Best pain med for a toothache
For a toothache, an appropriate nonprescription pain reliever may reduce pain temporarily, but dental treatment is needed to fix its cause.
The short answer
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may temporarily reduce toothache pain when each is appropriate for you, but neither treats the dental cause.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Toothache usually comes from inflamed pulp inside a tooth, irritation around the root, exposed dentin, or inflamed gum tissue. The right medicine depends on your health, other medicines, allergies, pregnancy status, and whether the pain is inflammatory, nerve-related, or caused by infection.
What can you do next?
Follow the label directions for one suitable medicine and do not combine products that contain the same ingredient. Rinse gently with warm water, remove trapped food with floss, avoid extreme temperatures, and do not place aspirin or a crushed tablet on the gum.
When should you seek dental care?
Arrange dental care promptly if pain persists, returns after medicine wears off, or is triggered by biting. Seek urgent help for facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or swelling spreading toward the eye or neck.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the pain comes from decay, a cracked tooth, gum disease, or an abscess, and whether an X-ray is needed. Ask which treatment will remove the cause and which pain medicines fit your medical history.
Frequently asked questions
Can pain medicine cure a toothache?
No. It can reduce pain for a short time, while dental treatment addresses the cause.
Why does the pain return?
The underlying pulp, root, crack, or gum problem remains after the medicine wears off.