Over the counter drugs for tooth pain
Common nonprescription pain relievers can temporarily reduce toothache, but they do not remove decay, infection, a crack, or gum disease causing the pain.
What is the direct answer?
Common nonprescription pain relievers can temporarily reduce toothache, but they do not remove decay, infection, a crack, or gum disease causing the pain.
What does this question mean?
Dental pain comes from inflamed pulp, periodontal tissues, exposed dentin, or an injured soft tissue. The choice and dose of an analgesic depend on age, pregnancy, allergies, stomach or kidney disease, liver disease, bleeding risk, and other medicines.
What can you do next?
Read the product label and use only the stated dose and interval. Do not put tablets against the gum, combine products with the same ingredient, or use leftover antibiotics without a prescription; arrange an examination to treat the source.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek urgent dental care for swelling, fever, pus, difficulty opening the mouth, trouble swallowing or breathing, or pain that is severe, worsening, or keeps returning.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask which pain reliever fits your medical history and which ingredients to avoid. Ask what examination or treatment is needed so medication is not masking a progressing dental problem.
Frequently asked questions
Can pain medicine cure a toothache?
No. It can reduce the symptom for a limited time, while the cause may still require a filling, root canal treatment, extraction, or gum treatment.
What should make me seek care sooner?
Seek urgent dental care for swelling, fever, pus, difficulty opening the mouth, trouble swallowing or breathing, or pain that is severe, worsening, or keeps returning.