Using Painkillers to Ease Toothache or Dental Pain

When using any kind of pain relief, you need to take into account the safety precautions and closely adhere to the instructions provided with the product, otherwise you could be seriously jeopardising your health. It’s not just prescriptions medication that can be dangerous, over-the-counter pain pills should also be treated with care, as they can be fatal when taken in high doses. It’s easy to understand why many people are prepared to take anything in order to get rid of their dental pain, but you have to consider your overall health by not acting on impulse; speak to your GP if you can’t get in to see your dentist right away, even if they can’t help you with further pain relief, they can provide you with advice on how better to cope with the situation and relieve the discomfort to a manageable degree.

Can I use painkillers for toothache?

It’s perfectly safe to use pain relief tablets for toothache, and most shop-bought products are actually ideal for mild to moderate pain. NSAID’s (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen, are very cheap and easy to come by, and you don’t need a prescription to purchase them. However, you need to remember that getting rid of the pain doesn’t mean the problem is gone, using painkillers to mask more serious symptoms will only exacerbate the situation; make an appointment with your dentist and deal with the underlying issues before your condition worsens.

Here are a few things to remember when using painkillers to help with dental pain:

Choose your pain relief carefully – A lot of people might think that all painkillers are the same, but there are some products which can make health conditions worse, if taken indiscriminately, for example; people who suffer, or have suffered, with stomach ulcers should avoid Ibuprofen, it irritates the stomach lining and causes a lot of discomfort. Consult with your doctor about which painkillers would be best for you, as age can also affect which products are suitable, i.e. some painkillers are available in milder forms for patients under the age of twelve.

Follow the dosage instructions – This is a very important rule that should always be followed; it’s a lot easier to overdose than you might think. Keep a note of how many pills you have taken as the day passes, especially if you have been prescribed some stronger medication, it only takes one too many to put your health at risk. Over-the-counter pain relief products usually come with an instruction booklet, providing you with information about dosage, and prescription pills should have the correct amount written clearly on the label, so you don’t get confused. Also, try to avoid taking strong painkillers for a long period of time; it’s possible to become addicted to them, which is not something you want to add to your dental problems.

Don’t rely too much on pain relief – As mentioned above, numbing the pain won’t solve the underlying problem, so don’t depend on pain pills to help you long-term. You really need to speak to your dentist about dealing with the situation in a more permanent fashion; it won’t do you any good to keep taking pill after pill, if the symptoms are pointing to something possibly life-threatening.

Don’t take aspirin if you are pregnant – Most mothers and mothers-to-be will have heard this at one point or another during their pregnancy, and while it’s not guaranteed to harm your unborn child, aspirin has been linked to developmental problems – in particular the heart and lungs, and difficult labour, as well as a slightly increased risk of miscarriage. The extent of the effects is not fully known, but the best thing you can do is avoid aspirin altogether, it’s the easiest way to avoid dangerous side effects.

Are antibiotics good for dental pain?

You might be prescribed antibiotics if you have suffered some kind of infection, such as dental abscesses, and they are designed to fight bacteria and prevent it from attacking the major organs in the body. Antibiotics are not specifically aimed at relieving toothache, but this is often a happy side effect, as the overall treatment removes the element that is causing you pain. You should speak to your GP about taking antibiotics and painkillers together, there are some products which are safe to consume at the same time, and others which require a rest period; whatever you do, don’t assume it’s safe to ingest both medications at once, always check first.

Is it safe for me to try some home remedies, instead of pills?

The majority of the population would be only too happy to take whatever their dentist or doctor offered them, especially if they were in a severe amount of pain, but there are some people who prefer a natural solution. If you’re not keen on taking pain relief tablets, prescription or otherwise, there are several home remedies you can try, you might have to experiment with combinations before you find the one that works for you, but fortunately, as they are all natural, there’s no danger of overdosing.

Most people probably don’t realise how much of our medical treatment comes from natural elements, and there are numerous examples of this in the home remedies available. Many of the ingredients have proven cleansing properties and they can help with mild to moderate toothache, however, for serious pain, you should seek a professional opinion, particularly if it doesn’t respond to any kind of pain relief – natural or manmade. Remedies such as salt rinse, onion slices, or clover oil, are all great for mild pain, and can help you get to sleep when throbbing toothache has been keeping you awake at night, but prolonged relief can only come from medical treatment. If you have tried various types of painkiller and nothing seems to work, make an appointment with the Pearl Dental Clinic, and get rid of debilitating dental pain for good.