How To Sleep With A Toothache
Other home remedies for toothache may help reduce the more extreme pain of a toothache at night so you can still sleep well:
- Pain relievers: Ibuprofen can both reduce painful tooth symptoms by reducing inflammation temporarily.
- Topical numbing agents: You can use topical gels or pastes to numb the tooth if your pain is related to an exposed nerve. These are usually products that use benzocaine, such as Orajel. These are not safe for children under the age of 2.
- Elevation: If you elevate your head higher than the rest of your body, your toothache may not be as severe. Lying flat can often worsen tooth pain caused by cavities or dental abscesses.
- Avoid triggering foods: Hard/sharp foods , acidic, or very cold foods can irritate or worsen tooth pain. Stay away from these foods, especially in the evening.
- Use an ice pack: Before you go to sleep, use a cold compress wrapped in a cloth on the outside of whichever side your tooth pain is worst to dull the ache. It works by shrinking the blood vessels that add to the inflammatory response.
How Should I Take Naproxen
Use naproxen exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take this medicine in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Use the lowest dose that is effective in treating your condition.
Shake the oral suspension well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
If you change brands, strengths, or forms of this medicine, your dosage needs may change. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the kind of naproxen you are using.
If a child is using this medicine, tell your doctor if the child has any changes in weight. Doses are based on weight in children, and any changes may affect your child’s dose.
If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.
This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using naproxen.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Common Symptoms Of Toothache
The experience of a toothache can vary from individual to individual. If you have a mild toothache with no swelling, you may wish to monitor the situation for about 2 days. If pain persists, its a good idea to make an appointment with your dentist so that they can inspect your teeth, determine the cause of your pain and provide appropriate treatment.
If you experience swelling, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately as this indicates the possibility of infection and will require immediate treatment.
Symptoms of toothache and swelling to be aware of include:
- Throbbing sensation around your teeth or gums
- Tooth grinding
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Don’t Get More Opioids Than Needed
For severe pain, which typically arises from more intensive procedures, such as bone removal, taking an opioid can provide additional relief if OTC pain medications are not enough, Dionne says. In that case, your dentist should prescribe only enough to cover the first two or three days after your procedure. After that, you should be able to comfortably transition to other forms of pain relief.
Dentists mostly prescribe drugs such as Percocet, Tylenol with Codeine , and Vicodin, all of which combine a low dose of an opioid with acetaminophen in one drug. Your dentist may recommend that you take an NSAID as well to treat inflammation. But never combine a prescription medication containing acetaminophen with an OTC product that also contains that drug, including pain relievers such as Tylenol and many cough and cold drugs. Doubling up on acetaminophen can damage the liver and can be fatal.
Why Do Some Toothaches Hurt More At Night
Toothaches can be painful in the day, but they may seem to get worse at night.
One reason that this may occur is because when a person is lying down, blood rushes to the head. This extra blood in the area may increase the pain and pressure that people feel from a toothache.
Another reason why many aches feel worse at night is because there are fewer distractions. With little else to focus on but the toothache, a person may find it difficult to fall asleep.
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What Relieves Tooth Abscess Pain
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin provide the most effective pain relief for a tooth abscess. They will both relieve the pain and reduce the swelling caused by the infection. Anesthetics are popularly used, but products with benzocaine should be avoided. Benzocaine can cause rare but serious side effects. Products with counter-irritants like menthol have only a limited effect. In most peoples experience, natural or medical topical anesthetics do not relieve pain as well as NSAIDs. Keep in mind that pain relievers only lessen the discomfort of the infection, so it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to remedy it.
What Is The Best Tooth Abscess Home Remedy
When a tooth or surrounding tissues gets infected and swollen, the only sure way to fix the problem is to visit a dentist. Some home remedies can temporarily relieve the symptoms, but they cant make the problem go away. Here are a few of the most successful ways to live with a tooth abscess until a dentists appointment.
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Damaged Or Lost Filling
If a dental filling falls out or becomes damaged, it may cause a toothache when sensitive dentin is exposed.
Schedule a dental appointment right away if this happens. As saliva remineralizes the newly exposed dentin, the pain may begin to subside. However, this is not a permanent fix and your tooth will still need repair.
What Are The Common Side Effects Of Medicine For A Dental Abscess
Different classes of medications have different side effects. However, this is not a complete list, and you should consult with a healthcare professional for possible side effects and drug interactions based on your specific situation.
Oral antibiotics typically can cause upset stomach, intestinal problems, and loss of appetite. Allergic reactions are a concern. Allergies to various types of antibiotics are common and could be severe. About 1 in 15 people are allergic to antibiotics.
NSAIDs are the pain relief medication of choice for dental abscesses. They are widely available, inexpensive, and safe. The major possible issues with NSAIDs are gastrointestinal side effects including stomach problems, ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and stomach pain. NSAIDs are known to cause kidney failure and can precipitate heart disease in elderly patients. All NSAIDs interfere with the bloods ability to form blood clots, so bleeding and bruising are common problems.
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How To Get Toothache Pain Relief Instantly
To know how to best manage a toothache at its source, you need to understand what its cause is.
Nearly all tooth pain is caused byswelling inside a tooth.
The reason why swelling inside the tooth causes more pain than swelling in any other part of the body is because the surrounding tooth structure is hard and inflexible.
This means that the swelling inside the tooth has nowhere to go.
Whereas most body parts can expand in size when inflamed, your teeth cannot accommodate such pressure.
Holes in the tooth allow bacteria to infect the nerves inside the pulp- this causes the pulp to swell.
This pressure is why a toothache can make you feel like your tooth is about to explode.
The pulp inside the tooth becomes too large for the hard surface surrounding it.
Now the agony makes sense.
Understanding that the pain of a toothache is caused by swelling can help you get rid of such pain more effectively.
The key is to gear everything you do toreducing the swelling inside the tooth.
Anything you do that does not reduce this swelling will cause only fleeting relief at best.
With this in mind, here are the best ways to reduce swelling quickly and therefore reduce toothache pain.
Get fast relief using painkillers
Painkillers are the best thing to stop a toothache in the short term.
Over the counter painkillers should be your first port of call if you have a toothache
Even over the counter pain medicine can provide a considerable amount of relief from toothache.
Heres the deal:
Yes.
If You Still Wind Up With Leftovers
Dont hang on to them, especially the opioids. Many pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, narcotics treatment programs, and long-term-care centers will take leftover opioids and other expired medication. For example, both Walgreens and CVS have installed self-service kiosks in many of their stores where you can safely dispose of medications.
To find an authorized medication take-back program near you, use the online search tool maintained by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Or call the DEAs Registration Call Center at 800-882-9539.
In addition, many retail and mail-order pharmacies provide free kits that allow you to safely discard medications at home. One example is DisposeRx, a packet of powder that, when mixed with water in a medication vial, turns the drugs into a thick gel thats safe to toss in the trash. You can also buy similar products online.
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Goodsense Acetaminophen Extra Strength
The GoodSense brand of Acetaminophen is also a top pick among consumers, coming in at #2 among the best medicines for toothache. Remember that acetaminophen is not an NSAID so it can be taken on an empty stomach.
Even though this product is in caplet form, the pills are a little larger than most caplets so beware of this if you have difficulty swallowing larger pills.
If you have a fever along with your toothache, this is likely the best choice since it is the most effective in reducing fever.
What Is The Best Medication For A Dental Abscess
Drug treatment for dental abscess focuses on eliminating the infection or relieving pain. Antibiotics for tooth infections are tailored to the type of bacteria causing the infection. Over-the-counter or prescription NSAIDs can adequately manage pain both before and after treatment.
| Best medications for dental abscesses | |
|---|---|
| Drug Name | |
| 2 tablets every 4 hours PRN | Stomach pain, stomach upset, dizziness, heart disease, kidney failure |
Many of the standard dosages above are from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration . Dosage is determined by your healthcare provider based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.
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What Are The Symptoms Of A Toothache
The first sign that something is wrong with your tooth is pain. The type of pain you experience can differ, from sharp or throbbing pain, for some this may only occur when you bite down with your teeth or it could be more constant.
You may also notice that the gum around your tooth is swollen, red or sore. If your tooth is infected then you could be experiencing a bad taste in your mouth, as well as a fever or headache.
When Should I See A Dentist For A Toothache
See your dentist as soon as possible if:
- You have a toothache that lasts longer than one or two days.
- Your toothache is severe.
- You have a fever, earache or pain when you open your mouth wide.
- You experience swelling in the mouth or face.
The proper diagnosis and treatment of dental infections are important to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the face and skull and possibly even to the bloodstream.
Toothaches can be extremely uncomfortable but the pain isnt permanent as long as its treated. Your dental professional can relieve your pain and prevent any infections in your mouth from spreading in your body.
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Study Of Naproxen Capsules To Treat Dental Pain
| The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
| First Posted : October 27, 2010Results First Posted : March 29, 2012Last Update Posted : May 22, 2012 |
| Drug: Naproxen TestDrug: NaprosynDrug: Placebo | Phase 2 |
| Study Type : | |
| Triple | |
| Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
| Official Title: | A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Single-Dose, Parallel-Group, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of Naproxen Capsules for the Treatment of Pain After Surgical Removal of Impacted Third Molars |
| Study Start Date : |
| Experimental: Naproxen Test 200-mg | |
| Experimental: Naproxen Test 400-mg | |
| Active Comparator: Naprosyn 250 mg | Drug: Naprosyn |
| Active Comparator: Naprosyn 500 mg | Drug: Naprosyn |
Information from the National Library of Medicine
| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 50 Years |
| Sexes Eligible for Study: |
Peppermint Tea Bag Or Oil
There is scientific evidence that peppermint can help relieve various types of pain. One in vitro study in the European Journal of Dentistry found that peppermint was one of three oils that worked as an effective intracanal antiseptic solution against oral pathogensmeaning it can effectively prevent the growth of bacteriaThosar N, Basak S, Bahadure RN, Rajurkar, M. Antimicrobial efficacy of five essential oils against oral pathogens: An in vitro study. European Journal of Dentistry. 2013:S71S77. .
If you have a toothache, Huang suggests applying a cold peppermint tea bag. Chill it and apply it in the area causing pain, she says. Alternatively, add a few drops of peppermint oil to a cotton ball and apply that directly against the affected tooth.
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Adult Or Wisdom Teeth Eruption
Any form of teething has the potential to cause pain, but wisdom teeth coming in is most likely to cause a toothache. Any adult or wisdom tooth may not have enough space to come in and put pressure on nearby teeth, causing tooth pain.
Often, pain from wisdom teeth comes from food impaction issues caused by teeth crowding or impaction. This may cause a cavity to form, as the teeth are not ideally seated next to one another and may create a space more likely to develop decay.
How Will The Dentist Treat My Toothache
Treatment by a dental professional depends on what is causing your toothache.
- If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or take the tooth out, if necessary.
- A root canal may be needed if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.
- An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw. A small piece of food can get stuck under the gums causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended followed by further periodontal therapy if necessary.
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What Is Naproxen And How Does It Work
Naproxen is used as a treatment to relieve pain from various conditions such as headaches, muscle aches, tendonitis, dental pain, and menstrual cramps. It also reduces pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and gout attacks.
Naproxen belongs to a class of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. NSAIDs are a type of medications that work by blocking your body’s production of certain natural substances that cause inflammation.
Naproxen is available under the following different brand names: Aleve, EC Naprosyn, Anaprox, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn, Naprox Sodium, Naproxen EC, Naproxen SR, Naprelan, and Menstridol.
Do You Need To See A Dentist If Your Toothache Goes Away
Unfortunately, dental problems dont disappear on their own and only get worse with time. So why would a toothache go away? Oftentimes, a severe toothache is caused by an infection in the nerve of a tooth . Sometimes this causes the nerve to die, which explains why the pain goes away. But the infection is still there. If left untreated, it can spread to other areas of the body such as the brain and become dangerous or even fatal.
In another scenario, you may have a mild toothache that seems to come and go. But the longer you wait without having it looked at, the more damage occurs to the tooth. The sooner an emergency dentist can diagnose the problem, the more likely it can be treated with a simple, inexpensive procedure like a dental filling instead of a root canal or crown.
The bottom line? You should always have a dentist evaluate a toothache, even if it goes away. In the meantime, youll know which over-the-counter-pain-medication to take to stay comfortable until your appointment.
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