Antibiotics That Treat Tooth Infection

Antibiotic Therapy Risks And Side Effects

Before to take any medication, you should always talk to your doctor or dentist in order to avoid any unpleasant or dangerous side effect. This is an important precaution especially in case of pregnancy dental infection, while breastfeeding or in any other condition that requires you to take different drugs at the same time.

The Dosage Of Ciprofloxacin

The dosage and timing of taking medicine will vary based on the bacterial infection. Doctors check the age, kidney condition, and other underlying diseases of the patient before prescribing ciprofloxacin for tooth infection.

If the transit infection is severe, the dosage will be long-term. Based on your medical condition or response to treatment, your doctor can increase or reduce the dose.

This medicine has three types of forms-

• Tablet- 100 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg
• Extended-release tablet- 500 mg and 1000 mg
• Oral suspension- 250 mg and 500 mg

Commonly adults are given the following dosage-

• For mild to moderate infection- 250 to 500 mg orally for 7 to 14 days after every 12 hours.
• For severe infection- 500 to 750 mg orally for 7 to 14 days after every 12 hours.

This dosage is usually given to adults for bacterial infections. But dont medicate yourself this dose without consulting the doctor. Your infection can be different from normal tooth decay, which Cipro probably doesnt even heal.

So consult with the doctor, and they will examine you to dispense the right medicine.

Four Of The Best Kinds Of Antibiotic For Tooth Infection

Antibiotics just kill bacteria, right? Well, its not as simple as that. In fact, each kind of antibiotic targets a different strain of bacteria. And because there are over 150 strains of bacteria in our mouths, thats a pretty wide variety of medicine.

Its important to use the right antibiotic that targets the cause of your infection. Learn about the four most common kinds of antibiotics that can help you if you have a tooth infection below.

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How Long Can A Tooth Infection Go Untreated

Since you can’t get rid of a tooth infection without going to the dentist and home remedies can only help alleviate the pain, exactly how much time do you have before the tooth infection gets very bad? Our long island city dentists do not recommend to leave a tooth infection untreated for an extended period of time because the tooth abscess can cause severe facial swelling that may be life threatening.

Untreated tooth infections will cause facial swelling with each passing day. After two to three days, the facial swelling will be incredibly painful and may need to be drained. So, at most you only have about 2-3 days for a tooth infection to be untreated.

Here are the stages of tooth abscess.

1. It starts off as an abscess in the bone of the tooth.

2. Then a small pimple forms on the gums, which we call a parulis or a gum boil.

3. If the pimple on the gums is left untreated, your face may start swelling.

Symptoms of a tooth abscess

The symptoms of a tooth abscess are easy to recognize because it will show up as a pimple on your gums or your face will swell up. Whether or not you can use a home remedy for the tooth infection will depend on which stage it is at.

Gum boil

How to drain a gum boil:

Facial swelling from a tooth infection

Take away

What Happens If You Dont Treat Your Tooth Infection

Dental infections were once a common cause of death. Modern advancements in dentistry, improvements in oral health , and antibiotics have considerably improved the outlook for tooth infection patients.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has a tooth infection, seek dental care immediately. Most tooth infections do not resolve on their own and require medical intervention to treat properly.

Even if your abscess ruptures on its own, it may not empty completely, leaving bacteria to potentially develop into serious, sometimes life-threatening infections in other parts of your body. If your infection does resolve on its own, it is likely to recur unless the underlying gum or tooth disease is treated by your dentist.

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What Is A Periodontal Abscess

periodontal abscessabscessabscessdraindisappear withoutabscessesdrainedOutpatient recommendations are as follows:

• Clindamycin 300-450 mg PO q8h for 5-7d or.
• Cephalexin 250-500 mg PO q6h for 5-7d or.
• Dicloxacillin 250-500 mg PO q6h for 5-7d or.
• Doxycycline 100 mg PO q12h for 5-7d or.
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole DS 1-2 tablets PO q12h for 5-7d.

What Are The Best Antibiotics For A Tooth Infection

A tooth infection can be caused by any number of different types of bacteria. The best antibiotic will be tailored for the type of bacteria causing the infection. Side effects, however, are an important consideration when a dentist or healthcare provider prescribes an antibiotic. One in 15 people are allergic to one or more types of antibiotics, and allergic reactions to antibiotics could be life-threatening.

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Antibiotics For Tooth Abscess Complication

A deep neck infection is a dangerous complication of tooth infection when it spreads into the space between neck muscles. An abscess forms inside the neck. The abscess may swell and block breathing or swallowing.

Deep neck infections are treated in the hospital with an intravenous antibiotic along with opening the space in the neck to drain the abscess. For this type of infection, the best antibiotic may be amoxicillin with clavulanate through an IV.

The antibiotic for a deep neck infection may change if a lab culture shows that bacteria are more sensitive to another antibiotic .

Treatments For A Dental Abscess

Dental abscesses are treated by removing the source of the infection and draining away the pus.

Depending on the location of the abscess and how severe the infection is, possible treatments include:

• root canal treatment a procedure to remove the abscess from the root of an affected tooth before filling and sealing it
• removing the affected tooth this may be necessary if root canal treatment is not possible
• incision and drainage where a small cut is made in the gum to drain the abscess

Local anaesthetic will usually be used to numb your mouth for these procedures.

More extensive operations may be carried out under general anaesthetic, where you’re asleep.

Antibiotics are not routinely prescribed for dental abscesses, but may be used if the infection spreads or is particularly severe.

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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.

So What Can I Do To Prevent The Need For Antibiotics

If you imagine, youve got a tooth that has a hole in it. Its slowly being eaten away by some decay, but because its not giving you any pain, youve left it and left it. Eventually, the decay will reach the nerve of your tooth, which supplies your tooth with blood, causes sensitivity, and is what we remove when we do a root canal. Now, imagine that nerve becoming inflamed because of the decay thats now reached it, and because it tries to get you out of pain itself, an abscess forms at the base of your tooth root. Now, this abscess is getting bigger and bigger, its starting to hurt, and its letting you know its there because of the great, big facial swelling thats appeared around your jaw.

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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.

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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Can Antibiotics Be Used To Treat A Tooth Infection

Penicillin-class antibiotics, such as penicillin and amoxicillin, are most typically used to treat tooth infections. For some forms of bacterial infections, an antibiotic called metronidazole may be prescribed. It is sometimes used with penicillin to treat a wider range of bacterial species. Finally, a combination of metronidazole and vancomycin can be used to treat certain types of infectious disease.

Antibiotics kill bacteria, which means they can also kill the good bacteria in your body. Overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of drug-resistant bacteria, which are harder for doctors to treat. However, by using antibiotics properly, they can still be an effective treatment option for tooth infections.

You should not use antibiotics for viral infections , because these drugs will not help you recover faster and could even make your symptoms worse. Antibiotics do not work on viruses but rather on bacteria, so they cannot be used to treat virus-related illnesses or injuries. Some examples of virus-related conditions include gingivitis and canker sores .

Some people are allergic to certain antibiotics. If you experience any symptoms after taking antibiotics, stop taking them and see your doctor immediately. Your doctor may be able to suggest another medication or treatment plan if allergies are the cause of your symptoms.

How Much Should I Take

Youll likely be prescribed a seven-day course of clindamycin for a tooth infection. On each of those seven days, youll likely need to take a dose every six hours or so.

There may be one or two capsules in a dose. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions provided with your prescription.

You can take clindamycin either before or after eating. Some people experience throat irritation when taking clindamycin, but following the dose with a full glass of water can help you avoid this.

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Home Remedies For A Tooth Infection

Home remedies may not be able to get rid of a tooth infection but it can at least temporarily offer pain relief from the toothache. Having options to alleviate tooth pain is especially important if you are not able to get an appointment with your dentist. The home remedies can prevent the tooth infection from spreading further or slow down the infection.

Get Antibiotics For Tooth 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 thats 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.

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Important Information About All Medicines

Deterrence And Patient Education

Patients should receive counseling on proper dental hygiene to prevent dental infections. Educating patients and the public on the importance of daily toothbrushing, flossing, and reduction of sugar-containing foods can reduce dental cavities. A dentist should assess patients that are experiencing dentalgia.

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Using Antibiotics To Treat A Dental Abscess

When are Antibiotics Needed for a Dental Abscess?

Doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat dental abscesses that are causing pain symptoms or swelling. The goal is to get rid of the infection.

If it is only affecting the immediate area of the tooth, you might not need antibiotics. However, antibiotics are necessary if there is any risk of it spreading beyond the affected tooth. Or if you have a weakened immune system for any reason.

Your dentist will also cut and drain the abscess. Then theyll wash it with saline, an antibacterial agent. A root canal can remove the diseased pulp from within the tooth and save it. Sometimes, you need a tooth extraction if it is unsalvageable.

Summary

Antibiotics are only necessary if the abscess is causing pain/swelling or if there is a risk of it spreading.

Which Antibiotics Work Best For a Tooth Infection?

The most effective antibiotic for a tooth infection varies. People are different and react differently to medications.

However, Amoxicillin is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for tooth abscesses and infections. It also relieves pain.

Penicillin is an option, but many people are allergic to it. A doctor might prescribe clindamycin for someone allergic to penicillin. Other antibiotics prescribed to people with tooth abscesses include:

• Ampicillin and sulbactam

How Long to Take Antibiotics for an Abscess

The course of treatment for most antibiotics is 10 to 14 days.

Summary

Which Antibiotics To Buy

Not all antibiotics are effective against all bacteria, and sometimes you might not even need antibiotics at all for your tooth infection. Thats why you should always consult a professional, before taking any antibiotics. After the examination, your dentist will know if you need antibiotics, according to the severity of the infection and recommend the type of antibiotics, depending on what bacteria is causing the infection. Only antibiotics you should buy, for your dental or any other issues, are ones your dental or other health professionals recommended. Never take antibiotics without a professional opinion. Taking unprescribed antibiotics can cause more harm than good. Antibiotics do have some possible side effects, depending on the type of antibiotic. You might even be allergic to some of them. This practice of taking unprescribed antibiotics also contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria develop resistance to a certain class of antibiotics, or even several classes, making infections, caused by those bacteria, very tough to treat. So please, never take antibiotics if not prescribed by a medical professional and always follow your healthcare providers instructions.

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Who Gets Tooth Infections

Youre more likely to develop tooth infections if you:

• Smoke: Smokers are about twice as likely to get tooth infections as nonsmokers.
• Have dry mouth: Bacteria thrive in a mouth with a low amount of saliva.
• Have poor dental hygiene: Regularly brushing, flossing and getting dental cleanings reduces bacteria.
• Have a weakened immune system: Diseases or medications can lower your immune response, making it harder to fight off germs.

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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