Anbesol and Orajel are the two main local anesthetic numbing medications used to alleviate toothache pain. If you have a toothache, these two topical products can go a long way in helping you cope with and manage your condition.
But, which one should you pick between the two to treat your toothache? Is anbesol better than orajel? Or, is Orajel the better option? Which one works best? Are there any negative side effects associated with either?
These are some of the questions that might be in your head right now if you’re considering these two topical anesthetics and we are going to answer them here.
Anbesol vs Orajel for Relieving Tooth Pain – strongest toothache medicine
- Long-lasting pain relief
- Maximum level of pain relief with 15mg benzocaine per solid form
- Strip form stays in place for targeted relief only where you need it
- Soothes gums with menthol
- #1 Oral Pain Reliever Brand for Toothache
- INSTANT PAIN RELIEF: Instant oral pain relief for mouth and gum irritation due to toothaches, canker sores, sore gums, denture pain, and minor dental procedures. Use with dentures to relieve discomfort.
- MAXIMUM STRENGTH: Instant relief that takes you from ouch to ahhh, So, oral pain doesn’t hold you back. Formulated with 20% Benzocaine to offer maximum strength pain relief and instantly soothe mouth pain and dental irritation
- EASY TO USE: Cut the Tube Tip for easy access to the oral pain relief you need; Adults and children 2 years and over. Not for use in children under 2 years of age.
- ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Benzocaine 20% Oral anesthetic for pain relief.
These toothache pain relievers can have similarities as well as differences. Firstly, anbesol and orajel contain benzocaine as the main ingredient. So they are benzocaine topical medications that work by blocking nerves that convey pain sensations to the brain. Both are available in a variety of different forms, including liquid and gel; and there are variants for children and adults, and in different strengths. Both medicines are also associated with side effects including common and serious, rare side effects.
Here are more facts about each of them.
Anbesol for Toothache Facts:
- Offers effective treatment for toothache pain, teething pain, and mouth ulcers
- Comes in gel and liquid form as well as patches
- Can contain benzocaine, benzocaine/povidone-iodine/phenol, or benzocaine/phenol as the active ingredient(s)
- The drug is available over the counter
Orajel for Toothache Facts:
- Helps relieve toothache pain, mouth ulcers, teething pain, teething, and drooling
- Can contain benzocaine, benzocaine/allantoin, carbamide peroxide, or zinc chloride/benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient(s)
- The drug is available in gel and solution form
- Orajel is available as over the counter medicine
Common side effects of Anbesol and Orajel:
- Mild stinging, burning or itchy feeling at the application site
- Tenderness or redness of gums (at the application site)
- Slight swelling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
Serious Side Effects of Anbesol and Orajel:
- Lack of energy
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Severe headache
- Bluish, paling, or grayish coloring of the skin, lips, or fingernails
- Fast heart rate
- Confusion
- Lightheadedness
These are symptoms of a condition known as methemoglobinemia, a life-threatening condition that is characterized as a significant reduction in the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Other serious side effects of overdosing on Anbesol and Orajel include:
- Severe burning, stinging, tingling of gums (at the application site)
- Severe allergic reaction, which may include: swelling of the gums, throat, tongue, lips or face
- Severe irritation or redness
- Signs of infection like oozing or blistering
If you observe or suspect you have any of these symptoms when using either of these medications to numb pain, stop using the medication and get emergency medical help right away.
It’s also not recommendable to use these medications to treat toothache pain if you’ve had methemoglobinemia or its symptoms before. Make sure you use only the recommended amount of the drug, as overdosing of topical numbing medications can lead to these life-threatening side effects. These benzocaine topical products are absorbed through the gums/skin into the blood. If you use too much of the drug, it’s absorbed directly into the system causing these negative side effects.
Additionally, it is wise to seek the advice of your doctor before using any of these benzocaine topical products, particularly if you have or have ever had:
- Heart disease
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Breathing disorder
- Genetic enzyme deficiency, or if you smoke or are pregnant
Anbesol vs Orajel: Which One Should You Choose?
Now that you’ve learned basic facts about these medications, which one should you pick? how long does orajel last?
It’s worth noting that these two medications are not much different from each other. They contain the same basic ingredient – benzocaine. But some users have reported different levels of effectiveness and speed of action. Others swear that the two are essentially the same.
Nonetheless, orajel is generally considered the stronger and faster-acting of the two; and many reviews concur with this fact. When you apply anbesol on the affected tooth and area of the gums, you’ll definitely feel a degree of relief after a minute or two. The numbing feeling feels like the one you usually get when you visit your dentist office and he numbs your teeth before a procedure. But the feeling of numbness won’t stay for very long, and many users have confessed to being forced to reapply the gel or liquid in order to keep tooth pain at bay. In fact, according to most reviews, online many users found that the entire bottle of the drug gets finished after only a few days. And even then, each application of the drug never managed to get rid of all the pain. Actually, anbesol was not of much help to those individuals who used it to try to manage severe tooth pain.
However, on the other hand, those who used orajel found it quite effective for all forms of toothache pains. Reviews from actual users online reveal that the drug is more powerful than anbesol when it comes to fighting dental pain. It works faster and provides stronger relief for a longer period of time. By using orajel gel to numb your toothache, you can enjoy more effective and longer-lasting pain relief to help you go about your day and sleep easier when it comes time to rest. So, orajel delivers a higher concentration of tooth pain medicine available over the counter compared to anbesol. The formulation usually comes with menthol, which helps soothe and cool the affected tooth and gum area. It’s easy to apply and provides an instant yet long-lasting relief that you can depend on before you see your dentist.
Toothache pains are some of the most sudden, bothersome and common attacks, usually without warning. The pain can prevent you from eating, talking, walking, and even sleeping. It’s a terrible thing that creates a lot of discomfort among adults and children, alike. And, if you cannot get to your dentist immediately, either anbesol or orajel can be a savior. Both are effective local anesthetics for tooth pain and provide a reliable way to mitigate mild to severe toothache pains. But, orajel seems to be a more reliable option when dealing with severe toothache pain.
I have an upper denture due to a broken jaw. The dentist recommended using orajel for the pain and swelling of the gums around my teeth (which hurt like hell when I chew anything). After about two weeks on the med, it seems that I am getting more infection under my upper denture. Is there any harm in using Anbesol liquid? Will it be effective enough to numb the needed area before eating?
the anbesol should be ok to use but i can’t say for sure.. a dab will do u with all things.. that is pretty strong medicine..
can you use anbesol on a crowned tooth?
No, don’t use anbesol on a crowned tooth. Anbesol is a topical anesthetic that numbs mouth and throat pain, but can irritate ulcers or cause skin burns. You need to use something specially formulated for crowns such as Amantadine (Denamarin) or take ibuprofen tablets or liquid medicine by mouth. In my experience with denamarin orally and numbing with lidocaine patches, I was able to go through the complete procedure without discomfort.
I have two teeth that are killing me. My gums are now raw feeling. I feel like maybe I have used Oragel more than is good for me. I am going to try salt water rinses to see if that helps any. Hoping to find a dentist I can afford.
Anbesol really works to help reduce tooth and gum pain. Highly recommend this product.
How does Anbesol compare to Orajel?
Orajel has between 10% and 20% benzocaine as the main anesthetic ingredient. Anbesol has 20% benzocaine. So its up to you to see which one provides the best relief as even though they have the same ingredient, each may work differently with some people.
Does ambesol work better because I’ve been using oral gel and it doesn’t really help.
Anbesol doest have benzocaine its active ingredient is lidocaine. 2% anbesol is stronger then 10% benzocaine.
I had the worst toothache yesterday…I would even compare the pain to child birth…. when I read this post I said I would give it a try.. so I went to my local walgreens and put the stuff on in the car because i was in so much pain….it was like instant relief…i had to apply a second application like 1 hour later but after that no more pain…thank you so much for this article now i can make it to my appointment next week with ease
…. What stuff? Anbesol or Orajel?
Orajel.
Get in front of a mirror, swallow to get your mouth dry, and squeeze that golden slime on your achey-breaky tooth. Or put a little bb-sized lump on your finger and then use your finger to squish the gel into and around your tooth.
Orajel is basically the same stuff that the dentist puts in your gums before the big painkilling shot. It’s the good stuff. That’s also why it can cost about $10. But it’s great on any mouth sore, or tooth pain.
Heck, if you’ve got a paper cut on the tip of your finger, it’s damn good on that, too.
I was at my friend’s house, and she had a toothache, so she was carrying around some Orajel. She said it felt good/weird and put some on my mouth. It felt strange’ cuz part was more numb than the other so I was like “I need some more, it’s not equal” or something to that effect. And she said, “it’s like a drug!”
I remembered always having Anbesol, so I looked both up, and I think they’re pretty much the same.