How to get a numbing shot to wear off faster?

October 11, 2025 •

4 min read

While standard dental anesthetics can cause lingering numbness for up to 3-5 hours, a professional reversal agent can cut that time in half. If you're seeking to understand how to get a numbing shot to wear off faster, there are several proven strategies and pharmacological options available to speed up your return to normal sensation and function.

Quick Summary

Lingering numbness after a dental procedure is common, but various methods can accelerate recovery. The most effective option is a professional reversal agent like OraVerse, but increasing blood flow through gentle massage, warm compresses, or light activity can also help shorten the duration. Always follow your dental professional's specific aftercare instructions.

Key Points

Professional Reversal Agent: A dentist can administer a medication like OraVerse, which can cut the duration of numbness in half by accelerating blood flow.
Increase Blood Flow: The most effective at-home methods involve increasing circulation to the numb area through gentle massage or applying a warm compress.
Stay Active: Engaging in light physical activity, like a brisk walk, increases overall blood flow and metabolism, helping the anesthetic dissipate faster.
Safety First: Never eat or drink anything hot while numb, as your impaired sensation can lead to accidental biting or burning of your mouth.
Vasoconstrictors Extend Numbness: Many numbing shots contain epinephrine, which prolongs the anesthetic effect by constricting blood vessels, so reversing this constriction is key.
Hydration and Rest: Drinking plenty of water and allowing your body to rest supports the natural process of metabolizing and eliminating the medication.

Understanding the Pharmacology of Local Anesthetics

To understand how to speed up the wearing off of a numbing shot, it's helpful to know how local anesthetics work. These medications, such as lidocaine (often incorrectly referred to as Novocaine), are injected to block nerve signals in a specific area, preventing pain. The duration of their effect depends on several factors, including the dosage, injection site, and individual metabolism.

Many numbing agents contain a vasoconstrictor, such as epinephrine, which constricts local blood vessels. This constriction traps the anesthetic in the localized area, preventing it from being carried away by the bloodstream. While this prolongs the pain-blocking effect for the dental procedure, it is also the reason for the lingering numbness afterward. To reverse this effect, the goal is to increase blood flow to the area, allowing the body to flush out the medication and metabolize it more quickly.

Professional Reversal: The Most Effective Method

For those who need to return to normal sensation as quickly as possible, a professional pharmacological option is the most reliable and effective solution. The most common medication for this purpose is phentolamine mesylate, sold under the brand name OraVerse.

How it Works: OraVerse is a vasodilator, meaning it increases the diameter of blood vessels. By blocking the alpha-adrenergic effects of the vasoconstrictor, it increases blood flow to the injection site. This accelerated circulation helps your body remove the anesthetic from the tissue faster and carry it away to be metabolized.
Administration: The dentist administers OraVerse with a second injection in the same area as the original anesthetic, usually immediately after the dental procedure is completed. Because the area is already numb, patients report feeling minimal, if any, additional discomfort.
Effectiveness: Clinical trials have shown that OraVerse can cut the time to recovery of normal sensation in half, significantly reducing the duration of unwanted lip and tongue numbness.

Safe Home Remedies to Encourage Faster Recovery

If a professional reversal agent is not an option, or if you want to supplement its effects, several at-home methods can promote faster dissipation of the numbing shot. These techniques are all centered on increasing blood flow and should be performed with care to avoid injury while still numb.

Gentle Massage: Gently massaging the area around the injection site can stimulate blood flow. Use clean fingertips in slow, circular motions on your cheeks or lips. Crucially, do not massage the injection site directly or press too hard, as you may not be able to feel the pressure.
Warm Compress: Applying a warm (not hot) compress to the outside of your cheek can increase local blood circulation. Use a warm washcloth or a heating pad on a low setting. Always test the temperature on your wrist first to prevent accidental burns, since your sense of touch will be impaired.
Light Physical Activity: Engaging in gentle exercise, such as a brisk walk or light stretching, increases your overall heart rate and blood circulation. This helps flush the anesthetic out of your system more quickly. If you've had an invasive procedure, consult your dentist before exercising.
Warm Liquids: Sipping on warm beverages like tea or water can help stimulate blood flow in the mouth. Just as with the compress, ensure the liquid is warm, not hot, to avoid burning yourself.
Jaw and Tongue Movements: Lightly moving your jaw and tongue can also encourage circulation and nerve stimulation. However, take care not to chew or bite down while still numb, which could cause injury.

Comparative Guide to Numbing Shot Reversal


Method	How It Works	Effectiveness	Safety	Cost	Requires Professional?
OraVerse (Phentolamine Mesylate)	Blocks vasoconstrictors to increase local blood flow.	High (Cuts recovery time in half).	High, FDA-approved.	Varies, not always covered by insurance.	Yes
Gentle Massage	Stimulates local blood circulation.	Modest (can aid dissipation).	High (if done carefully).	Free	No
Warm Compress	Increases local blood flow.	Modest (can aid dissipation).	High (if temperature is tested).	Free	No
Light Exercise	Increases overall systemic blood circulation.	Modest (speeds overall metabolism).	High (if approved by dentist for invasive procedures).	Free	No
Warm Liquids	Stimulates blood flow in the mouth.	Modest (contributes to circulation).	High (if temperature is checked).	Low	No

Important Safety Precautions

While trying to speed up recovery, certain precautions are essential to prevent accidental harm. One of the primary risks of lingering numbness is accidental trauma to soft tissues, like your cheeks or tongue, while eating or drinking. To avoid this:

Do Not Eat While Numb: Avoid eating or chewing until normal sensation returns to prevent biting yourself.
Avoid Hot Foods and Liquids: Your impaired sense of temperature can lead to accidental burns. Stick to warm or cool, not hot, items until feeling returns.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps your body's metabolic processes.
Follow Dentist's Instructions: Always adhere to any specific post-procedure instructions from your dental professional. They have the best information regarding your particular case.

Conclusion

Waiting for a numbing shot to wear off can be inconvenient, but you don't have to simply endure it. The most direct and fastest solution is to ask your dentist about a pharmacological reversal agent like OraVerse. For a less immediate, but still helpful approach, safe home remedies that increase local and systemic blood flow—such as a warm compress, gentle massage, or light exercise—can assist the natural metabolic process. By understanding the pharmacology and following these simple, safe steps, you can help your numbing shot wear off faster and get back to your day with normal sensation.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before attempting any new treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

The quickest and most effective way to reverse dental numbness is through a professional reversal agent like OraVerse (phentolamine mesylate), which your dentist can administer immediately after the procedure.

To help your lip feel normal faster, you can gently massage the area around your mouth, apply a warm compress to your cheek, and move your jaw and tongue slightly to stimulate blood flow. Remember to avoid hot foods and drinks until sensation returns.

Yes, light physical activity, such as walking, can increase overall blood circulation. Improved blood flow helps your body metabolize and clear the anesthetic more quickly, reducing the duration of numbness.

It is safe to use a warm compress, but you must be careful. Always test the temperature on your wrist first to ensure it is not too hot. Impaired sensation means you might not feel a burn.

OraVerse is a medication containing phentolamine mesylate, a vasodilator. When injected by a dentist after a procedure, it reverses the vasoconstriction caused by the anesthetic, increasing blood flow to help flush the numbing agent out of the tissue.

Many dental anesthetics include a vasoconstrictor like epinephrine, which constricts blood vessels to keep the numbing medication localized. This prolongs the anesthetic effect, but also causes the numbness to linger for several hours after the procedure is finished.

While your mouth is numb, you should avoid eating or chewing, especially hot or hard foods, to prevent accidentally biting or burning yourself. It is also wise to refrain from vigorous exercise right after a significant procedure.