The best pain reliever for a toothache is advil dual action, which is formulated with ibuprofen and acetaminophen together into one pill. Yes, it is available over the counter and it is even more effective than taking opioids.
We’ll provide you with in depth research to explain why opioids don’t take the crown for being the best painkiller. We’ll also talk about the runner ups for pain medications in alleviating tooth pain in case you can’t find the best one.
Best painkiller for toothache
Without a doubt, the best painkiller for tooth pain is advil dual action because it contains two toothache medicines, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
- Studies have shown that taking both pain medications together will create a synergistic effect in relieving dental pain.
- It is also recommended by the ADA as a part of their acute pain management strategy.
There is literally no other OTC medicine which has this, which is why it is the most effective.
What it’ll work for:
Scientific evidence
Over the years, the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), has come out with multiple studies which showed combining ibuprofen with acetaminophen was one of the most effective pain relievers for oral pain.
In a 2013 study, they found that the combination of both drugs produced a greater analgesic effect than taking either of them alone.
- 400 mg of ibuprofen was more potent than 1000 mg of acetaminophen.
- 200 mg ibuprofen + 500 mg acetaminophen was more effective than either alone.
- 400 mg ibuprofen + 1000 mg acetaminophen was the most effective.
A 2018 study found the combination of these two OTC medications was even more effective than taking opioids for dental pain.
| Pain Medication | % with at least 50% maximum pain relief |
|---|---|
| 400 mg ibuprofen + 1000 mg acetaminophen | 72% |
| 1000 mg acetaminophen + 10 mg oxycodone | 68% |
| 400 mg ibuprofen + 10 mg oxycodone | 60% |
Isn’t it absolutely amazing than an over the counter medication can outperform a prescription strength
Mechanism of analgesia
The reason why the combo works so well is because ibuprofen and acetaminophen block pain via different mechanisms. This difference creates a synergistic effect that provides greater pain relief than when taken alone.
- Inhibits the activity of cyclogenase enzyme (COX).
- Reduction of prostaglandins formation, which is akin to an on-off switch for pain control.
How acetaminophen blocks pain:
- Inhibits the activity of COX pathway but in a different manner than a NSAID.
- The mechanism of action is still unclear.
- Affects COX pathways in CNS (central nervous system) but not PSN (peripheral nervous system).
Since they work via different mechanisms and pathways, taking both is akin to covering areas where the other is lacking. That makes them complimentary, thus creating a synergistic effect.
ADA pain management protocol
The American Dental Association does not specifically mention advil dual action but uses its generic version instead. Below is the acute pain management strategy by the ADA. It explains what pain medication and how much of it that you should take for each level of pain.
Mild pain regime:
- Ibuprofen 200-400 mg as needed for pain every 4-6 hours.
Mild to moderate pain regime:
- First 24 hours – Ibuprofen 400 to 600 mg every 6 hours.
- After 24 hours – Ibuprofen 400 mg as needed for pain every 4 to 6 hours.
Moderate to severe pain regime:
- First 24 hours – Ibuprofen 400-600 mg plus acetaminophen 500 mg every 6 hours.
- After 24 hours – Ibuprofen 400 mg plus acetaminophen 500 mg as needed for every 6 hours.
Severe pain regime:
- First 24-48 hours – Ibuprofen 400-600 mg plus acetaminophen 650 mg with hydrocodone 10 mg every 6 hours.
- After 48 hours – Ibuprofen 400-600 mg plus acetaminophen 500 mg as needed for pain every 6 hours.
The ADA reiterated that as per the 2013 study, that 400 mg of ibuprofen with 1000 mg of acetaminophen was more effective at controlling pain than opioids. That is based on pain relief for 58,000 wisdom teeth extraction cases.
Next best pain relievers for tooth pain
The next best painkillers after advil dual action would be the individual pain relievers.
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Naproxen (Alleve)
- Aspirin
Typically, the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) are preferred over a non-NSAID like acetaminophen. The anti-inflammation is very helpful in managing tooth pain.
Ibuprofen is the drug of choice for dental pain management for the vast majority of dentists. It is safe and effective. We’ll compare ibuprofen to the other types of pain medications.
Ibuprofen vs Acetaminophen
The main difference between the two is that one is an anti-inflammatory while the other is not.
- Anti-inflammatory. Decreases swelling, redness, and inflammation.
- Analgesic. Can block pain signals, thus numb your body to pain.
- Anti-pyretic. Reduces fevers.
- Analgesic
- Anti-pyretic
- It is NOT anti-inflammatory, which is why it’s not a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Ibuprofen vs Naproxen
Studies have shown that both ibuprofen and naproxen were effective in reducing toothaches but they do have some differences.
- Naproxen has a longer duration of effect. You can take one pill every 12 hours vs every 6 hours for ibuprofen.
- Ibuprofen is safer on the stomach. GI bleeding and other disturbances were less.
Ibuprofen vs Aspirin
Dentists prescribe ibuprofen much more frequently than aspirin despite both being a NSAID. The main reason for doing so is because aspirin also has a blood thinning property. Even a baby aspirin (81 mg) is enough to increase post-operative bleeding after surgical dental procedures.
Surgical dental procedures:
- Tooth extraction
- Wisdom teeth removal
- Gum surgery
Taking a full dose of aspirin (325 mg) or extra strength (500 mg) may significantly increase post-surgical bleeding. Due to that risk, most dentists prefer to not prescribe aspirin unless absolutely needed.
What about antibiotics?
While a severe tooth infection accompanied by facial swelling is often treated with antibiotics along with painkillers, the antibiotic does not relieve pain. That means taking the often prescribed amoxicillin does not reduce your toothache.
The reason that you take it is for other purposes.
- Eliminates infection which may indirectly lead to lessened pain.
- Prevents the abscess from getting worse or coming back.
Common dental antibiotics:
- Amoxicillin
- Clindamycin
- Erythomycin
- Cephalexin
- Doxycyline
- Augmentin
Takeaway
The best pain reliever that you could use for tooth pain is advil dual action. The best part of it all is that it is an OTC medication so you don’t need a prescription for it. If that wasn’t good enough for you, you should be glad to know that it is more effective than opioids.