An infected tooth with severe pain is something that really needs prompt attention from a dentist — this is urgent and shouldn't wait, especially while on methotrexate, since that medication can suppress the immune system, making it harder to fight infections.
For the pain itself, over-the-counter options like ibuprofen Show Full Answer
An infected tooth with severe pain is something that really needs prompt attention from a dentist — this is urgent and shouldn't wait, especially while on methotrexate, since that medication can suppress the immune system, making it harder to fight infections.
For the pain itself, over-the-counter options like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) may help with mild to moderate pain. However, there's an important caution here. Both ibuprofen and naproxen are NSAIDs, and combining them with methotrexate can increase the risk of side effects, including potential effects on the kidneys and liver. This is why it's really important to check with a doctor or rheumatologist before taking either of these.
A dentist may also be able to prescribe a stronger pain reliever or antibiotics to treat the infection directly, which would address the root cause of the pain. Please reach out to a healthcare provider as soon as possible — a tooth infection can spread if left untreated, and that's the last thing needed on top of managing RA.
July 17
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