Medicines To Relieve Tooth Pain: Which One Is Better
Your tooth hurts but you cant get in to see the dentist right away. What can you do? One of the ways to find temporary relief is to use an over-the-counter pain reliever.
There are a few options that dentists recommend which are the most effective. However, there are also precautions that you need to take into account before you head to the drug store.
Does The Insurance Cover The Cost Of Dental Abscess Treatment
The dental infection therapy is usually included in the basic health insurance and the dental infection treatment cost depends on your personal insurance coverage plan.
So to know what is the amount of money you have to pay out-of-your-pocket to get the dental infection removed, you should talk to the dentist that accepts the type of dental insurance you subscribed.
Which Medicine Is Best For Mouth Infection
Some other therapies for mouth infection include:
- Topical antifungals are given for 2 weeks, which are usually effective for uncomplicated oral candidiasis or thrush.
- Systemic antifungals may be given to patients who are intolerant to topical antifungals or immunocompromised.
- Antiviral therapy should be given to patients with oral lesions of a viral origin.
- Over the counter topical anesthetics.
Some of the common mouthwash used to prevent the symptoms of mouth infection includes:
- Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash
- Perisol mouthwash
Also Check: I Ve Had A Sinus Infection For 2 Months
Take These Steps Immediately If Your Tooth Is Infected
A tooth infection or abscess can spread the surrounding bone and gum tissue, and the pain can become more severe. If you are experiencing signs of an infected tooth, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. Though treatment is necessary to resolve the issue, you can take steps to manage your pain until then.
Choosing The Right Otc Pain Reliever
To find the right pain reliever, you should first understand how they work to manage pain. But, more importantly, you need to know whether or not they are safe for you.
Here are some things to consider when choosing an OTC pain reliever:
- Health conditions: Keep in mind that taking certain pain medications with some medical conditions can cause serious problems. In addition, if you are taking any prescription medications, you need to be aware of possible drug interactions.
- Side effects: Even though these medications are available without a prescription, you should only take them for a short period of time. Thats because they can cause serious side effects.
- Read labels: Keep in mind that even though they are widely available, it is still possible to overdose. Follow the recommended dosages, and check labels to make sure youre not making multiple products containing the same medications.
- Follow a dentists guidance: Its best to call your dentist about tooth pain as soon as possible.
Read Also: African Americans Comprise 44 Of New Hiv Infections
What Should You Do If You Miss A Dose
If you miss a dose of tablets or suspension in less than 6 hours, take it immediately when you remember. Take the other doses to the scheduled time. If you miss the dose by more than 6 hours, skip the dose and take the next dose at the right time.
If you miss the dose of the Extended-release tablet, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to cover up for the missed one.
Dental Abscess Or Infection
As an alternative to antibiotics, homeopathic Hepar Sulph 30 or 200 can be taken 3 times a day. If there is no improvement in 24 hours please call your dentist. If there is steady improvement in pain and discomfort keep taking the medicine and go back after 3-5 days so your dentist can check on progress. It is important in these cases that the tooth nerve is saved so stay close to your dentist to determine the diagnosis and then you will be able to self-prescribe the correct homeopathic medicine.
Also Check: How Long Does A Yeast Infection Last Without Treatment
Also Check: Z Pack Good For Sinus Infection
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Clindamycin For A Tooth Infection
The most commonly used medication to treat tooth infections is penicillin antibiotics. But, if you are allergic to penicillin antibiotics or they dont work for you, Clindamycin can be useful.Clindamycin can fight many types of bacteria, making it effective for tooth infections that involve a collection of bacteria.
Home Remedy Mouth Abscess Treatments
Some mouth abscess treatments that can be done at home are rinsing your mouth with warm water every hour to reduce pain.
Take over-the-counter-pain killers to get temporary relief from the pain, put ice on the paining are for 15 minutes every hour or two can also subside the pain to some extent.
After the doctor has drained the pus until the next sitting, keep that area free of food particles by cleaning it thoroughly. If you have been prescribed a course of medicines, always complete the course.
Also Check: Z Pack To Treat Sinus Infection
Home Remedies To Treat A Tooth Abscess
Want to treat an abscessed tooth? Try one of these 10+ home remedies against a tooth abscess and take care of your oral hygiene!
Mainly caused by gingivitis or chipped enamel, a tooth abscess is an infection in the tooth pulp or along the tooths root canal, which can be very painful.
An abscessed tooth, or a dental abscess, develops pus inside the tooth and usually causes toothache. Bacteria, viruses, or fungi may enter the abscessed tooth and multiply, spreading the infection to the jaw and even neck and sinuses.
If not treated on time, a dental abscess may result in severe life-threatening hitches as the bacteria in the abscess can travel to nearby tissues and bones and cause an infection to the sinuses, jaw, or in severe cases, the brain.
How Long Does It Take For Antibiotics To Work For A Tooth Infection
You can start feeling the effects of antibiotics on a tooth infection in as little as a day. But just because your pain and swelling have gone away doesn’t mean your infection is entirely cured!
Your antibiotics won’t completely take care of the infection until you’ve taken them over a course of 7 to 10 days, and always for the complete amount of time your dentist has prescribed.
It’s extremely important that you take all of the antibiotics that your dentist has prescribed, exactly as prescribed. If not, you could just make bacteria resistant to the antibiotics and make your infection ultimately more difficult to treat.
Also Check: What Helps Infected Tooth Pain
Will Antibiotics Kill Tooth Infections
The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for tooth infection are: Penicillin, amoxicillin, clindamycin, azithromycin, metronidazole . You can get all of these prescribed online by a top PlushCare doctor. The antibiotics will kill the infection and reduce your pain. Book an appointment to see one of our doctors today and find out which antibiotic is best for you.
Plantago: Natural Homeopathic Medicine For Pain In Decayed Hollow Teeth
Plantago, Spigelia and Magnesium Phos: Homeopathic medicines for pain from teeth to ear or face
For the pain in teeth that extends to ear, natural Homeopathic medicine Plantago is the appropriate remedy. For the neuralgic pain in face on right side due to toothache,Homeopathic medicine Magnesium Phos is the best medicine. And to deal with nerve pain extending from teeth to left side of face, Spigelia is the ideal Homeopathic remedy.
Also Check: Best Medication For Kidney Infection
Why Antibiotics Dont Cure Tooth Infections
Oral health is vitally important to your overall health. When you are suffering from a tooth infection, you may want an easy solution, such as a course of antibiotics. However, antibiotics wont cure your tooth infection.
Oral bacterial infections cause abscesses, which are small pockets of pus and dead tissue in the mouth. Often times they look like swollen tissue or a pimple on your gums. This usually occurs near the base of the tooth where the roots are. Tooth decay due to poor oral hygiene, failing dental work, trauma or a cracked tooth are ways bacteria can infect your tooth. When bacteria enter the roots, they use your nerve tissue and blood vessels as a food source. They begin to multiply and spread, and the result is a dental infection.
At this point, most patients believe antibiotics are necessary, however, your endodontist knows differently. Due to the anatomy of the tooth, bacteria become trapped in the roots. Without proper cleaning, such as through root canal therapy, the infection will remain and potentially spread to the jaw or even the brain. A draining, cleaning, or possibly even tooth extraction is needed to fully remove a bacterial tooth infection.
Why not antibiotics? There are several reasons antibiotics alone will not cure the infection. The blood vessels that once supplied the inside of the tooth with your bodys antibacterial defenses have been destroyed. Therefore, the antibiotics cannot reach the inside of the tooth to cure your infection.
Other Pain Relief Options
You have other options for relieving tooth pain until you can see your dentist. You can use these along with or instead of OTC pain relievers.
- Avoid very cold or hot foods and drinks, as well as those that have a lot of sugar or acid .
- Floss around the affected teeth to remove any food particles that may be irritating them.
- Elevate your head while you sleep. This can relieve some pressure that may add to your pain.
- Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater.
- For some types of toothaches, you may get relief from applying clove oil.
Also Check: Can Men Get Yeast Infections From Women
What Are Some Of The Common Oral Infections
There are many types of oral infections. However, some of the most common oral infections commonly seen among various populations include:
- Canker sores: It is characterized by small white or grey sores with a red border found inside the mouth or at the base of the gum. These sores are usually noncontagious. The exact cause of canker sores is unknown. However, experts believe that it is an immune system problem and bacteria or viruses may be involved.
- Cold sores: These are fluid-filled blisters that erupt around the lips. Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type I and are contagious.
- Oral candidiasis: It is a localized fungal infection caused by the yeast, Candida albicans. It is of three types:
- Pseudomembranous/Thrush: This type is characterized by white plaques inside the mouth.
- Erythematous: A roughly symmetric red lesion in the tongue along with a burning sensation.
- Perleche or angular cheilitis: It involves inflammation and small cracks in one or both corners of the mouth.
Benefits Of Cephalexin For Oral Hygiene:
A lot of us are suffering from bacterial infection and it is totally common. There are a lot of things that you can do like going to the dentist and taking medications. But, you must try or even your doctor might suggest Cephalexin as it is an antibiotic medicine that will help in pain. It ensures that the bacteria do not form on your teeth. It will help to show symptoms before so you can even take care of it.
It belongs to the class of first-class antibiotics which includes amoxicillin and penicillin. But, some people have severe allergies so make sure that you check before use. Dentists prescribe this medicine to patients after a root canal or severe pain in the gums.
Read Also: Best Over The Counter Treatment For Penile Yeast Infection
Dental Abscess Treatment Options
Most dental abscesses will be treated immediately after diagnosis. An uncomplicated abscess will usually only require drainage to provide relief from the pain. Complicated abscesses may require more complex procedures and medications to control the underlying infection. If the infection spreads to the sinuses or neck, a surgeon may need to treat the condition.
Causticum For Recurrent Abscess On Gums
This medicine is significant to treat cases where a tendency to have recurrent abscess on the gums is there. Persons who need it complain of pain in teeth that is worse from warmth and cold. The pain may be throbbing or shooting in nature. With this they may feel teeth are loose. Dryness of the mouth is marked with above symptoms.
Read Also: What Does A Sinus Infection Smell Like
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.
Dental Infection Treatment Online
With our same-day tooth infection treatment service, you can meet with a top online doctor, get diagnosed, and receive the treatment you need. Our doctors can determine if you have a tooth infection and what kind and may also be able to prescribe antibiotics for tooth infection as part of your treatment.
A tooth infection is a dental condition when the nerve of the tooth gets infected. This is referred to as an abscess, which is a pocket of pus thatâs caused by a bacterial infection.
Note: While PlushCare does not currently have online dentists, our board-certified online doctors and primary care physicians can prescribe antibiotics for tooth infection as part of a treatment plan.
Read Also: Can You Go To The Er For A Yeast Infection
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:
- Heart problems
- Shunt
- Prosthetic joint
Staphysagria: Homeopathic Cure For Toothache When Eating Or Drinking
Natural Homeopathic medicine Staphysagria is a very effective cure when any food or drink excites the toothache just on touching the teeth. The toothache may appear either in decayed teeth or in sound teeth. Most of the times, the intake of cold drinks worsens the pain. Excessive saliva in mouth and bleeding from gums may also be noted in a few patients.
Read Also: How To Know A Tooth Is Infected
Antibiotic For Tooth Infection : Amoxicillin
Doxycycline 100 mg once daily. It is the lowest dosage of all antibiotics.
Amoxicillin 500 mg thrice daily.
Penicillin VK 300-600 mg four times/day.
Cephalexin 250-500 mg four times/day.
Erythromycin 250-500 mg four times/day.
Metronidazole 250-500 mg thrice/day.
Tetracycline 250-500 mg four times/day.
Clindamycin 150-300 mg four times/day.
Do Antibiotics Have Side Effects
Just like every other medicine, theres a possibility of experiencing side effects when you take antibiotics for tooth infections. What these may be depend on the kind of drug it is.
Make sure you discuss the possible side effects with the dentist, and you read the medicines informational leaflet. This will help you stay prepared and avoid any surprises during your treatment.
For example, diarrhea can be a common side effect of antibiotics. And that tid-bit of knowledge can be very helpful if you want to avoid any potentially embarrassing situations.
Recommended Reading: One Day Yeast Infection Cure
How Long Should I Take Antibiotics For A Tooth Infection
Typically, antibiotics for a tooth infection are prescribed for one week. Some people may be prescribed a course of antibiotics for longer than a week depending on the severity, type, and location of the infection. Always follow your doctors exact instructions when taking antibiotics.
Patients with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk for spreading of orofacial infections, so antibiotic treatment is highly recommended. Depending on your dosage you may take your antibiotics 2 to 4 times a day.
If you run out of antibiotics and still have a tooth infection, see your doctor or dentist again for follow up care and a prescription refill.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis For Dental Work
Your dentist may prescribe preventative antibiotics for certain dental services or before the treatment of your dental infection this is called antibiotic prophylaxis.
During certain dental treatments, the bacteria that reside in your mouth may enter the bloodstream, and prophylactic antibiotics can prevent infection.
You May Like: Can Sinus Infection Make Your Head Feel Weird
How Long Does It Take For An Infected Tooth To Heal
This is a very hard question to answer because it depends on the infection severity, how badly damaged the tooth is and the dental abscess treatment your dentist thinks is required.
After the draining procedure that lets the pus coming out, the cheek swelling starts to decrease as well as the pain. If you follow the doctor instructions, after two or three days, the drainage from the abscess should be minimal to none. All sores should heal in 10-14 days.
Even if the bump, the swelling and the sore disappear it doesnt mean that the periapical pathology is solved. You still need medication or surgery treatment to save your tooth or to get it removed.