Emergency Care for Acute Toothache: Painkiller Rules and Finding a Night or Holiday Dentist in Korea

What should I do about a severe toothache at night or on a weekend?

The first step is to find a dentist who is open, and in the meantime pain can be temporarily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers [1][2]. At night, dental clinics open at night, and on Sundays and holidays, dental clinics open on Sundays list clinics currently open by area. If your face is swollen and you have a fever, or you have trouble opening your mouth or swallowing, this may be a sign that infection is spreading to surrounding tissue, and you should be evaluated at an emergency room rather than waiting for a dental appointment [1].

DentStat analyzed 900 patient comments about acute toothache and emergency care on YouTube dental content. The largest share were questions about how to take painkillers when they could not get to a clinic at dawn or on a weekend [3].

Can I take Tylenol and ibuprofen together?

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen work in different ways [2]. They are sometimes recommended to be taken together or alternated, as long as each ingredient’s dose and interval are followed, but this can vary with underlying conditions and other medications, so check with a pharmacist or doctor rather than deciding on your own [2]. What to avoid is doubling up within the same class: ibuprofen, naproxen and dexibuprofen are all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and taking more than one of them together raises the risk of side effects such as stomach problems [2]. Many combination cold medicines also contain acetaminophen, so check for duplicate ingredients when taking several medicines [2]. In the comment analysis, “Can I take them together?” and “Can I take them on an empty stomach?” were the most frequent questions in this theme [3].

Will taking more painkillers help me recover faster?

Increasing the dose does not increase the effect proportionally, and overdosing is dangerous [2]. Acetaminophen overdose carries a risk of liver damage, and NSAIDs are linked to stomach bleeding and kidney strain [2]. If you have liver or kidney disease or have been drinking alcohol, consult a pharmacist or doctor before taking them [2]. Above all, painkillers only suppress pain temporarily and do not remove the bacteria or inflammation behind the cavity, so the need for treatment remains even when the pain is under control [1]. Many comments described taking more than the recommended dose, which increases the risk of side effects rather than the benefit [2][3].

Is there a way to reduce pain before I can see a dentist?

A cold compress can sometimes give temporary relief [1]. Apply it to the outside of the cheek on the swollen side. A hot compress on an area of acute inflammation, on the other hand, can make swelling worse, so be careful [1]. Avoiding chewing on the painful side and cutting down on triggers such as very hot, cold or sweet foods are also temporary measures [1]. However, pain easing with these methods does not mean the cause is resolved, and it is hard to pin down the cause yourself from symptoms alone [1].

If the pain goes away, do I still need to see a dentist?

Pain going away does not always mean recovery [1]. When decay reaches the nerve (pulp) and damages it, the pain can actually disappear for a while, while infection continues to spread to the root tip and surrounding tissue [1]. Getting through an acute toothache with painkillers and then leaving it alone can lead to bigger treatment such as root canal treatment or extraction, so you need a visit to find the cause even after the pain settles [1].

Common myths and facts

Common myth	What the evidence shows
”You can never take acetaminophen and ibuprofen together”	They work in different ways, and combined use is sometimes recommended as long as dose and interval are followed. What to avoid is doubling up within the NSAID class [2]
“More painkillers means faster recovery”	Overdosing only raises the risk of strain on the liver, stomach and kidneys [2]
“A warm compress will cure it”	A warm compress on an area of acute inflammation can worsen swelling [1]
“The pain is gone, so it’s healed”	The pain may have stopped only because the nerve is damaged, so a dental check is needed [1]

For cavity stages, treatment and health insurance in general, see the cavity guide. To find clinics open now, see find a dentist and the night hours and Sunday hours pages.