Still Numb After the Dentist? How to Wear Off Anesthetic Faster

Dr. Pearl E. Whites

9 hours ago

2 min read

Summary: Tired of waiting hours for your mouth to wake up after a dental appointment? Discover the science-based ways to make dental numbing wear off faster, from in-office reversing agent OraVerse to safe at-home tips.

Have you ever left the dental office with half of your face numb, feeling like a stroke victim? Few people enjoy this sensation. Depending on the dental anesthetic used, this numbness usually lingers for 1-3 hours.

youth numb after a dental appointment. Droopy lips

Note: if you just had major dental surgery like tooth extractions or gingival (gum) procedures, do NOT use these tips! Stay numb as long as possible. Only Oraverse has been clinically proven and endorsed to reverse anesthetic. All other tips are physiologic common-sense ways to accelerate ridding the local anesthetic.

Dental anesthetic lingers by constricting blood vessels. When you increase your blood flow this flushes anesthetic to the liver—the body’s garbage can. Here is how to speed up removing the numbing sensation from most to least effective tips:

1. OraVerse (Reversing Agent)

OraVerse is a reversing agent to dental anesthetic

OraVerse is a harmless vasodilator meaning it brings blood back into the site and flushes out the anesthetic. Your dentist injects this at the numbing site and this works within 10–20 minutes after the dental procedure is completed. This gets your face back to normal 1.5 hours sooner than waiting it out.

2. Light Exercise

going on a walk helps reverse dental anesthetic effects

The best natural method to reverse dental anesthetic is by increasing your heart rate with light exercise, which flushes out the anesthetic. Take a brisk 15-20 minute walk. Avoid vigorous workouts since that promotes painful throbbing.

3. Apply Heat to the Site

hot rag over dental anesthetic site helps reverse numbing

Heat relaxes muscles and loosens the blood vessels. Hold a warm cloth for 10 minutes on the cheeks or lips over the injection site. Three warnings:

Test the heat first against your hands.
If consuming warm food or drinks, your mouth cannot tell if something is too hot when numb.
If chewing food and the food is not breaking up, that’s probably your tongue.

4. Massage

rubbing or massaging an injection site from dental anesthetic

Gently rub the outside area for 15-20 seconds every few minutes in light circular motions. This helps push out the anesthetic and introduces blood supply into the injection site area

5. Jaw Exercises

mild jaw stretches after dental anesthetic

Gently stretch your jaw open and closed to allow increased circulation in your chewing muscles. This is not as effective because jaw openings move far less blood than full-body exercise.

6. Increase Drinking Water

boy drinking water after going to the dentist

Drinking lots of water helps your body filter out the anesthetic from your bloodstream. Warm water can increase blood flow but make sure the water is not too hot.

What About Essential Oils?

essential oils to help from dental numbing. Clove eugenol peppermint eucalyptus rosemary

Internet forums claim that rubbing clove, peppermint, eucalyptus, or rosemary oils reverses numbing. This is a myth.

Clove oil is a natural numbing agent and actually prolongs numbing. If oils seem to work, the reason is likely from the light, physical rubbing that boosts circulation while the oil soothes the tissues. Oils only reach superficial layers and do not seep deep enough to reach the core nerves anesthetized.

Conclusion

Dental anesthetic lingers by restricting blood flow. To regain sensation, you must get your blood moving—whether through OraVerse, a light walk, heat, or rubbing the site. Until feeling returns, avoid signing autographs to all your fans or else they will likely call emergency response over your stroke-like symptoms!