Destruction of the tissues that form the crown and root parts of the tooth invariably leads to discomfort, and in more advanced cases – to acute, throbbing or nagging pain. In dentistry, toothache has a special definition – dentalgia or odontalgia. Often the cause of pain can be gum disease, jaw problems, or injuries. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get an appointment with a dentist at the first signs of discomfort, so you can use tablets for toothache to relieve symptoms and improve your well-being.
It is important to understand that not a single tablet can eliminate the cause of toothache. The only way to cope with dentalgia for a long time is to consult a dentist for therapeutic or surgical treatment.
The choice of a particular treatment method depends on the complexity of the problem and the stage of its development.
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Modern pharmacology offers a wide range of effective drugs that can reduce discomfort caused by progressive dental diseases or injuries. Today, you can buy a variety of medications for toothache in pharmacies. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 groups:
- NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
. As a rule, the source of toothache is an inflammatory process. NSAIDs don't just relieve pain - they relieve inflammation, thereby reducing pain. - Analgesics.
They do not affect the course of the inflammatory process - they eliminate the source of pain by affecting the nerve endings and pain centers in the brain. - Local painkillers
. These are drugs such as lidocaine and novocaine. As a rule, these products are produced in the form of injections, but you can find small aerosol cans with lidocaine on sale - one press and the pain goes away for 30-40 minutes. The main disadvantage of local anesthetics is their strong effect on nearby tissues, which can result in a “cotton tongue” effect, temporary loss of skin sensitivity at the site of exposure, and lack of taste sensations.
As a rule, tablets are the most popular - they are easy to use, and if you choose the right drug, you can use them not only to relieve toothache, but also as an antipyretic, a medicine for migraines, joint pain, etc.
Other medications for toothache
In addition to tablets and capsules, the pharmaceutical industry offers a lot of other drug options that help in the fight against dentalgia:
- Gels.
They are most often used in children during teething. Moreover, such remedies also have an effect in adults during the eruption of wisdom teeth. Among the most popular drugs of this kind are ointments and gels “Cholisal”, “Solcoseryl”, “Dentol”, “Kamistad”, “Metrogil Denta”. - Dental drops.
These are safe, natural preparations made on the basis of natural ingredients, extracts, and essential oils. They have a local anti-inflammatory, calming and analgesic effect. Popular drops - “Dentaguttal”, “Dentinox”, “Dantinorm”, “Denta” - Injections.
These may be conventional drugs for intramuscular administration (Ketonal, Ketorol, Diclofenac), or they may be drugs for point application. Most often, injections are used by professionals for strong pain relief before tooth extraction or treatment (Ultracain, Septodont). - Antibiotics.
It is important to understand here that if a tooth hurts due to the development of caries or pulpitis, then antibiotics are useless (after all, they do not have any effect on the exposed nerve). But if there is a suspicion of the formation of an abscess under the root (obvious inflammation), then it makes sense to take a course of antibiotics (amoxicillin, clindomycin, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, biseptol) for maximum resorption of the accumulated pus. Of course, immediately after this you need to go to your doctor and eliminate the root cause of the pain (treat or remove the tooth). Antibiotics are available in the form of tablets, ointments, and injections. - Sprays and aerosols.
These medications have a local anesthetic effect; simply put, they freeze the tooth. The most popular is Ledocaine spray.
Folk remedies:
- Rinses
Most often, a saline or soda solution is used (1 teaspoon per glass of water), to which you can add a couple of drops of iodine. You can rinse a sore tooth when the first pain appears. - A decoction of sage, chamomile, and St. John's wort for rinsing is also recommended. It is quite simple to prepare: pour boiling water over 1 teaspoon of any of the above herbs, hold in a water bath for 15-20 minutes, strain and cool slightly. Rinsing is carried out as needed to relieve pain with a warm decoction.
- Cooling
. For local anesthesia, you can temporarily apply a piece of ice or something cold to the painful tooth (or rather, to the cheek on the painful side). As a rule, the effect occurs quickly, but does not last long. The main disadvantage of this method is that after applying ice, the pain may disappear for a while, and then return with renewed vigor. - Garlic applications
. Oddly enough, you need to apply garlic not to the tooth, but to the hand (in the place where the pulse is usually felt). The garlic is cut into small cubes or pressed through the garlic, a piece of bandage is placed on the wrist (if this is not done, there is a high risk of a chemical burn from contact of garlic juice with the skin), folded in half or three times, garlic is laid on the bandage, covered with two or three layers of bandage on top. and secure the application. If you have a toothache on the right side, then apply the garlic to your left hand and vice versa.
You can find even more traditional methods in this article.
When a person starts to have a toothache, he is ready to use any means to make it end as soon as possible. Some patients, in the fight against dentalgia, use homeopathic remedies, which, in theory, are designed to cope with the disease. In fact, this makes very little sense: toothache is not a disease, but a symptom of it that needs to be quickly relieved. Homeopathic medicines are intended for long-term treatment, so instead of wasting time and money on useless medicines, it is better to take a tablet of a good painkiller and see a dentist as soon as possible.
Fast and effective remedies
Pharmaceuticals have developed very widely in recent years. Pharmacies have a huge selection of medicines. Deciding which one will really have the desired effect and do it in the shortest possible time is not easy. When a toothache occurs, there is no time to delay, because it worsens your well-being so much that those suffering from unpleasant sensations are haunted by one desire: to get rid of it as soon as possible.
To avoid guessing which painkiller is best to choose in case of toothache, study the list below of drugs available in pharmacies that have proven their effectiveness and quick action.
So, in case of severe pain, you should give preference to one of the following drugs:
- Nise;
- Ketarol;
- Ibuprofen.
To cope with moderate and mild discomfort, medications such as:
- Ketanov;
- I took it.
You can also use anti-inflammatory drugs, which will not only relieve pain, but also help fight its source. These drugs include:
- Ketonal;
- Actasulide;
- Nurofen;
- Moment.
Let us consider the features and characteristic properties of each drug in more detail.
- Nise. This drug belongs to the category of potent drugs. Produced in India, it is supplied to the shelves of Russian pharmacies almost uninterruptedly. Nise, just a couple of minutes after its use, relieves even acute and severe toothache. The effect lasts for 6 to 8 hours. If pain occurs, it is recommended to take one tablet. It is quite enough to relieve pain. In large quantities, this type of medication can cause a skin rash, nausea, and pain in the stomach. Nise is not recommended for use by pregnant women.
- Ketarol. Also belongs to the category of potent drugs. It can only be taken in limited quantities - up to three tablets per day. The drug has an analgesic effect very quickly, but subject to simultaneous intake of a large amount of liquid. Therefore, Ketarol is washed down with a whole glass of water. Pregnant women should not take this drug to avoid the negative effects of potent substances on the fetus.
- Ibuprofen. Another remedy from the category of potent ones. This drug can be used during pregnancy, as it is less toxic than the previous medications on the list. It is recommended to take one Ibuprofen tablet when a toothache occurs. If the desired effect does not occur, then after four hours you can drink another one.
- Ketanov. This drug is recognized as one of the best in the fight against toothache. The analgesic effect is caused by ketorolac, which is part of the drug. However, this drug should also be taken with caution. Pregnant women, children under 16 years of age, as well as those who suffer from bronchial asthma should refrain from using this drug. Side effects of Ketanov include nausea, drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness.
- I took it. This drug does not combine well with other drugs, but works well for moderate to mild pain. Its intake is allowed in quantities of up to 6 tablets per day. As a side effect, allergies, chills, rapid heartbeat, decreased blood pressure and heart rate may occur.
- Ketonal. Belongs to the category of anti-inflammatory drugs. Acts quickly, reducing fever and pain. Children under 15 years of age should not take it. There are also a number of side effects when using it: nausea, loose stools, vomiting, increased fatigue and nervousness.
- Actasulide. An effective anti-inflammatory agent that requires caution when taking. Actasulide is not recommended for children under 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as those who suffer from renal, liver and heart failure, stomach or intestinal ulcers, and diabetes.
- Nurofen. A very effective and popular remedy. Nurofen relieves pain, as well as inflammation of the soft tissue of the gums. This effect is achieved due to the codeine content in the tablets. It is not recommended for use with hypertension, Crohn's disease and liver and kidney defects.
- Moment. A popular medicine with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. A moment relieves pain and fever. It can be taken ½ tablet three times a day. Mig can be consumed in this mode for no more than 7 days. This medicine is contraindicated in pregnant women and people with diseases of the optic nerve and blood.
In addition to the drugs listed above, you can also purchase products with a so-called freezing effect in pharmacies. They relieve pain quickly and effectively. These include drugs such as Kamistad, Dentol, Metrogyl.
If a toothache occurs in a pregnant woman, then it is best to use traditional medicine to relieve it. In the event that they do not have the desired effect, it is possible to take Ibuprofen, as well as medications such as No-shpa, Spazmalgon, Baralgin, Analgin.
What to do if the pills don't help?
It often happens that even after taking strong painkillers, toothache does not subside. This happens for many reasons: advanced caries, pulpitis, severe destruction of the crown, abscess on the root (by the way, practice shows that in this case even local anesthetic injections such as Ultracaine are ineffective). In addition, do not forget about individuality - there are people who are simply not susceptible to the effects of drugs. Also, drugs that affect the nervous system and brain pain centers may not be effective in patients who are in a constant state of stress.
If no pharmaceuticals or folk remedies help, you should not look for a magic pill - you must urgently go to a dental clinic for qualified help.
Which ones are better to choose for aching pain?
You should not take medications on your own
When selecting a remedy, the doctor is guided by the characteristics of the patient’s body, the nature of the pain and other factors.
You should not take medications on your own, since several versions of painkillers that have the same active substance have different effects on vital systems.
In addition, the operating principle of anesthetics is different, which requires careful selection of the drug for each type of pain:
- The following will help eliminate mild pain: Aspirin, Paracetamol, Analgin.
- For aching pain, medications such as Spazmalgon, Papaverine, No-Shpa are recommended.
- The following drugs can relieve pain as quickly as possible: Efferalgan, Solpadeine, Solpadeine Active, Nurofen, Next, Nimesil.
How often can you take painkillers?
Whatever the cause of toothache, you should never abuse painkillers:
There is no universal recipe for taking painkillers for toothache. Each drug is accompanied by instructions that clearly describe the dosage and method of use depending on the nature of the pain, age, weight of the patient, etc.
If we summarize all the recommendations, we can say that taking more than 3-4 tablets a day is not recommended (while strong tablets, such as Nise or Ketanov, it is generally better to take no more than 2 times a day).
Weaker drugs can be taken in larger dosages (1-2 tablets at a time, 3-4 times a day). But, again, if the pain is severe and you have to swallow 8 Paracetamol tablets to cope with it, it is better to take 1-2 tablets of Aertal or Nurofen - the effect will be approximately the same.
Types of strong painkillers for tooth pain
For toothache, different types of painkillers can be used. Let's list:
- Tablets are used to influence the pain epicenter. They can dull the discomfort for several hours.
- The powder is gentle on the gastrointestinal tract and has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.
- Toothpaste helps with increased sensitivity of tooth enamel. That is, if there is caries, pain relief will not occur. In the first case, it is enough to brush your teeth regularly.
- The gel is also able to temporarily relieve toothache due to its local anesthetic effect.
Pregnancy pills
Pregnancy is the period when a woman should treat herself with the most care and carefully monitor her health - because the condition of her unborn baby directly depends on this. Therefore, even at the planning stage of pregnancy or at its earliest stages, it is necessary to solve all existing problems in the oral cavity. If for some reason this was not possible, you should prepare for the fact that coping with the resulting toothache will be very problematic:
- During pregnancy, and especially in the first and third trimester, it is prohibited to take any highly effective painkillers (it has been scientifically proven that active substances can penetrate the placenta, causing harm to the unformed body of the unborn baby).
- Hormonal changes that invariably accompany the process of bearing a child can lead to the most unexpected consequences - from unexpected destruction of enamel and gum disease to the manifestation of complete immunity to medications.
That is why, among the drugs approved for pregnant women, doctors name only Paracetamol, Nurofen (in the 1st and 2nd trimester), Analgin (in the 2nd trimester), Airtal (in the 1st and 2nd trimester). All of the above drugs can be used in moderation - 1 tablet per day for no more than 5 days in a row.
Severe toothache in pregnant women is best relieved with safe folk remedies (gargle, ice, garlic).
All of the above also applies to the lactation period. At this time, it is advisable to reduce the intake of any medications to zero, since after absorption into the blood they enter the body of the newborn.
Do not ignore preventive visits to the dentist.
It is enough to visit a specialist 1 – 2 times a year, which will allow you to promptly identify any dental problem at an early stage of development. This means that its elimination will be quick, easy and without complications.
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Treatment of acute toothache at home
It is undesirable to self-medicate and use traditional medicine methods to relieve even severe tooth pain, since they do more harm than good. The use of some techniques may cause complications. A striking example is the appearance of an abscess and phlegmon after the use of heat (“warming up” a sore spot) during an inflammatory process.
The best way out of the situation is to visit the dentist as soon as possible; as a last resort, take medication to relieve pain and then consult a doctor.
Some traditional methods that can be used:
- applying a cold compress to the cheek or a piece of ice to the sore tooth for a short time will somewhat reduce the pain (cold will constrict the blood vessels and slow down the rate of spread of inflammation). Be careful: do not allow cold to come into contact with the skin, especially for a long time, to avoid frostbite;
- rinsing with a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water effectively fights pathogenic microflora and helps remove plaque, softening it. For the same purpose, rinsing with a solution of chlorhexidine and miramistin is effective;
- An alcohol compress on the tooth cavity somewhat reduces pain for a short time due to its analgesic effect and disinfection. Place a piece of cotton wool soaked in alcohol or vodka inside the carious cavity;
- rinsing with a solution of soda (1 tsp per glass of water) and/or salt (1 tsp per glass of water) reduces swelling and nerve compression by reducing osmotic pressure in the tissues. Effective for discomfort caused by eating. Rinse for 5-10 minutes;
- rinsing with infusion of chamomile and sage reduces inflammation and swelling of the gums. 2 tbsp. pour 1 cup of boiling water over the herbs and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm infusion 4-6 times a day.
Tablets for children
As you know, most of all tablets recommended for adults are absolutely contraindicated for children. It is for this reason that it is better not to take risks and choose drugs that are appropriate for the child’s age. Today in pharmacies you can find a huge selection of gels, ointments, analgesic syrups, rectal suppositories that will help cope with childhood dentalgia:
- Cholisal-gel.
- Dentinox gel.
- Children's Nurofen (drops, syrup, tablets)
- Panadol rectal suppositories
- Viburkol rectal suppositories.
The instructions for use in the above-mentioned drugs and their analogues often contain an age limit - from 6 or 12 years. However, on the recommendation of a doctor and in the presence of acute pain, it is permissible to give these medications to children under 6 years of age.
As in the case of pregnant women, children are recommended to use folk remedies to eliminate dentalgia - rinsing, cooling, garlic.
Let's go through the list
This material is not an advertisement for any products, so we will list the most suitable solutions in tablets for toothache in alphabetical order:
- Analgin.
- Ibuklin.
- Ketanov.
- Ketorol.
- Moment.
- Nise.
- Nimesil.
- Nurofen (ibuprofen and drugs identical to this group).
- Sanaprox.
- Tempalgin.
Ketanov is considered one of the most suitable options when asking what you can drink for toothache. It has a sufficient speed of impact, that is, fast, and at the same time effective. In some cases, such tablets help relieve even severe pain. But you should remember about the frequency of administration and dosages.
Nurofen not only helps relieve pain, but also has an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect on the entire body. You should be aware that some of the modifications of these toothache tablets contain a potent substance in the form of codeine. We are talking about variations of Nurofen Plus and Nurofen Plus N. It will also enhance the analgesic effect. The classic version can be used to relieve toothache in both adults and children.
A simple option with classic toothache tablets in the form of Analgin is also popular in the fight against this disease. The main substance here is sodium metamizole, which, due to its acidic structure, has a negative effect on enamel. For this reason, if there is damage in the latter, the area of carious lesions may increase. But if the filling falls out or is chipped, it will be effective.
Main causes of pain
There can be many reasons why a tooth hurts, but the most obvious of them are the following:
- Caries
. Even almost imperceptible damage to tooth enamel can lead to periodic, barely noticeable pain. If you do not see a doctor in time, the hole will grow, and with it the pain will intensify. After caries reaches its final stage, painful sensations will appear when eating, when cold air enters the oral cavity, etc. - Pulpitis
. Damage to the pulp, which contains numerous nerve endings, invariably leads to regular throbbing pain. - Periodontal diseases
. Damage to the soft and bone periodontal tissues leads to severe inflammation and unbearable pain. - Removal of a tooth
. Despite the fact that the operation is performed under local anesthesia, after the anesthetic wears off, the place where the tooth used to be will be very painful. - Eruption of wisdom teeth
. If they grow evenly, then the person feels only discomfort, which is easily relieved with the simplest painkillers. If not everything goes smoothly with teething (the tooth grows crookedly, rests on the root of the neighboring tooth), then special medications will be required to relieve pain.
Obviously, none of the above problems can be solved by taking pills - only a highly qualified specialist can eliminate the source of pain. The pill is just a way to relieve pain for a short time.
Emergency help: what to do if your tooth hurts
Thus, if a tooth hurts, the only option is to take tablet analgesics, or try to relieve the pain with dental drops. And this is correct if you need, for example, to get through the night calmly, and the next day you are going to see a doctor.
Of course, there is another option - to suppress the pain with analgesics in the hope that everything will go away. It won't work. And below we will explain why. So what to do if your tooth hurts, and what is the best way to relieve the pain urgently. The answer to this question will differ depending on the cause of the pain, which may be due to -
- or with the development of pulpitis (nerve inflammation),
- or with periodontitis (inflammation at the apex of the tooth root).
What to do to prevent tooth pain due to pulpitis -
When the carious cavity becomes deep enough, and the nerve is separated from it only by a thin layer of healthy tooth tissue, the infection can already penetrate into the tooth cavity and cause inflammation of the nerve. This inflammation of the nerve is commonly called pulpitis.
How to understand that you have pulpitis - acute pulpitis is characterized by severe throbbing pain, which becomes even more severe at night. As a rule, pain is spontaneous, but in some cases it can be provoked by thermal irritants (cold and hot).
With pulpitis, patients often have great difficulty identifying the diseased tooth, because the pain may spread to other teeth. A very important diagnostic criterion for the development of pulpitis is that with pulpitis there is always no pain when biting on a tooth or tapping on it (these symptoms already indicate the development of periodontitis).
Emergency help - what to do if a tooth hurts due to pulpitis: such a tooth can be cured only by removing the inflamed nerve and subsequent filling of the root canals. But, if you need to delay your visit to the dentist a little, then you can relieve the pain at home -
- using strong analgesics (Fig. 1-2),
- using “dental drops” (Fig. 3),
- placing a cotton ball soaked in a solution of 2% Lidocaine (this anesthetic is sold in pharmacies without a prescription) into the carious cavity.
Remember that topical pain relievers (such as dental drops or lidocaine) will only be effective if you have a cavity where you can place a cotton ball soaked in these remedies. If you have a toothache, for example, under a filling, then only tablet analgesics can help you.
Important : what to do if your tooth hurts badly, and analgesics are practically impossible - it is best to urgently go to the dentist, even at night to a 24-hour dental clinic. No one will treat your tooth all night, they will only open your tooth cavity and put arsenic, or remove the nerve and put a special medicine in your tooth (all this will take about 15 minutes). And the rest of the treatment will be carried out at the next visit. But believe me, you will feel almost instant relief.
What to do if a tooth hurts due to periodontitis -
You can be sure that you have periodontitis if any of the following is related to your tooth -
- when biting on a tooth there is pain,
- Previously, a fistula could appear in the projection of this tooth on the gum (Fig. 4),
- swelling of the gums appeared in the projection of the diseased tooth (Fig. 5-6),
- there is swelling of the soft tissues of the face,
- The tooth had already been treated before, but they didn’t just put a filling in it, but they filled the root canals.
With periodontitis, inflammation occurs outside the tooth and consists of the development of a purulent process at the apex of the tooth roots, which over time can lead to both tooth loss and the formation of cysts or granulomas at the apex of the roots.
What to do - only a dentist can cure this tooth disease. If the tooth has not been previously treated, then the nerve must be removed and the root canals filled (24stoma.ru). If the canals were previously sealed poorly (an x-ray will show this), then they need to be unsealed, the inflammation treated and then sealed again. A visit to the dentist is urgent, because... At any moment, with this pathology, the gums may swell or a purulent gumboil may form on half the face.
Emergency help - what to do if a tooth hurts very badly due to periodontitis and you urgently need something to numb the pain - here only tablet analgesics such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen or ketorolac can help you (Fig. 1-2). Any anesthetic drops, rinses, etc. will not be effective, because... the inflammation is localized too deep in the gum.
Acute pain during periodontitis always indicates the formation of a purulent abscess in the area of the apex of the roots of this tooth. If the pain is catastrophic and cannot be tolerated, then it is best to go to a 24-hour dentistry. On your first visit, they will only open the tooth cavity and allow the pus to drain out through the root canals. All this will only take 15 minutes.
For those who are far from the doctor (in the north, in the tundra, in the countryside): we can only sympathize with you. Of course, you can start taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, this will at least slow down the development of inflammation and reduce pain, but will not completely solve the problem. Even if we assume that the inflammation suddenly subsides, it can worsen again at any moment.
Prevention of dental diseases
From a very young age, everyone knows what needs to be done to prevent teeth from hurting:
- Regular oral hygiene. You need to brush your teeth thoroughly, morning and evening, using a good toothpaste and brush. During the day, after each meal, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly, ideally using dental floss.
- Visit the dentist twice a year for preventative care.
- Eliminate any foci of infection in the oral cavity in a timely manner and carry out sanitation in a timely manner.
- Do not neglect modern methods of protecting teeth - fluoridation, remineralization, fissure sealing.
In addition, dental health largely depends on what we eat - the diet should include as many fresh vegetables and fruits, fish, and lean meat as possible; Eliminate sugar and sweets as much as possible. Teeth should be protected from mechanical damage, and do not overuse whitening toothpastes.
Author: Elena Grunina Dentist-therapist, endodontist. Work experience more than 9 years. The information is for reference only. Before treatment, consultation with a doctor is necessary.
Inexpensive anti-inflammatory tablets for toothache
It is appropriate to use broad-spectrum drugs that can cope with several symptoms simultaneously
Toothache is often accompanied by an inflammatory process.
It is irrational to use analgesics in this case; even if they eliminate pain, it will not be for long.
In this case, it is effective to relieve inflammation.
It is appropriate to use broad-spectrum drugs that can cope with several symptoms simultaneously.
These anti-inflammatory drugs include:
- Ibuprofen;
- Aspirin-S;
- Ketorol;
- Nise;
- Ketanov;
- Actasulide;
- Nurofen.
