Should i take ibuprofen for toothache

But which one is best? And if your pain goes away, do you still need to see a dentist, or has the problem taken care of itself? The symptoms of a toothache can range from mild to severe and may include dull, sharp, or throbbing pain, swelling in the face, a pimple-like bump on the gums, or fever. Generally speaking, you can take your preferred over-the-counter pain reliever as directed until you can be seen.

With that said, ibuprofen is often particularly effective for dental pain. If any of the following apply to you, talk to your doctor about whether you should take NSAIDs or an alternative like acetaminophen instead:. So why would a toothache go away? These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen gel, mousse and spray.

Ibuprofen isn't normally recommended in pregnancy — especially if you're 30 or more weeks — unless it's prescribed by a doctor. This is because there might be a link between taking ibuprofen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels.

There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ibuprofen. It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine. There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Ibuprofen is safe to take by mouth or use on your skin if you are breastfeeding. Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.

Ibuprofen applied to the skin is less likely to interfere with other medicines than if it's taken by mouth. For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking ibuprofen by mouth or using it on your skin:. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

It works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body. When you apply ibuprofen to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it by mouth, but it only works in the area you've applied it to. You should start to feel better 20 to 30 minutes after taking ibuprofen by mouth.

For some types of long-term pain, you'll need to take ibuprofen regularly for up to 3 weeks for it to work properly. If you're applying ibuprofen to your skin, it should start to work within 1 to 2 days. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin are all effective painkillers.

Ibuprofen is good for period pain and migraines. It can also be used for back pain , strains and sprains, as well as pain from arthritis. Paracetamol is typically used for mild or moderate pain. It may be better than ibuprofen for headaches , toothache , sprains , stomach ache , and nerve pain like sciatica. Aspirin works in a similar way to ibuprofen.

Like ibuprofen, it's good for period pain and migraines. If you have heavy periods, it can make them heavier. It won't do you any harm to use ibuprofen gel at the same time as taking ibuprofen tablets. But if you're already taking ibuprofen tablets regularly, you won't get any extra benefit from also using the gel.

The gel tends to be best for when you have a pain under the skin and in a very small area of your body. If you're taking ibuprofen for a short-lived pain like toothache or period pain , you may only need to take it for a day or two. You may need to take ibuprofen for longer if you have a long-term health problem, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

If you need to take ibuprofen for more than 6 months, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach from any side effects. Taking ibuprofen occasionally for pain relief — for example when you have a headache — is unlikely to affect your fertility. However, it's best not to take ibuprofen tablets, capsules or syrup if you're trying for a baby. In this case paracetamol is a better option. This is because taking ibuprofen tablets, capsules or syrup in large doses, or for a long time, can affect ovulation.

This can make it more difficult for you to get pregnant — but is usually reversible when you stop taking ibuprofen. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking ibuprofen will reduce fertility in men. Ibuprofen — by mouth or on your skin — doesn't affect any contraceptives, including the contraceptive pill and emergency contraception.

If you still need ibuprofen after taking it for 10 days check with your doctor before continuing. It's safe to take ibuprofen regularly for many years if your doctor prescribes it, and as long as you do not take more than the recommended dosage.

If you need to take ibuprofen by mouth for a long time and you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer , your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach. Ibuprofen can cause ulcers in your stomach or gut, especially if you take it by mouth for a long time or in big doses. If you need to take ibuprofen and you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer , your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach.

If ibuprofen doesn't work, there are other everyday painkillers you can try, such as:. If pharmacy painkillers don't work, your doctor may be able to prescribe a stronger painkiller or recommend another treatment, such as exercise or physiotherapy. Ibuprofen doesn't work for certain types of pain — for example, nerve pain like sciatica. Your doctor will have to prescribe a different medicine if your pain is related to your nerves. It's usually safe to drink alcohol while taking ibuprofen.

But if you're taking ibuprofen by mouth, drinking too much alcohol may irritate your stomach. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. It's best to take ibuprofen tablets, capsules or syrup with, or just after, a meal so it doesn't upset your stomach. Do not take it on an empty stomach.

Page last reviewed: 7 December Next review due: 7 December Ibuprofen for adults including Nurofen On this page About ibuprofen for adults Key facts Who can and cannot take ibuprofen How to take tablets, capsules and syrup How to use ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray Taking ibuprofen with other painkillers Side effects of tablets, capsules and syrup Side effects of gel, mousse and spray How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About ibuprofen for adults Ibuprofen is an everyday painkiller for a range of aches and pains, including back pain, period pain , toothache. NHS coronavirus advice The Commission on Human Medicines has now confirmed that there is no clear evidence that using ibuprofen to treat symptoms such as a high temperature can make coronavirus COVID worse.

Always follow the instructions that come with your medicine. Updated: 16 April Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? As it reduces the amount of bacteria inside a tooth, regular rinsing can help ensure that a toothache does not get any worse. There are many different natural mild anti-septics available. Clove oil has been recommended by some dentists , but the most practical solution will likely be regular table salt.

Saltwater solution is the easiest natural anti-septic you can make at home. If you are physically able to, try mixing a small ml glass of warm water with a good teaspoonful of salt. Then swill the saltwater around the painful area for at least one minute. Repeat this rinsing as often as you can.

Although the saltwater solution may taste unpleasant, the swilling should not hurt your tooth or gums further. If you have it, you should also rinse the affected area with Corsodyl , as this has a slightly stronger anti-septic affect. As swelling is the result of fluid rushing to an infected area of the body, it can be reduced my making it mechanically more difficult for such fluid to flow into the swollen area. If you have to lie down, either because you are trying to sleep or feel too unwell to stand or sit, then you should be propping your head up on several pillows.

This means that fluid has to fight against gravity in order to get inside your infected tooth. The blood pressure in your head is also higher when lying flat and contributes to the pain. The higher your head is raised the better, so if you can sit-up then that is ideal. However keeping your head elevated on several pillows is a lot better than lying flat.

As with elevation, cooling down an inflamed area can reduce swelling as it slows down the flow of fluids to the infected area. Apply the ice to the face for 10 minutes every hour if you can. Continue to apply the ice even after the swelling has gone away. You should not neglect brushing the affected tooth, as this will accelerate the rate that bacteria builds up in and around the cavity.

How to best access the dental care needed to put an end to your toothache depends on several factors. These factors include whether you currently have a regular dentist, whether you have private dental treatment or treatment on the NHS, and whether your dentist is available at the time your toothache flares up. There are two ways of finding a nearby NHS dentist who can see you at relatively short notice as an emergency patient.

Google map listing for nearby emergency dentists- number and opening times are listed. Importantly, you will also get a list of relevant practices, along with information such as their phone number, website and most crucially of all their opening times.

If a practice is open, you have every opportunity to try and book an emergency appointment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, a dentist may be less eager to squeeze you into a tight schedule if you are new to them. If you want support finding a local NHS emergency dentist, you can do so through calling If you call you can get free advice over the phone, and be put in touch directly with a local NHS dentist. It is not uncommon to be on hold on for over 15 minutes. You can find an NHS dentist who takes emergencies online in one minute.

This allows you to choose a dentist which fits around your schedule, or simply browse though until you find one that is currently open. You can therefore pick a dentist on location, how often they are open, or even how well they have been reviewed by other patients. In short finding a dentist on Google is quicker and more flexible than finding one on Therefore, if your regular dental practice is open, all you need to do is call, and explain that you are in severe pain.

These are practices that are geared to provide emergency treatment outside of usual working hours. You can claim back this treatment if you are eligible for free NHS dental care.

This includes under 18s, some students, and pregnant women or new mothers. For more information about eligibility for free NHS dental care, please click here.

Having a good relationship with a private dentist makes getting emergency care for a toothache easy. A good private dentist should be able to squeeze you in to even a very busy schedule. As long as they are open you should be able to get an appointment on the same day. Many private dental practices have dedicated emergency numbers where you can contact a dentist out of hours. If you would like your toothache to be treated privately, and you do not have access to your regular dentist, a simple Google search should allow you to find a private dental practice that takes emergencies nearby.

Google map listing for private emergency dentists. Private practices are likely to give priority to existing patients, so you are not guaranteed to get treated the same day as you call. That being said you are free to call as many practices as you like in order to get seen as soon as possible. You will need to follow this up by finding an emergency dentist to get rid of the toothache permanently.

These are the four steps of an emergency dental appointment. The dentist will go on to explain to you how to best solve your dental problem long term, as well as telling you how to manage the problem in the meantime. This can include prescriptions for painkillers and antibiotics, as well as specific instructions for specific problems.

Diagnosing the cause of your toothache will likely involve the dentist looking at the affected area in your mouth. They may also take an x-ray of your mouth. The dentist may also ask you some questions to help them figure out what the underlying problem is. These can include:.