Toothache painkiller tablet
A painkiller tablet may reduce toothache temporarily, but it does not remove the dental cause, which may need prompt treatment.
The short answer
Toothache can come from decay, an inflamed pulp, a crack, gum disease, or an infection around the root. Common nonprescription pain medicines work through the body to reduce pain, while dental treatment addresses the damaged tooth or tissues.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Follow the label and check with a pharmacist or clinician if you have ulcers, kidney or liver disease, take blood thinners, are pregnant, or are giving medicine to a child. Do not put a tablet on the gum, and avoid exceeding the labeled dose or combining products with the same ingredient.
What can you do next?
Seek urgent dental care for facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, worsening pain, or a toothache that persists. A dentist may examine the tooth, test its pulp, take an X-ray, drain infection, restore the tooth, or perform root canal treatment or extraction when indicated.
When should you seek dental care?
What is the likely cause of the pain? Which medicine and dose fit my health history, and what treatment will remove the source rather than only mask the symptom?
Frequently asked questions
Should I place aspirin on the tooth?
No. A tablet placed on the gum can irritate or injure the tissue; take medicines only as directed.
When should I arrange an examination?
Arrange an examination when symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with eating, sleeping, cleaning, or normal function.