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Let's figure out what to use over-the-counter for this toothache.

Pharmacist

The goal of this recommendation is to see what you can use over the counter for toothache until you can see a dentist.

With toothache, you will have to see a dentist. The more you delay, the worse it will get.

You should try these in the order listed.


1. Salt water rinse

Place 2 to 3 teaspoonful of table salt in a glass of warm water you can tolerate.

Swiss and spit as a mouth wash for about 30 seconds as needed.

Woman rinsing the mouth

 

2. Pain pills

Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)
Such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help with the inflammation, pain and swelling.

Lady taking medicine

If you cannot take NSAIDs, acetaminophen is a good alternative. But don't take acetaminophen as a first choice. It is not very good with the inflammatory pain associated with a toothache.

 

3a. Eugenol (clove oil)

Use a Q-tip to apply clove oil to the toothache.

Bottle of clove oil

For maximum effect tuck a little folded gauze pad at the affected area to prevent it from being washed away.

Can't find clove oil?

Look for preparations in the dental aisle containing eugenol. (Red Cross Toothache®, DenTek®). They contain the pain relieving ingredient in clove oil.

If clove oil (eugenol) is not your thing, then go with benzocaine. Remember, it is clove oil or benzocaine and not both at the same time.

 

3b. Benzocaine

Preparations containing 20% benzocaine will numb the toothache pain for a few hours.

woman applying benzocaine to tooth

The numbing agent will eventually wash away. How long depends on the amount of saliva you are producing. So make sure you combine this with something like ibuprofen.

Average relief time is 4 hours.

Remember, it is clove oil (eugenol) or 20% benzocaine. Not both.

 

4. Cold compress

If swollen and very painful, press an ice pack against the cheek closest to the toothache for about 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day to alleviate the pain.

Woman using cold compress

 

Worth mentioning

Massaging the web of the hand between the thumb and index finger on the same side as the body with the toothache pain with ice has been found to produce up to a 50% reduction in acute dental pain [ R. Melzack et].

Haven't tried it yet, but it would be interesting to see the result. If you tried it, please post your experience in the comments section (coming soon).

 

Last updated by pharmacist on : 03/25/2018

 

 

Know this about the safe and effective use of this recommendation.
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Our disclaimer

  • Recommendation is the opinion of a registered US Pharmacist currently practicing as a community pharmacist.
  • Recommendation is not an attempt to discuss all possible self care or treatment approach to this health challenge.
  • The responsibility of the recommending pharmacist is limited to this question:
    "If a patient presents with these symptoms, what will you recommend and why?"
    It is not an attempt to publish an article on the treatment of any condition. Just what would you tell a patient who present with so and so in the usual course of your practice.
  • The pharmacist image presented in this article may or may not be the actual image of the authoring pharmacist.
    Because we insist on using articles written by currently practicing community pharmacists, these pharmacists may choose to remain anonymous especially if they are employed by an employer to avoid being pressured to recommend a particular product to drive sales.
  • Please read the policies and terms of use for self-care OTC, selfcarepharmacist.com and it's affiliates by clicking on the button below.

 

 

 

 

 

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