Why Is Using Aspirin Dangerous When You Touch It to Your Gums?
Posted on 7/23/2020 by Barbara Ketchum
Aspirin has stood the test of time as an effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent for those with heart disease. You may have even heard that placing an aspirin on a toothache will help relieve the pain. Not only is this home remedy ineffective, it can also do more harm than good for your oral health.
How Is Aspirin Harmful to Oral Health?
Aspirin's clinical name is acetylsalicylic acid. It's not important to understand the first word in this term but pay special attention to the acid part. Acetylsalicylic acid is nearly as powerful as stomach acid. Now, think about the fact that your gums are made up of soft tissue and how placing acid on an aching tooth will also mean that your gums are exposed to the acid. The bottom line is that soft tissue, plus the acid equals burned tissue.
How We Know This
What we see when someone has used aspirin directly on a toothache are white chemical burns on the gum and/or cheek tissue. In addition, we may see gum bleeding if you take aspirin on a daily basis. In the latter case, however, we would do a thorough oral exam to determine if the bleeding is actually due to your aspirin regimen or is a result of periodontal (gum) disease. Whether you take aspirin regularly for other types of pain or for heart disease, it's important that you inform us so we can make accurate diagnoses of any oral conditions.
Other Ways to Relieve Toothache Pain
If you're taking aspirin for bodily pain, consider switching to another anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen to preserve the health of your gums. Other ways to relieve a toothache include applying a cold pack to the painful area of your face, rinsing with salt water or placing a peppermint tea bag on the affected tooth.
However, these are only temporary fixes for a problem that can quickly become a bigger problem. In order for us to determine the best permanent solution for your toothache, contact our office as soon as possible to schedule a visit.
Aspirin has stood the test of time as an effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent for those with heart disease. You may have even heard that placing an aspirin on a toothache will help relieve the pain. Not only is this home remedy ineffective, it can also do more harm than good for your oral health.