Sam woke up one morning with a dull throb coming from his back tooth. “Oh no,” he thought, “How did I get this toothache and how soon can I get in to see my dentist? What can I do in the meantime to help with the pain as I need to go to work? It should be ok to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin but what if that doesn’t take the pain away?” Of course, call your dentist to schedule an appointment right away. In the meantime, here are some tips and tricks to help with the pain until you can get into our dental office so we can help fix the problem.
First, what can cause toothaches or dental pain?
- Cavities
- Grinding or clenching teeth
- Cracked or broken tooth
- Abscess
- Gum disease or infection
- Trauma (such as getting hit in the face)
- Damaged filling
What options do I have for toothache pain relief before seeing my dentist?
Over-the-counter (OTC) and Topical Pain Relievers
OTC Pain Medications
Over the Counter pain meds are anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and aspirin (Anacin, Bufferin, Excedrin). They will temporarily help with the pain. They can also reduce swelling and inflammation from dental issues.
Topical Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter oral gels or liquids made with topical numbing agents (Orajel, Abesol, Orasol) can help temporarily relieve some mouth pain until you can get into the dental office.
Warning:
It’s very important to follow all directions on the OTC instructions and that of your dentist. OTC pain meds should only be used short term as there are other side effects that can happen with over use or taking higher doses than recommended. Some of these side affects can results in liver and kidney damage, along with stomach irritation, complications with high blood pressure, and risk of heart attack (to name just a few). They can also interfere or interact with other medications.
Home Remedies for Toothache Pain Relief
If you want to try more homeopathic ways to deal with your pain while waiting to see your dentist, here are a few to try.
- Rinse your mouth for 30 seconds with warm salt water as needed (1 tablespoon with ½ cup water)
- Mix hydrogen peroxide and water (50/50 mix) and swish in your mouth for 30-60 seconds (do not swallow it)
- Put a cold compress on the side of your face with the toothache for 20 minutes, repeating every few hours
- Use a cold peppermint tea bag (after you make tea with it) and put inside your mouth on the area that hurts
- Apply clove oil to the painful area
- Thyme oil (a drop or 2 on a cotton ball) and apply to the area for relief or you can add a drop or two into a glass of water and swish in your mouth
- Willow bark tea – gargled or make a paste with the powder and apply to the painful area
- Chew fresh garlic
- Avoid very cold or hot beverages and acidic or sugary foods and beverages
What do we recommend?
Dr. Eberlein recommends 2 Tylenol and 1 Ibuprofen for pain, taken every 4-6 hours. Once you come into the office and we are able to assess what needs to be done about your toothache, a course of action will be discussed with you along with further recommendations for pain management. If you know anyone with wisdom tooth pain, have them mention this article and they will get a free consultation with Panorex X-ray.