, yak-guk ) are easy to find in Seoul and sell a range of pain relievers. Since 2012, some first-aid medicines, including acetaminophen products, have also been sold outside pharmacies at 24-hour convenience stores, according to The Korea Herald.
- Show the pharmacist your tooth and say what you already take.
- Tell them about allergies, pregnancy, stomach problems or blood thinners.
- Do not exceed the label dose, and do not combine products with the same active ingredient.
- Painkillers ease symptoms but do not treat the cause; plan to see a dentist.
Useful Korean phrases for a toothache
| English | Korean | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| My tooth hurts | 이가 아파요 | i-ga a-pa-yo |
| Dental clinic | 치과 | chi-gwa |
| Pharmacy | 약국 | yak-guk |
| Painkiller | 진통제 | jin-tong-je |
More phrases are in our Korean dental phrases glossary. If you need live interpretation, the Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 Travel Helpline offers multilingual help; dial 1330 in Korea or +82-2-1330 from abroad.
How do I see an English-speaking dentist as a tourist?
Message a clinic that consults in English, send a photo, and ask for the earliest slot. At Lucid Dental Clinic, English, Japanese and Chinese consultations are available, and the team replies on WhatsApp at +82-10-8354-2975.
| Lucid Dental Clinic | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 606 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu; in front of Eonju Station Exit 3 (Line 9) |
| Weekdays | Mon & Fri 10:00–18:00; Tue–Thu 10:00–20:30; lunch 13:00–14:00 |
| Weekends and holidays | Sat and public holidays 10:00–16:00; closed Sundays, Lunar New Year and Chuseok |
| Payment | Visitors pay directly; ask for an English receipt for insurance |
For specific problems, see broken tooth in Seoul or lost crown or filling. For a full overview of urgent care, read emergency dentist in Gangnam.
What will the dentist do for a travel toothache?
The goal is to stop the pain and make the tooth safe for the rest of your trip and flight home. Depending on the cause, that may mean:
- A filling for a cavity, or a temporary filling if time is short.
- Starting root canal treatment to relieve pain from an inflamed or infected nerve, with a plan to finish it here or at home.
- Draining an abscess and, where needed, prescribing medicine.
- Recementing a crown or smoothing a sharp broken edge.
- Extracting a tooth that cannot be saved.
Tell the dentist your departure date. It changes the plan: some treatments are better started and finished in one stay, while others can be stabilized and completed by your own dentist.
Can I fly with a toothache?
Many people fly with mild tooth pain without problems, but pain from an untreated problem can get worse during a long trip, far from help. If you can, have it checked before you board. Our guide to flying after dental treatment explains timing after fillings, extractions and root canals.
Will my travel insurance cover emergency dental treatment in Korea?
Many travel policies include some emergency dental cover for sudden pain relief, often with limits. Check your policy before treatment, keep every receipt, and ask for a treatment summary in English. See our international patients guide for payment and records.
Book a consultation
Send a photo of the tooth and your departure date. Message us on WhatsApp at +82-10-8354-2975 or use our WhatsApp booking link. Lucid Dental Clinic is on the 3rd–4th floors of the COWAY Building, 606 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, directly in front of Exit 3 of Eonju Station (Line 9). Hours: Mon & Fri 10:00–18:00, Tue–Thu 10:00–20:30, Sat and public holidays 10:00–16:00; closed Sundays.
Frequently asked questions
Is it expensive to see a dentist in Korea as a tourist?
Tourists without Korean health insurance pay non-covered fees directly. At Lucid Dental, for example, a resin filling has a reference fee of ₩60,000–150,000 per tooth. The dentist explains the fee before treatment, and you can ask for an English receipt.
Can a Korean dentist give me a temporary fix until I get home?
Yes. If time is short, a dentist may place a temporary filling, begin root canal treatment or recement a crown to relieve pain. Ask for a written summary so your own dentist can complete treatment.
What if my toothache starts on a Sunday in Seoul?
Many clinics, including Lucid Dental, are closed on Sundays. Manage pain as labelled, message the clinic so you are seen when it reopens, and call 119 if swelling spreads or breathing or swallowing is affected. 119 can also help locate open hospitals and pharmacies.
Should I use a numbing gel from the pharmacy?
The NHS lists pain-relieving mouth gels as one self-care option. Follow the product instructions and ask the pharmacist whether it is suitable for you. Gels relieve symptoms briefly but do not treat the cause.
Can I get my X-rays to show my dentist at home?
Yes. Ask the clinic for copies of X-rays and a short English treatment summary. Our guide to English dental records in Korea explains what to request.