This article highlights OTC drugs that can help with tooth pain, along with the possible side effects they can cause and what you should do if the pain persists.
A toothache (tooth pain) is pain felt in or around the tooth. It can cause extreme discomfort that can interfere with your daily life.
Toothaches can be caused by:
Sometimes, medical conditions such as heart and lung diseases can cause toothache. This is known as referred pain, i.e., pain felt in an area of the body that is not where the problem is.
Here are common over-the-counter (OTC) medications you can use to manage tooth pain.
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used in the treatment of tooth pain.
Ibuprofen blocks the action of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2), which are needed to produce prostaglandins — a group of chemicals that cause pain, inflammation, and fever.
While ibuprofen is helpful for relieving different forms of pain in the body, they are not without risks and can cause possible drug interactions. Ibuprofen may interact with certain drugs by increasing or decreasing their effectiveness. These drugs include:
Side effects associated with using ibuprofen include:
Like ibuprofen, aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It reduces pain and inflammation by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins.
Results from research show that aspirin may help treat dental and sore throat pain.
Aspirin has the same drug interactions as ibuprofen. It can also interact with other NSAIDs like ibuprofen and Naproxen, as well as phenytoin, a drug used to treat epilepsy.
It's important to take aspirin as recommended by a healthcare professional to reduce the risk of side effects. Taking aspirin can cause the following side effects:
Naproxen is also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that works by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins.
The drug comes in two forms — regular naproxen and naproxen sodium. Both are the same; the only difference is that the body absorbs naproxen sodium more quickly.
The drug interactions of Naproxen are similar to those of Ibuprofen. The main difference is that it has a more significant interaction with a drug used in treating autoimmune disorders known as methotrexate.
Common side effects of naproxen are:
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, belongs to a class of drugs called analgesics and antipyretics — drugs that reduce pain and fever.
The exact mechanism of action of acetaminophen is unclear. Experts believe it reduces pain and fever by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, but in a different way from NSAIDs.
Acetaminophen use tends to cause fewer stomach problems compared to NSAIDs. However, unlike NSAIDs, it doesn’t treat inflammation.
No serious adverse drug interactions with the proper therapeutic doses of paracetamol have been observed in humans.
However, considerable controversy exists regarding its potential to increase the anticoagulant effects of warfarin, a blood-thinning medication. Also, because acetaminophen is readily available and affordable, people tend to abuse, self-medicate, and misuse it, but this is wrong. Healthcare professionals have long warned against the overuse of acetaminophen as it can cause severe side effects, including liver damage and even death.
Some common possible side effects of acetaminophen include:
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic used to relieve mild tooth pain. It usually comes as a cream or gel that numbs the painful area.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against the use of benzocaine in children younger than two years because it can cause a rare but potentially fatal condition called methemoglobinemia.
Benzocaine can cause methemoglobinemia (a disorder that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood) when used simultaneously with lidocaine.
Benzocaine may cause the following:
There is no “best” over-the-counter drug for tooth pain. It’s important to consult a dentist or a general practitioner before using any pain medication for toothache.
A healthcare professional will help you make the right choice after considering the following:
Pain relief medications can have severe adverse effects, especially if you take too much or use them for a prolonged period.
These side effects include:
Never use OTC pain medications to manage toothaches long-term. Instead, seek to address the root cause of your tooth pain by seeing a dentist.
Don’t exceed the amount of pain relief medication prescribed by your doctor. Doing so may lead to serious health problems and complications.
Before consulting a doctor about tooth pain, you can try some home remedies. These home treatments can also be used as a temporary solution while you wait for a doctor’s appointment.
Common home remedies for tooth pain include:
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infections, e.g., amoxicillin. In countries like the United States, you cannot purchase oral antibiotics without a prescription. However, in some other countries, it is possible. Whether it is possible to buy antibiotics over the counter in your country or not, understand that it is wrong to use them if they are not prescribed by a healthcare professional.
If you suspect you have an infected tooth, book an appointment with a dentist. An infection doesn’t go away on its own and requires immediate treatment to prevent it from spreading.
Signs of a tooth infection are:
You should speak to your dentist if:
Early treatment of dental problems is key to preventing serious problems and complications that can be life-threatening.
Read Next: