Ibuprofen for toothache
introduction
Ibuprofen is the first drug of choice for toothache, but also jaw pain. It is used there in all areas, including for pain treatment after an operation. It is used so popular because, unlike aspirin or paracetamol, it not only works against pain, but also against the inflammatory processes in the mouth.
It penetrates the tissues and fights inflammation. But this mode of action is not enough to combat inflammation without medical treatment, but should again only be viewed as temporary pain therapy until the necessary steps are taken by the dentist.
Dosage of ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is available in the form of tablets, granules, capsules, juice or spray. The common dosage for home use is 400 mg tablets. These are freely available. 600 mg tablets, only available with a prescription for severe pain. The maximum dose for one day is limited to 1200 mg. Medically prescribed, 2400 mg and more may also be taken. This means that 6 of the 400 tablets can be taken every 24 hours. So one every 4 hours. With 600 tablets, only 4 tablets may be taken. If you don't endure the pain for more than 4 hours, theoretically you shouldn't take a tablet at night. If this is the case, you should consult a doctor. Of course there are also tablets with 800 mg or 200 mg ibuprofen. The 200 mg tablets often do not work, whereas the 800 mg tablets are too strong for many patients. These should only be taken after medical instruction.
Side effects
Side effects can include:
- stomach pain
- nausea
- diarrhea
- a headache
- Dizziness
occur.
In rare cases, damage to the kidneys and liver as well as heavy bleeding can occur, especially if the dose is too high. It is so sensitive to the stomach because by inhibiting prostaglandin it also inhibits the production of the protective mucous layer in the gastrointestinal tract. With prolonged use, additional drugs are prescribed to protect the stomach.
Drug interactions
If you take ibuprofen during a period of toothache, you should pay attention to which other drugs are being taken at the same time. If anticoagulants (drugs to prevent blood clotting) are taken or thrombolytics (to dissolve a blood clot) are used, these in combination with ibuprofen can increase the risk of bleeding.
If ibuprofen is taken together with a drug containing acetylsalicylic acid, the effectiveness of the former can be reduced, so that the anticoagulant effect is weaker. Zinc can reduce the effects of ibuprofen. There may be a risk of lithium poisoning as ibuprofen reduces the excretion of this substance and it remains in the kidneys for longer and in higher concentrations.
What to do if ibuprofen doesn't work
If you take ibuprofen in too low a dose, the active ingredient may be too weak to suppress the pain entirely. For example, a 200 mg tablet will rarely work in a 80 kg patient who takes pain pills more often. To switch off the pain, a higher dose must be taken. However, this advice is not to be applied arbitrarily. If the tablet does not work, you should consult a doctor. If the tablet is not absorbed into the bloodstream due to vomiting or diarrhea, it will not work. In such cases, the active ingredient can be given into the body via suppositories or infusions.
There are also some patients who cannot tolerate the active ingredient. Paracetamol is an alternative.However, this preparation is less anti-inflammatory than ibuprofen or other pain relievers. If the toothache comes from inflammation of the gums, only the pain is suppressed with paracetamol. Ibuprofen, on the other hand, also indirectly fights the cause. It is important that the drug takes some time to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach lining. If the stomach is full, the passage may be hindered. Thus, the onset of action is extended. The tablets can also be blocked by other drugs.
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Ibuprofen during pregnancy / breastfeeding
In the first and second trimester of pregnancy, painkillers such as ibuprofen can be taken. However, the dosage should be discussed with the doctor beforehand. In the last third you should avoid taking ibuprofen, as there is an increased risk of complications. Before birth, ibuprofen tablets are contraindicated because they relieve pain and thus suppress labor. When breastfeeding, it is important to consider what is a higher risk for the child. The active ingredient ibuprofen passes into breast milk, so the child theoretically gets something. However, this is only dangerous if higher doses are involved and if the tablets are taken over a longer period of time. However, pain also releases stress hormones that can also pass into breast milk. Ibuprofen also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which combats inflammation of the gums and its pathogens.
You might also be interested in: Painkillers in Pregnancy
Aspirin and paracetamol
The two other well-known representatives of pain medication in dentistry are aspirin and Paracetamolthat are used less in comparison to ibuprofen.
So finds aspirin generally not used because it thins the blood. This causes it to multiply too Bleeding can come, even after an operation. If, for example, one suffers from wisdom tooth problems and combats the pain with aspirin, the subsequent extraction of the tooth can lead to increased bleeding, which complicates the procedure and represents an unnecessary risk. Acetylsalicylic acid preparations are more likely to be used for heart attack prophylaxis.
Paracetamol does not have an anti-inflammatory effect and shows the major disadvantage that it only takes small amounts to damage the liver. Nevertheless, it is not entirely insignificant in dentistry as a pain preparation, because in the pregnancy is this that Means of choice.
If you suffer from severe toothache during this time, aspirin could prevent the botalli duct from closing and ibuprofen, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, could block a very important vessel near the heart. However, paracetamol should not be taken carelessly over a longer period of time during this time. The pain treatment must be discussed with the treating dentist, because Paracetamol also crosses the placenta and the active ingredients cannot yet be completely broken down by the fetus, so an increased dosage or a longer intake increases Liver damage on the child.
Composition and effect
Ibuprofen is used for mild to moderate pain (analgesic), Fever (antipyretic) and inflammation (anti-inflammatory). The fact that it works against inflammation distinguishes it from other representatives such as paracetamol, as these only work against pain, but not against inflammation. Ibuprofen is listed as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, which chemically belongs to the group of Aryl propionic acids heard.
Its mode of action is based on the fact that it nonselectively inhibits the cyclooxygenases (enzymes) I and II, which form the inflammation-causing prostaglandins in the body.
Summary
In order to keep the toothache in check for a short time and to be able to go about normal everyday life, ibuprofen is often used as a pain medication. Due to its special anti-inflammatory effect, it has clear advantages over other pain relievers such as paracetamol or aspirin.
However, these have an advantage in other situations, such as during pregnancy or heart problems.
Despite its side effects, ibuprofen can be taken in low doses, which can be purchased over the counter and in compliance with the maximum daily dose, for toothache until treatment is initiated and further information is given by the dentist.
