Is Clindamycin A Good Antibiotic For Tooth Infection

Do I Need An Antibiotic

The teams at Pew, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Utah and elsewhere chose ear infections, sore throats and sinus infections because they generate 44 million antibiotic prescriptions a year.

Its only appropriate sometimes to prescribe antibiotics for these conditions. Strep throat is easily treated with antibiotics, and if a child with a middle ear infection has pus oozing out, a pediatrician will usually give an antibiotic. Sinus infections that linger may be helped with antibiotics.

But more sore throats and ear infections are caused by viruses, and an antibiotic will do nothing to help the patient. Sinus infections can sometimes involve bacteria but often are caused by viruses or fungi.

When an antibiotic is called for, it should be a basic one usually amoxicillin, the Pew team said. Thats not what people usually get, however.

The most commonly prescribed non-first-line antibiotics for sinus infections, middle ear infections and pharyngitis were macrolides , a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics frequently prescribed in outpatient settings, the Pew team wrote in their report.

However, macrolides are not recommended for sinus or middle ear infections and are recommended for pharyngitis only for patients with an allergy to the penicillin class of antibiotics.

Why would doctors prescribe the wrong drug?

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What Are The Disadvantages Of Ototopical Antibiotics

Ototopical antibiotics have a few disadvantages as well, which include the following:

Difficulty in delivery

Direct delivery at the infection site may be difficult or impossible sometimes. The medication may fail to reach the infected area in the middle ear if the ear canal is blocked due to:

• Excessive and hardened earwax
• Block in the ear tubes inserted for fluid drainage from the middle ear
• Swollen or overgrown tissue

Steps must be first taken to clear the blocks before antibiotic administration. Irrigating the ear canal can easily clear a block caused by earwax and other secretions, but an ear tube block and granulation each may require some procedure and other medications.

Ototoxicity

Ototoxicity is toxicity to the ear from local administration. Ototoxicity can irritate and inflame the mucus membranes of the middle ear. If the antibiotic enters the inner ear, it may lead to:

• Sensitivity reaction

Ototopical antibiotics can cause allergic reactions. Low-grade sensitivity reactions may cause persistent drainage that may be impossible to distinguish from drainage due to infection, making treatment difficult. Some people may also develop cross-sensitivity to related antibiotics.

Absence of systemic effect

• Oral antibiotics for infections of the middle ear , and severe infections of the outer ear

Home remedies to relieve symptoms include:

• Warm compresses applied to the area to help soothe pain
• Over-the-counter pain eardrops

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.

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What If They Dont Work

Antibiotics are there to help with the problem, but they are not a solution. Even if antibiotics work and infection dies down, you will still have the tooth thats causing the issue and it will need dental work, to stop it from happening again. You might need a dental filling, root canal or even a tooth extraction, depending on the severity of the damage to the tooth. Best practice to stop dental infection is good oral hygiene and regular dentist check-ups. It is much easier to treat a cavity than tooth abscess.

Who Gets An Ear Infection

At the highest risk for ear infections include those children who:

• Have a strong family history of otitis media
• Were not breastfed during the first 12 months of life and/or
• Reside in a smoking household.

Children with a cleft palate or HIV have particularly severe problems with recurrent ear infections.

Age affects the rate of acute otitis media, with a dramatic decline in frequency in children older than three years. However, some children with a history of ventilating tubes or frequent recurrent otitis media, severe allergies, or large adenoids may still be plagued with ear problems.

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Analysis Of Clinical Significance

The NNT was 29 and it ranged between 12 and -57. This means that between 12 and infinity patients would need to be treated with oral clindamycin to prevent a single case of infection after third molars extraction. These results indicated that oral clindamycin may be ineffective in preventing infections following third molar extraction.

Can Clindamycin Cause Any Side Effects

Taking Clindamycin for tooth infection can cause many side effects, such as:

• reduced appetite

A simple, bland diet while taking Clindamycin can help prevent or minimize nausea or vomiting. Spicy or rich foods can upset the stomach, so its better to avoid them. Probiotics can help with the growth of good gut bacteria and reduce the side effects.If you have persistent watery diarrhea while youre taking Clindamycin, ask your doctor before you continue with the treatment. Sometimes Clindamycin can make you more vulnerable to infection with Clostridium difficile.C. diff occurs when the balance of your gut bacteria is disturbed. This can occur while youre taking antibiotics. The bacteria can outgrow and cause severe infection.Here are the symptoms of C. diff:

• frequent watery diarrhea with blood or pus
• low-grade fever
• reduced appetite

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How To Take Clindamycin

• Before you start taking clindamycin, read the manufacturer’s printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The manufacturer’s leaflet will give you more information about the medicine and a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.
• Take clindamycin exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose for adults is 150-300 mg four times daily, but the dose may be less than this if it is prescribed for a child. Your doctor will tell you what dose is right for you , and this information will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you.
• Swallow the capsules with a full glass of water. This is so the capsules do not become lodged in your throat and cause irritation. Do not open the capsules.
• Try to space out your doses evenly throughout the day – so ideally, take a dose every six hours. You can take clindamycin before or after meals.
• If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember. Try to take the correct number of doses each day, but do not take two doses at the same time to make up for any that have been missed.
• Even if you feel your infection has cleared up, keep taking the antibiotic until the course is finished . This is to prevent the infection from coming back. A course of treatment usually lasts for a week or so, although it will be for longer than this if you are taking clindamycin for a bone infection. If you still feel unwell after finishing the course of treatment, go back to see your doctor.

What Is A Tooth Infection

Tooth infection, also known as tooth abscess, happens thanks to a combination of tooth decay and poor dental hygiene. If you dont brush your teeth every day, the bacteria in your mouth eat away at your enamel, raising the risk of a tooth infection.

However, in some cases, you can also get a tooth infection from dental work or an injury.

Tooth infections are extremely common. Some studies found that 91% of the adult population of the United States has or has had cavities and tooth infections.

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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.

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.

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Clindamycin For Tooth Infection

Treating Tooth Infection with Clindamycin

To begin with, we would know about the working of the antibiotic, its recommended dosage, possible side effects, and precautions to follow before using the medication.

WorkingOne of the basic necessities of pathogens such as bacteria to grow and multiply in the host is their ability to make certain proteins known as ribosomes. So what clindamycin does is, it keeps the bacteria from making such proteins. So, as the treatment continues, the drug causes a total shut down of the multiplication of the pathogens. Thus getting rid of the infection completely.

Recommended DosageThe drug is usually recommended in the form of capsules or injections. So for each of these types, the dosage of clindamycin may vary.

For Capsules:

One important fact regarding the dosage of this antibiotic is that, it may vary from person to person depending upon certain factors. These may include:

• The severity of the infection
• Response of the body to the medication
• The type of clindamycin that is being used
• If the patient is already on some other kind of medications
• If the patient is suffering from other medical conditions

To conclude with a disclaimer, it is important to know that the information presented in the above article is solely meant for educational purpose. And in no way, the data means to substitute a dentists recommendations or advice. Take care!

What Is The Best Antibiotic For Tooth Infection Treatment

In many cases, antibiotics from the penicillin class, including penicillin and amoxicillin, are the best antibiotics for tooth infection. But that doesn’t mean these are the right choices for everyone! In fact, antibiotics may not be what you need even If you have a tooth infection.

You should never take an antibiotic without a prescription from your dentist or doctor. Many people take antibiotics without a prescription, and this is leading to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

That means that some bacterial infections can no longer be treated with antibiotics which is a scary thought!

Instead of antibiotics, your dentist may decide that the best course of action is to drain your abscess, perform a root canal, or possibly remove the infected tooth.

That being said, you are more likely to receive antibiotics for a tooth infection when your infection is severe and spreading or if you are an individual with a weakened immune system.

The best antibiotic for a tooth infection will depend on the type of bacteria that is causing your infection and the location of your infection. That’s because different classes of antibiotics work in different ways to fight bacteria.

This is one of the reasons why it’s essential to take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed by your dentist until you’ve finished your prescribed course of treatment. Your dentist or doctor will know which is the best drug to take for your infection based on your medical history and the type of infection.

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How To Prevent Kidney Infection

Some changes in your lifestyle may prevent or reduce the possibility of kidney infection, including:

• Always drink plenty of water.
• Do not store the urine for a long time. Urinate immediately whenever you feel the urge.
• Use lubricated condoms instead of spermicidal ones.
• Maintain proper hygiene of your genital area after urinating and a bowel movement.

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Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection

• Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache that can radiate to the jawbone, neck, or ear
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting
• Swelling in your face or cheek
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
• A sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth and pain relief if the abscess ruptures
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

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Can I Treat A Uti Without Antibiotics

UTI treatment without antibiotics is NOT usually recommended. An early UTI, such as a bladder infection , can worsen over time, leading to a more severe kidney infection . However, a small study has suggested early, mild UTIs might clear up on their own. Its always best to check with your doctor if you are having UTI symptoms.

Pregnant women should always see a doctor as soon as possible if they suspect they might have a UTI, as this can lead to a greater risk of delivering a low birth weight or premature infant.

How Can An Ear Infection Be Prevented

The simplest preventive measures include the following:

• Breastfeed an infant during the first 12 months of life
• For bottle-fed infants, never prop the bottle and wean off the bottle by 12 months
• Do not smoke around the baby, particularly in the household or the car
• Do not smoke during pregnancy
• Consider a private sitter or a smaller daycare, instead of a high volume daycare
• Avoid the introduction of solid foods in the first four months of life
• Administer the flu vaccine annually after six months of age
• Consider allergen avoidance and allergy shots in older children with chronic fluid
• Administer Prevnar vaccine to infants less than 24 months of age

More controversial preventive measures include the following:

• Avoid the pacifier
• Give the pneumococcal vaccine to infants and children older than 24 months who are unvaccinated with Prevnar and still getting recurrent ear infections

Ineffective measures include the following:

• Covering a childs head with a hat during the winter
• Using decongestants and antihistamines to prevent ear infections
• Chiropractic manipulation

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What To Do If You Have A Tooth Infection

If you suspect that you have a tooth infection, see a dentist immediately. Theyll be able to assess the damage and suggest appropriate treatment for it.

Sometimes, the dentist wont recommend medication. Instead, theyll drain or remove the infected area, extract the tooth, or perform a root canal.

However, if the infection is severe or spreading, the only way to treat the tooth infection is with antibiotics.

Getting The Most From Your Treatment

• Remember to keep any routine appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be monitored. If you are taking clindamycin for more than 10 days, your doctor will want you to have some blood tests to check that your kidneys and liver are working well.
• Some people develop thrush after taking a course of antibiotics. If you think you have thrush, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
• This antibiotic may stop the oral typhoid vaccine from working. If you are due to have any vaccinations, make sure the person treating you knows that you are taking this medicine.

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The Effects Of Antibiotics On Toothache Caused By Inflammation Or Infection At The Root Of The Tooth In Adults

This Cochrane Review has been produced to assess the effects of antibiotics on the pain and swelling experienced by adults in two conditions commonly responsible for causing dental pain. The review set out to assess the effects of taking antibiotics when provided with, or without, dental treatment.

Background

Dental pain is a common problem and can arise when the nerve within a tooth dies due to progressing decay or injury. Without treatment, bacteria can infect the dead tooth and cause a dental abscess, which can lead to swelling and spreading infection, which can occasionally be life threatening.

The recommended treatment for these forms of toothache is removal of the dead nerve and associated bacteria. This is usually done by extraction of the tooth or root canal treatment . Antibiotics are only recommended when there is severe infection that has spread from the tooth into the surrounding tissues. However, some dentists still routinely prescribe oral antibiotics to patients with acute dental conditions who have no signs of spreading infection, or without dental treatment to remove the infected material.

Study characteristics

Key results

One trial reported side effects among participants: one person who received the placebo medication had diarrhoea and one person who received antibiotics experienced tiredness and reduced energy after their treatment.

Quality of evidence

What Is Acute Otitis Media

Acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, generally caused by bacteria. In acute otitis media , pus and infected fluid accumulate in the middle ear space.

The tympanic membrane appears inflamed, reddened, and often protrudes outward. Usually, an ear infection begins after the eustachian tube has become swollen, congested, and closed, most commonly resulting from an ongoing viral respiratory infection.

Acute otitis media should not be confused with: 1) external otitis -a painful bacterial infection of the superficial skin of the ear canal, or 2) otitis media with effusion -an accumulation of non-inflamed fluid behind the eardrum. Otitis media with effusion is not considered infected, and most doctors do not treat it with antibiotics. This uninfected fluid in the middle ear is a remnant in 50% to 60% of resolved ear infections. It is frequently a mild complication of colds, respiratory illnesses, or nasal allergies.

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