Managing Dental Pain with Over-the-Counter Medications
For pain after dental work, it’s important to not only manage the pain but also the inflammation that often causes it. Here’s how you can do that:
Choose Ibuprofen
- Popular Different brand name: Motrin, Advil
- Since dental pain usually comes with inflammation, ibuprofen is often more effective because it treats both pain and swelling.
- Suggested intake dosage for ibuprofen are:
- 400mg every 4 hour.
- 600mg every 6 hour
- 800mg every 8 hours
- Do not exceed 1,200 mg per day
- Overdose Limit: Taking more than 3,200 mg in 24 hours is considered an overdose for adults and can lead to serious health problems.
Patients Who Should Avoid Ibuprofen (and generally, NSAIDs):
- If you’re allergic to ibuprofen, don’t take it.
- Avoid ibuprofen if you have medical conditions that make NSAIDs unsafe for you.
- People with kidney disease
- Those with a history of ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding
- Patients with severe heart failure: Ibuprofen can exacerbate heart failure symptoms.
- Individuals with high blood pressure or heart disease: Ibuprofen can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Patients allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs: They may also be allergic to ibuprofen.
- Pregnant women, especially in the third trimester: Ibuprofen can affect fetal circulation and should not be taken late in pregnanc
Steer Clear of Aspirin
- Aspirin can make bleeding worse, so it’s best to avoid it, especially after dental procedures that can affect your gums.
If You Can’t Take Ibuprofen
Tylenol
- Generic Name: Acetaminophen
- Popular Different brand name: paracetamol
- Acetaminophen is an alternative for pain relief if ibuprofen isn’t suitable for you, but remember it doesn’t help with inflammation.
- only take the dose listed on the label. Too much can hurt your liver in just a day or two. If that dose doesn’t help with your pain, get in touch with your doctor.
- Don’t use more than one acetaminophen-containing product at once. If your cold medicine has acetaminophen, skip it in other medicines for things like headaches.
Adult Dosage:
- Regular Strength: 325 mg every 4 hours as needed.
- Extra Strength: 500 mg every 6 hours as needed.
- Extended Release (Arthritis Strength): 1300 mg every 8 hours as needed. Do not exceed 3900 mg in 24 hours.
For adults, the maximum daily dose recommended is generally 3000 mg
Key Points to Remember:
- Daily Maximum: The total daily dose of acetaminophen should not exceed the recommended limit (usually 3000-4000 mg for adults), considering all sources of acetaminophen, including combination products.
Who Should Avoid Tylenol
- People with Liver Disease: Risk of liver damage is higher.
- Heavy Alcohol Users: Increased risk of liver issues.
- Those Allergic to Acetaminophen: Avoid if you’ve had reactions before.
- Individuals on Certain Medications: Check for interactions, especially drugs affecting the liver.
- People with Chronic Malnutrition: Increased toxicity risk.
- Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women: Use under medical advice.
- Children and Infants: Requires precise dosing; consult a pediatrician.