What pain reliever is best for toothache

A toothache can suddenly strike and leave you dealing with sharp pain. The most common cause of the problem is acute oral bacteria that, over time, have spread to the sensitive inner parts of the tooth. While the only way to fully recover from a toothache is to visit an emergency dentist in Mobile for treatment, there are some over the counter (OTC) products you can take to get some temporary relief from the discomfort. As you continue reading, you’ll find some helpful tips.

Before Taking a Product, Do This

For any dental emergency, you should always take a moment to fully assess the situation and then contact an emergency dentist to schedule a visit. Specifically, for a toothache, the next step should be to carefully floss around the pain site to make sure there is no debris lodged between your teeth that could be the source of your problem. You can also rinse your mouth with salt-water to help to remove bacteria from the infected area.

Topical OTC Products to Consider

The pain from a toothache can sometimes lead to gum sensitivity. For a topical solution, you can consider some of the Orajel line of products. They contain benzocaine, which is a pain reliever that is sometimes used in cough drops as well.

You can typically find the following options at your local drugstore:

• Gel
• Cream
• Strips
• Liquid
• Swabs

The products also vary in strength, so you should read the labels to determine what will be best suited for your situation.

Oral OTC Products

The two primary oral pain relievers are acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil). For healthy adults, it’s typically okay to take both Tylenol and Advil at the same time to get the maximum benefits. That’s because they work in slightly different ways to ease pain.

Tylenol falls into a category of drugs called analgesics (pain relivers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). Advil belongs to a class of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are designed to manage mild to moderate pain, fever and inflammation.

You should consult with your physician before using either product, though, to make sure that they won’t pose any health risks.

Even if you’re able to get some temporary relief from the discomfort, it’s important to remember that oral bacteria don’t stop on their own. Thus, if your toothache isn’t treated by a dentist, an abscess could form, which can be more painful, possibly lead to tooth loss and place your overall health at risk.

A dental emergency of any type is no fun. However, when you have a plan of action and receive the proper care, your suffering can be brought to an end and a full recovery achieved.

About the Author

A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, Dr. Hube Parker has been helping patients recover from dental emergencies for over 25 years. In addition to private practice, he is a part-time instructor at the UMC School of Dentistry in the Department of Endodontics (root canals). Dr. Parker has also received advanced postgraduate training in oral surgery. He treats toothaches and other forms of dental trauma at Parker Dental & Orthodontics, and he can be reached for more information through his website.

Without a doubt, a toothache can be one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever go through. When you’re in the midst of one, all you want to do is feel better fast! The first step is calling an emergency dentist to have it treated as soon as possible. From there, you can take over-the-counter pain medication until your visit. But which one is best? And if your pain goes away, do you still need to see a dentist, or has the problem taken care of itself? In this blog, you’ll get the answers to these questions and more.

Which Over-the-Counter Pain Medication Is Best for a Toothache? 

The symptoms of a toothache can range from mild to severe and may include dull, sharp, or throbbing pain, swelling in the face, a pimple-like bump on the gums, or fever. Generally speaking, you can take your preferred over-the-counter pain reliever as directed until you can be seen. 

With that said, ibuprofen is often particularly effective for dental pain. However, it’s in a category of medications called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), along with aspirin and naproxen, which thin the blood. If any of the following apply to you, talk to your doctor about whether you should take NSAIDs or an alternative like acetaminophen instead: 

• You’re on a prescription blood-thinner like Warfarin
• You have a high risk of stomach bleeding or gastrointestinal problems like heartburn  
• You take a prescription medication that’s acts as a diuretic
• You have high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disease 

Also, there’s an old “wives tale” that says to apply aspirin directly to your tooth or gums for pain relief. It’s not only ineffective but can also burn your gum tissue, so it’s best avoided.  

Do You Need To See a Dentist If Your Toothache Goes Away?

Unfortunately, dental problems don’t disappear on their own and only get worse with time. So why would a toothache go away? Oftentimes, a severe toothache is caused by an infection in the nerve of a tooth (which can result from a deep cavity, fracture, or other type of trauma). Sometimes this causes the nerve to die, which explains why the pain goes away. But the infection is still there. If left untreated, it can spread to other areas of the body such as the brain and become dangerous or even fatal. 

In another scenario, you may have a mild toothache that seems to come and go. But the longer you wait without having it looked at, the more damage occurs to the tooth. The sooner an emergency dentist can diagnose the problem, the more likely it can be treated with a simple, inexpensive procedure like a dental filling instead of a root canal or crown.

The bottom line? You should always have a dentist evaluate a toothache, even if it goes away. In the meantime, you’ll know which over-the-counter-pain-medication to take to stay comfortable until your appointment. 

About the Author 

Dr. Douglas Gordon is a family dentist with nearly 5 decades of experience and a graduate of the New York University College of Dentistry. He’s committed to seeing patients for toothaches and other emergencies as soon as possible, so his practice is open 6 days a week. If you’re experiencing a toothache or have any questions, he can be reached via his website.

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