25 Oct 2022
Toothache is commonly managed or eliminated by Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory analgesics. Before the discovery of analgesics, dentists used opium to mitigate discomfort. Now numerous painkillers are available on the market, and the recent introduction of new medicines provides more options. The reason for this article is to give a quick view of drugs that are considered for the management of toothache.
Nsaid And Toothache
Painkillers treat toothache through an oral dose. Clinical trials have repeatedly shown that NSAIDs are adequate for managing any level of dental pain, whether mild, moderate, or severe. Aspirin and indomethacin were the mainstays of treatment of toothache.
Still, their tolerability at doses is necessary to control rheumatic symptoms that limit the usefulness of these valuable agents, particularly gastric problems, after taking high doses of NSAIDs.
Traditional NSAIDs block COX-1 and COX-2, but new NSAIDs have been developed to be much more selective for COX-2. These selective COX-2 inhibitors are created to be less damaging to the gastric mucosa than others.
Can We Use Ibuprofen For Toothache?
The dentist recommended Ibuprofen, a rapid relief tablet for toothache. Dental practitioners relied on Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs to manage acute and chronic orofacial pain because Ibuprofen was the first new drug with the potency of aspirin but without its significant disadvantages.
Ibuprofen was developed due to problems associated with gastrointestinal irritation and general intolerability of the established NSAIDs at that time. Ibuprofen has a prominent antipyretic and analgesic role.
These effects are due to the inhibitory action of nonselective (cyclooxygenase) COX 1 and COX 2, which are involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are a substance that has a vital role in producing pain, inflammation, and fever. So we can use Ibuprofen, the best drug of choice for toothache.
How Ibuprofen (Motrin) And Caffeine Can Treat Toothache?
A single tablet of Ibuprofen 200mg taken with a dose of 100mg caffeine produces a strong analgesic effect. Adding caffeine to the analgesics increases the number of people obtaining good pain relief. There is good evidence that combining two painkillers in a fixed dose in a single tablet will provide better pain relief in acute pain than the drug alone.
A combination of 200mg + caffeine 100mg is not commonly available. Still, it can probably be achieved by taking a single 200mg ibuprofen with a cup of a strong cup of coffee or tea, plain chocolate, or a 100mg caffeine tablet. A combination of Ibuprofen and caffeine are available without prescription in some parts of the world.
Dosage Of Ibuprofen For Toothache
A dose of 400 milligrams 3 times a day provides the maximum analgesic control of postoperative pain after third molar surgery. Suppose you feel more pain and add your amount. In that case, you will not be getting a lot of benefit from an additional dose of Ibuprofen because a 400mg dose after 7 to 8 hours shows the maximum efficacy.
The big thing you set yourself up for is stomach irritation, which sometimes leads to ulcers and bleeding. You could avoid it and just take 400 milligrams 3 times a day for maximum effect for pain. Liquid Gel preparation of Ibuprofen 400mg also provides faster relief and overall efficacy in post-surgical dental pain.
Is Ibuprofen A Long-Term Solution For Toothache?
Ibuprofen is the maximal effective drug for toothache, but it should not be used in the long term. Long-term use of any NSAID involving Ibuprofen should be avoided in any case. It will affect our stomach and lead to gastric ulcer and bleeding. Ibuprofen should not be given to any patient with active gastric ulcers or gastric bleeding because it will increase the severity of discomfort.
What Other Painkillers Do We Prefer On Toothaches?
The first drug to consider is acetaminophen, which is indicated for managing mild to moderate dental pain. Acetaminophen is safe in therapeutic doses. It is the analgesic of choice for patients with active gastric ulcers.
Enteric-coated formulations of NSAIDs reduce the likelihood of dyspepsia but will not prevent gastric damage and subsequent bleeding.
Celecoxib (Celebrex) and Rofecoxib (Vioxx) are two agents that are available in this class. When given as a 50-mg dose per day, Rofecoxib has shown to provide analgesia equal to Ibuprofen 400 mg. opioid analgesics are also used for toothaches as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine. Still, these are used with a combination of NSAIDs.
Conclusion
Ibuprofen or its combination with caffeine should have a higher priority for the pain-relieving effects in toothache. Ibuprofen is the best choice for dental practitioners among all the painkillers. It is also practical because it has a less adverse impact on gastric discomfort than other NSAIDs.
