Is Keflex Used For Tooth Infection

What Is The Best Antibiotic For A Toothache

A toothache caused by infection can be treated in various ways depending on the severity, location, and general health of the patient. In cases of severe infections that cant be treated by root canal or tooth extraction alone, your dentist may prescribe an antibioticusually amoxicillin, or metronidazole in the case of a penicillin allergy.

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Pain Gets Worse At Night

This happens because of the position of your body. When you lay in the bed, the blood pressure in your infected tooth increase pressing against the nerve located in the tissue pulp within the dental root canal. To relieve the pain caused by the periodontal abscess you should put a couple of pillows behind your head.

Cephalexin Vs Amoxicillin For Tooth Abscess

Dental abscess represent localized collection of pus at the tooth root apex. Dental abscesses are best managed by operative intervention such as incisional drainage, root canal, or extraction.

Antibiotics are used as supportive measure for controlling the spread of infection and preventing further complications.

Amoxicillin is considered a first-line choice for dental infections1. Amoxicillin is bactericidal, has a fairly narrow antimicrobial spectrum, but cover most bacteria responsible for dental infections.

The addition of clavulanic acid makes amoxicillin active against most beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid can be used to treat severe dental infection with spreading cellulitis or dental infection that has not responded to first-line treatment.

Cephalexin is useful in the treatment of dental infections 2. The efficacy rate is about 92%. Cephalexin perfectly penetrates alveolar bone3.

However, unlike amoxicillin it is NOT a first-line treatment for abscessed tooth. Cephalexin is most effective against streptococci and staphylococci, but this antibiotic does not cover aerobic gram-negative bacteria.

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Is Keflex Good For Helping With Tooth Infections

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Managing Multiple Episodes Of Uti:

In dogs and cats, if UTI occurs only once or twice yearly, each episode may be treated as an acute, uncomplicated UTI. If episodes occur more often, and predisposing causes of UTI cannot be identified or corrected, chronic low-dose therapy may be necessary. Low antimicrobial concentrations in the urine may interfere with fimbriae production by some pathogens and prevent their adhesion to the uroepithelium. In dogs, recurrent UTIs are due to a different strain or species of bacteria ~80% of the time therefore, antimicrobial culture and susceptibility is still indicated. Antimicrobial therapy should be started as previously described and when urine culture is negative, continued daily at the total daily dose. The antimicrobial should be administered last thing at night to ensure that the bladder contains urine with a high antimicrobial concentration for as long as possible.

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What Is Keflex And What Is It Used For

Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. They are similar to penicillin in action and side effects. They stop or slow the growth of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the cell wall that surrounds each cell. The cell wall protects bacteria from the external environment and keeps the contents of the cell together, and without a cell wall, bacteria are not able to survive. Bacteria that are susceptible to cephalexin include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli and several others. Cephalexin was approved by the FDA in January 1971.

Cephalexin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of cephalexin. Common infections that cephalexin is used for include:

Are Antibiotics An Effective Way To Prevent Infection Following Tooth Removal

What is the problem?

Teeth that are affected by decay or gum disease or painful wisdom teeth are often removed by dentists. Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that leaves a wound in the mouth that can become infected. Infection can lead to swelling, pain, development of pus, fever, as well as dry socket .

These complications are unpleasant for patients and may cause difficulty with chewing, speaking, and teeth cleaning, and may even result in days off work or study. Treatment of infection is generally simple and involves drainage of the infection from the wound and patients receiving antibiotics.

Why is this question important?

Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause infections, or by slowing their growth. However, some infections clear up by themselves. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily may stop them working effectively in future. This antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem throughout the world.

Antibiotics may also cause unwanted effects such as diarrhoea and nausea. Some patients may be allergic to antibiotics, and antibiotics may not mix well with other medicines.

Dentists frequently give patients antibiotics at the time of the extraction as a precaution in order to prevent infection occurring in the first place. This may be unnecessary and may lead to unwanted effects.

What did we want to find out?

What did we do?

What we found

Main results

How reliable are the results?

What does this mean?

How up-to-date is this review?

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Potential Side Effects Of Cephalexin

Cephalexin can be an effective way to resolve a tooth infection. But, like any medication, it can result in unwanted side effects.

Possible side effects of cephalexin may include:

While theres no need to adhere to a special diet for cephalexin, you may want to adjust your food routine if you experience stomach problems while taking this medication.

Yogurt and other probiotic-rich foods may help soothe antibiotic-related GI troubles.If youre taking cephalexin, avoid drinking alcohol.

Alcohol can increase side effects of this antibiotic medication, including nausea, drowsiness, and dizziness.

Coverage And Cost Comparison Of Cephalexin Vs Amoxicillin

Cephalexin is a prescription medication that is covered by both commercial and Medicare drug insurance plans. A typical prescription for cephalexin would be written for 28 capsules of the 500mg strength. The average cash price for this prescription without insurance can be close to $50 or higher. With a coupon from SingleCare, you can get it for as low as $9.

Amoxicillin is a prescription medication that is also covered by both commercial and Medicare drug insurance plans. The cash price for a prescription written for 21 capsules of the 500mg strength of amoxicillin is over $20, but with a coupon from SingleCare, you can get this prescription starting as low as $5.

by Adam Smith | Jul 7, 2021 | Dental Care

Medicines are one of the most important things for healing and being well. There are many medicines on the market to cure different diseases. Similarly, when we are facing tooth infection doctors recommend cephalexin for tooth infection. Toothache is highly common and anyone can face it easily. The problems like cavities and gum infections are spreading due to our food choices. So, this medicine is a great prescription around the world.

It was the most commonly prescribed by the doctor for infection in the USA. In CANADA it was ranked 5th most usable antibiotic in 2013. Its trade names are Keflex and ceporex. Before using cephalexin we should have knowledge of why we are using cephalexin for toothache or gum infection.

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How To Use Cephalexin

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually every 6 to 12 hours with or without food.

If you are using the suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose. Measure the dose carefully using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. In children, the dose is also based on weight.

For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.

Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a return of the infection.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

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Are There Any Other Precautions Or Warnings For This Medication

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Allergy: Some people who are allergic to penicillin antibiotics also experience allergic reactions to cephalosporins, including cephalexin. Before you take cephalexin, tell your doctor about any previous adverse reactions you have had to medications, especially cephalosporins and penicillins. Contact your doctor at once if you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face and throat.

Other hypersensitivity reactions involving the skin and other organs have also been reported with the use of other, similar antibiotics. Stop taking the medication and get immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, including fever, swollen glands, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or flu-like symptoms with skin rash or blistering.

Antibiotic-associated colitis: This medication, like other antibiotics, may cause a potentially dangerous condition called antibiotic-associated colitis . Symptoms include severe, watery diarrhea that may be bloody. If you notice these symptoms, stop taking cephalexin and contact your doctor as soon as possible.

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Getting The Most From Your Treatment

• If you are having an operation or any other medical treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking an antibiotic. This is because cefalexin can interfere with the results of some medical tests.
• If you are taking the contraceptive âpillâ at the same time as an antibiotic, the effectiveness of the âpillâ can be reduced if you have a bout of being sick or diarrhoea which lasts for more than 24 hours. If this should happen, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about what additional contraceptive precautions to use. There is no need to use additional precautions for any bouts of sickness or diarrhoea which last for less than 24 hours.
• Antibiotics like cefalexin can stop the oral typhoid vaccine from working properly. If you are due to have any vaccinations, please make sure the person treating you knows that you are taking this antibiotic.

Cephalexin For Tooth Infection Dosage

If you take a high dosage without the doctors permission it may cause many other problems. Like fever, skin infection, blood infection, severe stomach pain, pale color, and weakness.

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Antibiotic Therapy During Pregnancy

The physiological changes of pregnancy can affect the condition of the oral cavity such as increasing the risk of gingivitis and pyogenic granuloma . Preventive or therapeutic interventions during this period should be carried out to preserve the health of both mother and her neonate, enhance maternal oral health, and reduce childrens future oral problems . In this regard, it has been mentioned that the mothers with poor oral hygiene who have a higher number of microorganisms in their saliva, especially Streptococcus mutans, can easily transmit the infection to the infant causing several serious problems for them . It should be also noted that most of the dental procedures are not emergencies and can be postponed after delivery however, acute dental infections should be managed during pregnancy .

The drug prescription during the pregnancy should be done more cautiously, as the inappropriate prescription could irrecoverably harm the fetus. In dental practice, the main agents that are commonly used during pregnancy and are considered to be safe during this period are analgesics, anesthetic agents, and antibiotics . Food and Drug Administration has classified drugs into 5 groups based on their risk factors during pregnancy , and most of the antibiotics are classified to be in class B of FDA arrangement . Furthermore, the pregnant patients should receive a complete adult dose with the usual length of treatment .

Can I Use Cephalexin Or Amoxicillin While Pregnant Or Breastfeeding

Cephalexin and amoxicillin are considered safe during pregnancy. There is no known harm to the fetus despite the fact that both drugs cross the placenta. Cephalexin is excreted into breast milk. Breastfed infants experienced diarrhea and discomfort. Amoxicillin has also been shown to be excreted into breast milk. Incidences of diarrhea, rash, and somnolence in the breastfed infant have been reported with amoxicillin. With either drug, the benefit of treatment in the mother must be weighed against the risk of adverse events in the infant.

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How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Keflex

If you have a bacterial infection that requires an antibiotic like Keflex, following your healthcare providerâs instructions is important. Take the drug as prescribed and on schedule to ensure optimal benefits and reduce the risk of resistance.

If you have a busy home or work life, it can be easy to miss a dose. It often helps to set daily alarm reminders on your cellphone and to keep the pills on hand if you are planning to run errands or juggle appointments.

Importantly, never stop treatment early, even if you are feeling 100% better. Doing so allows antibiotic-resistant mutations to âescapeâ and multiply, making future antibiotic therapies less effective.

Try to avoid alcohol to better manage antibiotic side effects. Alcohol use with antibiotics can cause diarrhea and stomach upset. You might also consider taking a probiotic supplement, which may help lower the risk of diarrhea. If you experience severe, persistent, or worsening side effects while taking Keflex, call your healthcare provider immediately.

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How K Health Can Help

Did you know that you can get online dental prescriptions for tooth infections?

to check your symptoms using our symptom checker and text with a doctor in minutes.

K Healths board-certified, U.S.-based doctors can provide a treatment plan and, if required, a prescription to resolve your symptoms as soon as possible. Clinicians are available 24/7.

K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

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What Are The Antibiotics Used In Dentistry

There’s an assortment of antibiotics that dentists regularly prescribe to their patients for this treatment. The most common include:

The most popular is likely penicillin or amoxicillin. It’s not uncommon for some patients to need something stronger or may be allergic to those two. In that case, cephalexin or clindamycin could be prescribed. Azithromycin is helpful when a sinus infection is causing tooth pain. If there’s an infection that’s severe or in a unique location, a combination of antibiotics may be required.

Dosage For Otitis Media

Adult dosage

14 grams per day taken in divided doses. The usual dose is 250 mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be given. If you have a severe infection, your doctor may give you a larger dose.

Child dosage

14 grams per day taken in divided doses. The usual dose is 250 mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be given. If you have a severe infection, your doctor may give you a larger dose.

Child dosage

75100 mg/kg of body weight per day given in equally divided doses every 6 hours.

Child dosage

This medication hasnt been studied in children younger than 1 year for this condition.

Senior dosage

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

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When Are Antibiotics Needed

Your mouth is full of bacteria: some good, some bad. When the harmful bacteria spreads and turns into infections, antibiotics are used to stop bacteria growth. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sometimes a dentist prescribes prophylactic antibiotics before treatment to prevent typical mouth bacteria from creating infections. Those with the following conditions may require prophylaxis:

• Prosthetic joint

Can You Take Doxycycline For A Toothache

Doxycycline is part of the tetracycline class of antibiotics. It isnât typically a first-choice antibiotic rather, it is reserved for more serious infections.

Therefore, doxycycline should only be taken for a toothache if that toothache is caused by a severe infection and your dentist has prescribed it to you.

Doxycycline can also be used to help prevent the breakdown of gum tissue and help with the reduction of gum pockets in patients who have gum disease. At that dosage, however, it wonât treat bacterial infections.

Doxycycline for a tooth infection is not recommended in children under 12 because antibiotics from the tetracycline class can cause permanent tooth staining in children. Itâs also not suitable for pregnant women.

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