What to Do When a Tooth Hurts

Dealing with a toothache? Mild tooth pain can be a nuisance. But more severe pain can easily ruin your day. Infections, tooth decay, tooth fractures, and other dental issues can cause this kind of pain.

How can you find relief? Some medications help ease tooth pain temporarily. You may need to have a procedure done, such as a root canal, to treat the underlying cause for long-term relief. Let’s go over your options for easing a toothache.

Recommended Medications for a Toothache

What kind of medicine can help when your tooth hurts? It’s best to stick to over-the-counter or non-prescription pain relievers, such as the following:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin

How do they ease pain? They do so in different ways. NSAIDs help reduce inflammation at the tooth site, resulting in quick pain relief. Acetaminophen is an analgesic that blocks pain signals in the central nervous system.

These different mechanisms mean you may be able to use both for mild or moderate tooth pain. But this depends on other factors, such as underlying medical conditions and dosage amount. Check with your doctor first, and always follow the directions for safe usage.

Non-prescription, non-opioid pain relievers are available in standard dosages. Prescription dosages of these medications tend to be stronger. But they usually aren’t needed to relieve tooth pain.

Medications That Aren’t Recommended

Which medicines should you not take for a toothache? Avoid taking any kind of narcotics, such as opioids. These aren’t the best solutions for dental pain as they come with the risk of addiction or misuse.

Opioids are sometimes prescribed when people have surgery or severe pain. But non-opioid medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, provide a safer way to find relief from an aching tooth.

Check for Medication Contra-indications

Do you take any medications? Or do you have any health conditions? If so, check for contra-indications before taking any medicine for a toothache.

Some medications shouldn’t be taken together, such as those that have similar effects, like blood thinners and aspirin. Other medications may have dangerous effects for people with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure.

Checking for contra-indications helps ensure that the medication you take for tooth pain is safe for you.

When to Take Medication for an Achy Tooth

If this pain is bothering you, it’s ok to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. This can help you manage pain until you’re able to get treatment, such as a cavity filled or a root canal for an infection.

What if tooth pain is extreme? If you also have a fever, swelling, and other serious signs of an infection, seek care right away. Infections can spread throughout your body without treatment.

Pain Management After a Root Canal

How should you manage pain following this procedure? Root canals involve removing infected material from inside your tooth. At Largo Endodontics, we take steps to keep this as painless as possible, such as using a local anesthetic. But you might experience soreness once it wears off.

This is a normal part of the recovery process after a root canal. Our endodontist will provide you with post-treatment care instructions to follow at home. This care includes safe ways to handle pain as you heal.

Non-Medication Options for Tooth Pain

Medications aren’t the only way to manage a toothache. You can try other options to help ease pain. You can use these in combination with medication or on their own.

These options include the following:

• Cold compress: Place an ice pack on the affected cheek to reduce swelling and pain during the first 24 to 36 hours
• Elevation: Sleep with your head on multiple pillows or a thick pillow to relieve pressure, ease swelling, and improve blood circulation
• Numbing gel: Apply an over-the-counter pain-relieving gel to the affected tooth and surrounding gums to temporarily numb this area
• Warm saltwater rinse: Mix a bit of salt with warm water, then swish it around your mouth before spitting it out

Find Help for Tooth Pain

Don’t let this kind of pain go untreated. Finding out what’s causing it to happen and having it treated is important for your well-being. And this helps prevent more severe problems, such as a widespread infection.

Are you experiencing symptoms of a tooth infection? Contact Largo Endodontics today! We offer procedures to help treat them, such as root canals and retreatment. Our endodontist can recommend the right procedure — along with effective and safe ways to manage tooth pain.