How To Get Antibiotics For A Tooth Infection
You can get antibiotics for a tooth infection from your dentist or doctor, although dentists are preferable due to their experience with tooth infections. Antibiotics are not available over the counter you must have a doctor’s prescription.
Depending on your condition, you may be able to get prescriptions through an online dental consultation.
If you have antibiotics leftover in your medicine cabinet from an old infection, you should not use them. To properly dispose of your antibiotics, take them to your nearest pharmacy.
What About Pain Treatment
Until the antibiotic kills all of the infection, you may need a pain reliever. The American Dental Association recommends that pain treatment start with a prescription or over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug , such as:
In some cases, an NSAID may be combined with acetaminophen .
In the past, dental pain was more often treated with prescription opioids, but the ADA notes that NSAIDs have been shown to be more effective for tooth pain. If an opioid is needed, a doctor or dentist will prescribe it at the lowest effective dose for a limited amount of time.
Antibiotic Coverage During The Endodontic Procedure
The most conventional therapy in case of dental abscess requires two different procedures. First the dentist has to drain the bump to allow the pus to come out. To do that, your doctor will puncture the boil containing the yellowish fluid and press it gently to get it all out. As soon as the pus starts to exit, you will feel immediately.
The second step has the scope to remove all the infected material from within the dental element. The clinician will use surgical instruments like files and reamers to clean and shape the root canal. At this point, antibiotics for abscess avoid that additional bacteria contaminate the surgical area.
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What To Do If Antibiotics Don’t Fix Your Tooth Abscess
The most common sign of an abscess is a severe, persistent, throbbing toothache.
List Of Types And Dosages
Although antibiotics can help clear a tooth infection, it is important to use the appropriate antibiotic in each situation.
The type of antibiotic a dentist recommends will vary depending on the bacteria causing the infection. This is because different antibiotics work in different ways to eliminate different strains of bacteria.
As a study in the Dentistry Journal notes, there are over 150 different strains of bacteria that occur in the mouth. Many of these bacteria have the potential to grow and cause an infection.
Treatment may change depending on the bacteria causing the infection, though much of the time, dentists simply recommend an antibiotic that works against many types.
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What Are The Symptoms Of A Dental Infection
Depending on the location and extent of the infection, dental infection symptoms can range from mild to severe. If you have a tooth infection, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- A lump or bulge around the infected tooth
- Throbbing or persistent pain around the infected tooth
- Throbbing or constant pain that radiates to your jaw, neck, or ear
- Pain in your face
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- A swollen mouth or face
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Tenderness or sensitivity to touch around the infected tooth
- A discolored or loose tooth
- Bad breath or a foul taste in your mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth
If a tooth infection goes untreated, bacteria can spread and infect areas of your jaw, face, head, or neck. In rare instances, your infection can develop into a serious skin infection or blood infection . Symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to body parts outside the mouth include:
- Feeling generally ill or unwell
If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention from a healthcare provider immediately.
What Other Drugs Will Affect Penicillin
Before taking penicillin V, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
methotrexate or
-
probenecid .
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with penicillin V. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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How K Health Can Help
If you think youre suffering from a tooth infection, you dont have to suffer through the painor take the risk of an infection spreading to the body. Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app?
to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a doctor in minutes. K Healths AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data.
K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.
K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
When You Dont Like The Dentist
Youre not alone in being uncomfortable with the dentist. Rather than avoid the dentist, which can severely sabotage your oral health, I suggest you try a dentist who offers dental sedation. This allows you to get a anxiety-free/pain-free experience in the dental chair. In fact, with oral conscious sedation, most patients just sleep through their appointment. It has changed many lives.
Be aware, while pain in a tooth often means a tooth infection, it can also mean you have a cracked tooth that needs to be crowned. The point is get to a dentist find out the real problem.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
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Are There Any Over
You should always see your dentist if you have a tooth infection. Your teeth are very close to your brain and a tooth infection can quickly spread to nearby areas and organs.
Antibiotics arent available without a prescription, but there are a few things you can do at home for relief before your appointment, such as:
- taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water
- avoiding hot or cold foods whenever possible
- trying to chew with the opposite side of your mouth
- brushing with a soft toothbrush around the affected tooth
How Long Does It Take For Amoxicillin To Work For A Tooth Infection
If you take the amoxicillin antibiotic for tooth infection, you may begin to feel better in just one to two days. However, that doesn’t mean that your infection is cured.
You must make sure to take your antibiotics for as many days as specified in your prescription, and even though you may feel better in a couple of days, your infection probably won’t be gone until a week to 10 days have passed.
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Antibiotics Will Not Solve A Tooth Infection
I have what I suspect is a tooth infection. Im not a big fan of dentists. I do have some antibiotics at my house that my doctor had prescribed for me in case I got sick during the quarantine. I tend to get a sinus infection about once a quarter. Can I just fill that antibiotic and deal with it that way? Its a Z-pack.
Fannie
Dear Fannie,
Im glad you wrote. Using antibiotics to treat a tooth infection is a common misconception. Dental infections work differently. Theyre considered a dental emergency. Heres why. When a tooth is infected, it doesnt take long for the pulp of the tooth to die. When that happens, there is no blood flow in the tooth. When this happens, there is no way for the antibiotic to get to the infection. The only way to solve it at that point is for a dentist to get in there and physically remove the infected tissue.
There are two ways to do this. The first is to get a root canal treatment and dental crown. This is ideal because it saves your tooth. Natural tooth structure is always best. However, if you dont get to the dentist in time, it is very likely your tooth wont be able to be saved. Instead, the tooth will have to be extracted. If this happens, youre then looking at the necessity to replace a tooth.
Deep Neck Space Infections
Deep neck space infections most commonly originate from a septic focus in mandibular molars, tonsils, parotid gland, deep cervical lymph nodes, paranasal sinuses, or mastoids. These infections occupy three important spaces embedded within different layers of the deep cervical fascia: the submandibular space , the lateral pharyngeal space , and the retropharyngeal space . Although rare in the post-antibiotic era, deep neck space infections are potentially life-threatening because of their proximity to the airway and vascular structures with potential spread into the carotid sheath, cavernous sinus, cranium, and the mediastinum .
Figure 15.
Anatomic relationships in submandibular space infections.
Figure 16.
Lateral pharyngeal space and its contents. A, cross-section B, sagittal view.
Figure 17.
Relationship of the retropharyngeal and danger spaces to various layers of the deep cervical fascia.
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How To Prevent A Tooth Abscess
Practicing excellent oral hygiene is the best way to prevent a tooth abscess and other oral conditions like cavities and gum disease.
Here are some best practices:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with an electric toothbrush. Don’t use hard-bristled toothbrushes because they can harm your gums
- Replace your toothbrush head every 3 months
- Floss every day before bed to remove food, debris, and plaque
- Use an antiseptic mouth rinse daily to help prevent plaque and bacteria buildup
- Visit your dentist for professional teeth cleanings twice a year
- Drink fluoridated water
- Eat a healthy diet and reduce sugar intake
Summary
Optimal oral hygiene is essential for dental abscess prevention.
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 children’s 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 .
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The Difference Between An Abscess And An Infection
A tooth infection can take the form of a cavity, pulpitis, or an abscess. Yes, a dental cavity is an infection. It causes the enamel, or hard surface, of the tooth to begin to break down. This can be painful, if it happens quickly, but many cavities dont cause symptoms.
If the infection extends into the middle of the tooth the pulp it causes pulpitis. This usually causes a toothache, which can be aggravated by hot and cold foods and liquids.
Finally, if the infection is not treated and continues to spread, it can form an abscess. After the infection has spread through the middle of the tooth and has nowhere else to go, it forms a pocket of pus, which is an abscess.
What Is The Best Antibiotic For Gum Infection
A gum infection left untreated can lead to all sorts of problems such as:
- Adult tooth loss
- Soft tissue damage
- Weakening of your jaw bone
Amoxicillin is the best antibiotic for a gum infection. However, if you have an allergy, other antibiotics for gum infection include erythromycin, tetracycline, or metronidazole.
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Introduction To Dental Medications
There are several types of medications that are used to manage a variety of diseases involving the oral cavity that are part of good dental care. The medications discussed in this article have pharmacological properties that are used to treat conditions such as pain, anxiety, and infections, amongst others.
It is important to always communicate all dental signs and symptoms to your dentist, so that appropriate management and choice of medications can be made.
Some Things To Take Into The Consideration Are:
*What are the signs and symptoms?
*Is it a diagnoses that a dentist sees regularly, as some conditions that he/she sees do not need antibiotics, and then some others do need to be treated under the antibiotic coverage.
The dentist might simply drain the infected area, remove the infected area of the tooth, or simply fix it by the root canal treatment. Dentists generally avoid recommending antibiotics, unless the spreading nature of the infection is severe, or if the person suffering has a weakened immune system.
Some examples explaining the need for antibiotics in tooth infections:
In case of spontaneous pain, the diagnosis is often related to the pulpal inflammation. This pulpal inflammation does not necessarily have bacteria. Hence, antibiotics are of no use in such cases.
In the other cases, where the pain is of a chronic type and the sensitivity test comes back negative, there is a possibility that the pulp is dead, and this area of necrosis has become home to some bacteria. Here, even though the bacteria is present causing the infection in the pulp area, the source of infection in most cases is the tooth itself. As the pulp is dead, there is no blood supply, hence the infection is not systemic. In such cases too, the antibiotics are of no use, as the drug cant reach systemically to the area of infection where there is no blood supply.
So then question arises: When should someone use an antibiotic?
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Facial Swelling With Infection
For children with dental infections, antibiotics from the penicillin class are the most popular choice.
Your dentist may decide that additional supplemental antibiotics such as metronidazole may be needed if the infection is caused by anaerobic bacteriabacteria that don’t require oxygen and are most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract.
Which Antibiotics Are Used For These Infections
Some tooth infections can be solved just by draining the abscess and dont need an antibiotic to continue the healing process, other cases might require a root canal treatment or the extraction of the tooth. However, in some cases an antibiotic is needed when certain conditions are present:
- If the infection is severe and treatment of the tooth alone wont solve the problem.
- If the infection has already begun to spread to other areas of the head.
- If the person has a weakened immune system.
Depending on what type of bacteria is causing your tooth infection, your dentist will prescribe a certain antibiotic. There are several types of these medications that have different mechanisms to fight off and kill bacteria.
However, the most commonly used kind of antibiotics is those of the penicillin class, for example, penicillin or amoxicillin. Another antibiotic that is used often and prescribed with penicillin is metronidazole, which would cover a broader bacterial spectrum.
Although penicillin antibiotics are very widely used as the treatment for tooth infections, a lot of people are allergic to them. So if youve had any type of allergic reaction to any medication before, its very important that you tell your dentist about it.
For those that are allergic to penicillin, the most common options are clindamycin or erythromycin.
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How Long Does Amoxicillin Take To Work On A Tooth Infection
Antibiotics work relatively quickly to resolve tooth infections and control symptoms.
If you follow your healthcare providers instructions, the effects of antibiotics should take effect within a few days.
While you wait for your antibiotics to work, your dentist may recommend you take pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage the symptoms.
Sometimes, dentists also suggest patients use a salt water mouthwash to relieve discomfort from a tooth infection.
If the antibiotic medication doesnt resolve the infection, a dentist may recommend another procedure to remove the infected tissue, such as a root canal or a tooth extraction.
Make sure to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional if youre not feeling better after a week, or if your symptoms are getting worse.
What To Do If Antibiotics Don’t Fix Your Dental Abscess
If oral antibiotics do not fix your abscess, . In some cases, you’ll make an appointment to visit your dentist in the coming days.
For others, youll need to visit an emergency dentist for treatment of the infected tooth. This is when IV antibiotics or extraction are needed.
This is also the case when you first notice the abscess. An abscess might not seem severe, but it is a serious medical condition. You can ease the pain with over-the-counter pain relief, but you must see a dentist for immediate attention.
The infection causing the abscess can spread and is potentially fatal if not treated. This is true whether you are just experiencing the first symptoms of an abscess or if youve been taking antibiotics that have not worked.
In addition to seeking emergency dental treatment, youll want to:
- Avoid hot and cold beverages
- Avoid high-sugar and high acidity foods and beverages
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever that is safe for you
- Floss between the affected teeth to prevent food particles from further aggravating the problem
- Sleep with your head elevated
- Rinse with warm salt water two to three times a day
A visit to an emergency dentist is necessary if you have an abscess and cannot see your regular dentist. An abscess can be fatal if left untreated. It is a dental emergency, even if you think you can deal with the pain.
Alternative Treatment Options
Alternative treatments and home remedies for abscesses include:
Take Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers
Summary
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