Pain Management

Man checking sore or swollen gums in the mirror

Start with:

  • Ibuprofen 600mg or 800mg (Advil, Motrin) unless otherwise directed by your doctor or dentist

  • Take every 8 hours

    *Over-the-counter Ibuprofen typically comes in 200mg tablets, so you can take 3-4 tablets to reach the recommended 600-800mg dosage. Do not exceed 3200mg daily.

If necessary add:

  • Acetaminophen 500mg (Tylenol)

  • Take every 6 hours

  • Recommended to be taken 3 hours after dose of Ibuprofen, but can be taken at same time as Ibuprofen

    *Over-the-counter Acetaminophen typically comes in 375mg or 500mg tablets, so you can take the 1-2 tablets to reach the recommended 500mg dosage. Do not exceed 2000mg daily.

If discomfort persists, discontinue Acetaminophen 500mg and replace with:

  • Norco 5/325mg OR Tylenol ‘#3 (depending on what was prescribed to you)

    • Both listed medications contain Tylenol so please be aware of your total daily consumption (do not exceed 2000mg Tylenol a day).

    • Take 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed for additional pain control

    • Recommended to take 3 hours after dose of Ibuprofen, but can be taken at same time as Ibuprofen

    • Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking these medications as they can cause drowsiness

    • If pain is more prominent at night, save these medications for use closer to bedtime as tolerance can build quickly

If you have any questions about pain management, feel free to contact us.

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