Ibuprofen for Tooth Pain: Why It Helps, Who Should Avoid It, and Paracetamol Compared

Ibuprofen belongs to a group of painkillers that also reduce inflammation. Much tooth and gum pain comes from swollen, inflamed tissue pressing inside a tight space, which is why an anti-inflammatory can suit it better than a painkiller that does not touch swelling.

It has limits. It dulls the pain and settles some of the swelling for a few hours, but it does not remove decay, repair a crack or clear an infection. The overview of options is in our guide to teeth pain medicine. This page goes deeper on ibuprofen only.

Take it exactly as directed on the pack you have, with or after food, and do not go over the daily limit on the label. Do not combine it with other anti-inflammatory painkillers, including those found in some cold remedies and gels sold for pain, without asking a pharmacist.

Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining and affect the kidneys and blood pressure. That makes it a poor choice for some people, and the label and a pharmacist are the right places to check before you start.

In pregnancy, do not take any painkiller without checking with your doctor first. Our guide on tooth pain during pregnancy explains what else can be done. If you have a fever and a mosquito-borne illness such as dengue is possible, ask a doctor before taking ibuprofen.

Paracetamol is the same medicine as acetaminophen, the name used in the United States. It eases pain but does not reduce inflammation. It is gentler on the stomach, so it is the usual choice when ibuprofen is not suitable.

Paracetamol needs care if you have liver disease or drink alcohol regularly. Check the labels of cold and flu products, because many contain paracetamol already and it is easy to double up.

Some people take ibuprofen and paracetamol together or in turn. That depends on your health and your other medicines, so ask a pharmacist or doctor before doing it, and follow what they say and the label.

People often reach for antibiotics when a tooth hurts. Antibiotics do not relieve toothache, because the pain from an inflamed nerve comes from inside the tooth where they cannot reach. A dentist or doctor prescribes them only when infection is spreading, together with treating the tooth.

If ibuprofen only helps a little, or the pain returns when it wears off, the cause is active. See a dentist, and read our toothache page for what treatment involves. Seek care the same day for swelling of the face, fever, or difficulty swallowing, and go to a hospital emergency department if breathing or swallowing is affected.