Can you take prednisone for tooth pain?

In this article:

• Is prednisone good for tooth pain?
• How does prednisone work?
• How long does it take for prednisone to work?
• Prednisone dosage for tooth pain
• Potential side effects of prednisone
• Alternatives to prednisone for tooth pain

In this article

• Is prednisone good for tooth pain?
• How does prednisone work?
• How long does it take for prednisone to work?
• Prednisone dosage for tooth pain
• Potential side effects of prednisone
• Alternatives to prednisone for tooth pain

Prednisone is a medication used to decrease irritation and inflammation in the body. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucocorticoids. There are many different conditions that prednisone is used for, including allergies, asthma, dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, lymphoma, and leukemia. It’s even used for organ transplantation in adults.

With so many uses, it’s natural to wonder whether prednisone is good for tooth pain or gum inflammation. Although it’s not the first treatment option healthcare providers look to, it can be helpful in certain situations. 

Is prednisone good for tooth pain? 

According to guidelines from the American Dental Association, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, and aspirin, are the first-line therapy for managing mild to moderate acute dental pain. 

Research on prednisone and corticosteroids in general for tooth pain management is mixed, and more controlled trials and systematic reviews are needed to fully understand the role that prednisone can play in dental pain relief. For instance, according to a 2024 report from the American Dental Association Science and Research Institute, the use of corticosteroids for surgical tooth extractions only offers a “trivial reduction in pain,” and evidence is low for their efficacy in treating this condition. On the plus side, a 2018 study published in Evidence-Based Dentistry found that a single 40 mg dose of prednisone proved beneficial for postoperative pain after root canal treatment.

“Prednisone can be helpful when you are dealing with a situation of inflammation,” says Jasveen Singh, DMD, pediatric dentist and owner of Pediatric Dentistry and Beyond. “It’s really useful for managing severe swelling that can occur after an infection or oral surgery,” she explains. However, it’s not the typical first line of treatment for tooth pain. “Most of the time, tooth pain is caused by an infection, decay, or some sort of injury, and prednisone doesn’t address those underlying issues,” she explains.

If you are dealing with tooth pain as a result of an infection, a steroid may actually be more harmful than helpful, as it suppresses the immune system’s process of fighting off infections, says Charles D. Azzaretti, DDS, director of the dental anesthesia residency training program at Family Health Centers of NYU Langone. “A more appropriate medication would be an antibiotic that suppresses or kills the bacteria that are usually the agents involved in dental infections,” Dr. Azzaretti explains.

Still, corticosteroids like prednisone do have their place when it comes to managing tooth infections. “Depending on the clinical circumstance, a steroid might be used in conjunction with antibiotic therapy to limit infection-related swelling that is causing other problems, such as swelling that threatens a patient’s airway,” Dr. Azzaretti says.

Although prednisone is not typically the first painkiller a dentist will suggest, there are certain other situations where it can prove to be helpful, according to Dr. Singh. “This usually happens when there’s serious oral inflammation, usually following oral surgery or in cases of autoimmune diseases affecting the mouth,” she says

And what about nerve pain associated with dental issues? “I usually wouldn’t suggest prednisone for nerve pain or for really severe pain that other painkillers can’t alleviate,” Dr. Singh says, although prednisone might be the right choice if the pain primarily stems from inflammation.

How does prednisone work to provide toothache relief?

Prednisone’s main job is to decrease inflammation in the body and in the body’s tissues. As such, it can work by decreasing inflammation in your mouth and surrounding areas.

“Corticosteroids help with pain by decreasing the inflammatory response,” explains Nathan Estrin DMD, a board-certified periodontist practicing in Sarasota, Florida. Dr. Estrin says that decreasing inflammation is helpful in certain dental situations, but not all. It’s vital to understand and identify the reason behind your dental pain so that it can be properly treated, Dr. Estrin explains. “I caution patients against masking the symptoms without treating the cause.”

As Dr. Singh explains, when you have inflammation, you’ll experience swelling and pressure on your nerves, which increases pain. “Prednisone is a powerful corticosteroid that cuts right through that inflammation,” she says. “This can really reduce the pain, especially after procedures like oral surgery or in conditions like pulpitis or abscesses.”

How long does it take prednisone to work for tooth pain?

According to Dr. Singh, you’ll probably notice a reduction in symptoms soon after taking prednisone for tooth pain. “You can expect to start feeling better between one to four hours after that first pill kicks in,” she says. “The full change usually happens within 24–48 hours as the inflammation calms down.”

Dr. Singh stresses that prednisone should only be given for short periods and not without identifying the cause of pain. “Prednisone is usually prescribed for a short duration in dental cases to minimize risks, and it’s important to emphasize that it is part of a broader treatment plan, often alongside antibiotics or dental treatments to address the root cause of the pain,” she says.

Prednisone dosage for tooth pain

There are no specific guidelines about prednisone dosage for tooth pain. As Claudia Cometa, Pharm.D., founder and CEO at Peace Advocacy Group, points out, the study published in Evidence-Based Dentistry found that 40 mg of prednisone is often effective for postoperative pain. That dose worked best if given right before dental treatment, with effectiveness lasting up to 24 hours later.

Dr. Singh says she normally prescribes 20–40 mg of prednisone daily over three to five days. “You also want to make sure to taper off the dose gradually to sidestep any nasty side effects,” she explains. “Depending on how severe your situation is, your doctor may adjust the dosage and the frequency of administration.”

Potential side effects of prednisone

Prednisone isn’t without side effects. “Prednisone can cause a laundry list of side effects, such as nausea, insomnia if taken too close to bedtime, and mood changes,” Cometa shares. However, these can be minimized with careful dosing. “When used as a single dose, however, the side effects experienced would be mild and manageable.”

The side effects of prednisone can include:

• Headaches
• Insatiable hunger
• Feeling dizzy
• Insomnia
• Moodiness
• Personality changes
• Bulging of the eyes
• Acne
• Thinned skin
• Blotches under the skin
• Cuts and bruises that take longer to heal
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle weakness

Some prednisone side effects can be serious, including:

• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Vision changes
• Hives
• Rashes
• Changes in heartbeat
• Itching
• Feeling lightheaded
• Losing touch with reality
• Burning, tingling, numbness in the extremities
• Seizures
• Uncontrollable shaking
• Flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, congestion)
• Swelling

Again, it should be noted that prednisone side effects worsen the longer you are taking it. For most people who take prednisone on a short-term basis, the risk of serious side effects is low.

Alternatives to prednisone for tooth pain 

As noted by the American Dental Association, NSAIDs and acetaminophen are recommended to treat tooth pain.

“Generally, NSAIDs do a great job at reducing swelling, especially after dental procedures. They work well for typical dental aches and are even more effective when combined with other treatments like antibiotics or root canals that address the root of the problem,” Dr. Singh says. Although acetaminophen doesn’t address inflammation, it can reduce pain, she adds.

Cometa says that in addition to these options, local anesthetics can be helpful. “Local anesthetics are also used by dentists to help numb and mask pain in the area where a procedure is being performed,” Dr. Singh says.

Of course, before you try any medication to help treat your dental pain, you should check with your dentist or healthcare provider who’s familiar with any health conditions you have or other medications you’re taking. They can recommend safe options for treating your pain.