What Antibiotic Is Used For Toothache

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.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Patients with a dental abscess usually present with oral cavity pain, fever and difficulty chewing. Healthcare workers outside the dental profession including nurse practitioners should promptly refer these patients to an oral surgeon. Besides antibiotics, most patients also require an initial drainage procedure, to be followed for a formal dental procedure at a later date. For those patients who seek care promptly, the prognosis is good. But any delay in treatment can lead to worsening of the problem and even loss of the tooth.

When Do Dentists Still Use Antibiotics For Tooth Pain

There are some circumstances when antibiotics for toothaches are not only effective but necessary. Of course, these depend on individual circumstances, but they can include:

• Fever and acute, painful teeth or gum infections that cause considerable swelling of the nearby area .
• Acute, painful infections and tissue swelling around an impacted wisdom tooth, particularly when associated with severe pain and the impairment of normal jaw functioning.
• Post-operative secondary infections following surgical procedures including the extraction of teeth. These dont automatically put you at risk of infection, but in a small number of patients, altered healing can lead to an infection of the vulnerable site.
• Tooth or gum infections that have progressed to the stage where theyve caused facial cellulitis, which is a swelling of the neck, face and eye area, which sometimes even obstructs the airways. This type of antibiotic treatment would require an immediate referral to an emergency department!

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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.

What Should I Watch For While Using This Medicine

Tell your doctor or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve.

Do not treat diarrhea with over the counter products. Contact your doctor if you have diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days or if it is severe and watery.

Do not take this medicine just before going to bed. It may not dissolve properly when you lay down and can cause pain in your throat. Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine to also help reduce irritation in your throat.

This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.

Birth control pills may not work properly while you are taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor about using an extra method of birth control.

If you are being treated for a sexually transmitted infection, avoid sexual contact until you have finished your treatment. Your sexual partner may also need treatment.

Avoid antacids, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and iron products for 4 hours before and 2 hours after taking a dose of this medicine.

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Antibiotic Use In Dentistry

There are many circumstances during dental treatment where antibiotics are prescribed by dentists to prevent further infection . The most common antibiotic prescribed by dental practitioners is penicillin in the form of amoxicillin, however many patients are hypersensitive to this particular antibiotic. Therefore, in the cases of allergies, erythromycin is used instead.

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What Side Effects May I Notice From Receiving This Medicine

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• difficulty breathing
• itching in the rectal or genital area
• pain on swallowing
• rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• severe stomach pain or cramps
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusually weak or tired
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention :

• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• nausea, vomiting

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Dentist Group Says Antibiotics Not Needed For Most Toothaches

By Lisa Rapaport

4 Min Read

– In most cases, adults dont need to take antibiotics for a toothache, according to new guidelines from the American Dental Association .

Even though patients with toothaches are often prescribed antibiotics to help ease symptoms and prevent worsening of the problem, healthy adults should generally have dental treatment instead of antibiotics, according to the ADA guidance published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Antibiotics should not be used until an infection progresses enough that it can no longer be treated with only dental treatment like a nonsurgical root canal, said Peter Lockhart, chair of the ADA expert panel that developed the guidelines and a research professor at Carolinas Medical Center – Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. Signs and symptoms of this progression include fever, swollen lymph nodes, facial swelling and extreme tiredness.

These recommendations apply to healthy adults, and are not intended to stop antibiotic use altogether, according to the ADA guidelines. The intent is to minimize overuse and the rise of more antibiotic-resistant infections by limiting antibiotic use to cases when these drugs are absolutely necessary.

Dental pain and swelling are the most common reason that patients go to the emergency room or doctors office for oral health problems, according to the ADA. Patients may have occasional sharp pain and a fever, or they might experience constant dull or severe pain.

Advice And Coping Strategies

Advice and support on ways to deal with their pain were requested and/or provided based on the social media users previous experience of dental pain . Techniques that people used to help cope with the pain included a day in the sauna, cuddle a cat, get drunk and sleep. The importance of attending the dentist as soon as possible was highlighted in nearly half of all posts.

Advice and coping strategies theme and subthemes together with illustrative quotes.

go to a dentist if you can. You shouldnt really self-administer antibiotics

Knowledge about the potential worsening of symptoms if professional treatment was not sought was frequently shared. There were also shared anecdotes warning about the risks of allowing symptoms to continue without treatment.

Dont eff around with your teeth friends. Get it taking care of immediately.

I never knew how serious the outcome could be

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What Causes A Toothache

Injury or trauma to the tooth or area usually cause toothaches. Injury is commonly a result of tooth decay . People usually feel cavities when they get larger and deeper into the layers of tooth structure. Enamel is the hard, outer layer of tooth, and dentin is the softer layer beneath the enamel. Dentin is the tooth’s sensitive layer with tiny microscopic tubes that originate from the very center of the tooth. The pulp chamber contains the pulp. The pulp is comprised of blood vessels and nerves. If decay gets past enamel into the dentin, the cavity can sometimes cause discomfort. A deeper cavity that approaches the center of the tooth will likely cause pain since there is more damage to the tooth and there is less tooth structure to insulate and protect the pulp. Localized infection between the gum and tooth can cause toothache. A traumatic physical blow to a tooth can induce a sore tooth, as well.

Other causes of toothache include the following:

Can You Get Antibiotics For Tooth Infection Over The Counter

No, you cannot get antibiotics for tooth infection over the counter. In order to get antibiotics to help treat a tooth infection, you will need to receive a prescription from a licensed doctor.

PlushCare can help you get antibiotics for tooth infection. You can book a convenient virtual appointment with one of our expert online doctors and discuss your symptoms. If the physician determines that you need antibiotics to treat your tooth infection, a prescription will then be electronically sent for you to pick up at a nearby pharmacy of your choice.

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Antibiotic Regimen With Precaution

Antibiotic therapy is mandatory and essential in medicine and dentistry. Penicillin is the drug of choice in treating dental infections. Patients at high risk include those with infective endocarditis, immunocompromised conditions and dental procedures which may produce bacteremias. Invasive dental procedures if performed in such patients should be preceded with an antibiotic prophylaxis. Consultation with the physicians and specialists is required before any dental treatment is carried out in organ transplant and pregnant patients. Special caution needs to be addressed to the above patients to determine the best outcome of dental procedure and to provide the required dose adjustments and thereby preventing the complications in the dental clinic. And hence it is clear that apart from invasive dental procedures in high risk patients not all dental procedures require the need for antibiotic prophylaxis. Recommendations on antibiotic prescribing are essential to prevent overprescribing of antibiotic. The prescription of antibiotics should be considered adjunctive to the dental treatment.

Treatment For Dental Infections

Although The Online Clinic is happy to provide emergency treatment for dental infections and abscesses, it is essential that you make an appointment with your dentist so that the actual cause of the problem can be identified and resolved. It is not wise to continue treating the symptoms with antibiotics on a long term basis, as this can make the situation worse by failing to treat the cause.

Serious complications can occur if a dental abscess is not properly treated. We cannot emphasise strongly enough that it is essential that you see a dentist.

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Will A Tooth Infection Go Away On Its Own

A tooth infection will not go away on its own. Your toothache may stop if an infection causes the pulp inside your tooth to die. The pain stops because the nerve isnt functioning anymore, so you may not be able to feel it. However, the bacteria will continue to spread and destroy surrounding tissue. If you have tooth infection symptoms, see your dentist even if you no longer have pain.

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What Are Some Recommended Antibiotics For A Tooth Infection

The type of antibiotic youll need depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection. Different classes of antibiotics have different ways of attacking bacteria. Your dentist will want to choose an antibiotic that can effectively eliminate your infection. Antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin are most commonly used to help treat tooth infections. If youre allergic to penicillin be sure to tell your dentist. Erythromycin is an alternative to penicillin and can be prescribed in its place. Information about dosage and how to take the medication will be given to you by your local pharmacist however youll typically need to take antibiotics for about a week.

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Is It Possible To Prevent A Toothache

Conscientious efforts to practice good oral hygiene go a long way in preventing dental problems. Toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and use of dental floss are essential to good dental care at home. Furthermore, regular maintenance visits with a dentist can serve to keep things in check. Small cavities can be found before turning into larger cavities or an abscessed tooth. Gum problems, including periodontal abscess, can be addressed before advancing to a more diseased state.

To keep teeth strong, avoid the habit of chewing on ice or very hard foods that can cause tooth fractures. Using our teeth as a tool to open a bag of potato chips or cracking open a nutshell increase the chances of a tooth fracture as well. Minimize high sugar content foods or beverages to decrease the risk of dental decay. Be mindful of acidity in beverages as this can be a source of sensitivity and cavities for teeth.

Can You Take Doxycycline For A Toothache

Doxycycline is part of the tetracycline class of antibiotics. It isn’t 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 won’t 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. It’s also not suitable for pregnant women.

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Antibiotics For Tooth Pain: When Are They Needed

The most common cause of toothache or tooth pain is an infected tooth. The pulp of the tooth is found at the inner portion of a tooth, protected by the hard bony outer layers . The pulp contains the soft connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. When the enamel is damaged because of cavities, or a broken tooth, bacteria can enter into the pulp. This can lead to heat, cold, or pressure causing intense pain. Once the pulp gets infected, the pain can become constant and can even spread to the whole side of the face or cause headaches.

How This Medicine Should Be Used

The suspension and tablet are generally prescribed to use twice a day. You should take Extended-release tablets once a day. Note the time you have taken medicine the first day and try to take it simultaneously every day throughout the dosage.

Follow the directions carefully written on the prescription label.

Dairy products or calcium-fortified juices decrease the effectiveness of Ciprofloxacin. So dont take the Cipro pills or suspension with dairy products.

Do not split, crush or chew the tablets just swallow them whole with water. While taking the suspension, shake the bottle for at least 10 seconds before use. Sallow the correct dose every time. Dont take more, nor less.

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What to do if you feel worse after visiting us:

Contact us or call 111 if any of the following occur:

• If you develop a fever over 102F

• You develop redness and swelling of your face, jaw or neck

• If you are unable to open your mouth

• You have severe pain uncontrolled by pain medicine

• You have difficulty swallowing

If you do have any problems at present that you know need addressing, please call us today. It might save you from needing antibiotics!

Read more about antibiotics on the NHS website

For an emergency appointment with us,

What Causes Dental Abscesses

Your mouth is full of bacteria, which form a sticky film on your teeth called plaque.

If you do not keep your teeth clean, acids produced by the bacteria in plaque can damage your teeth and gums, leading to tooth decay or gum disease.

The following can increase your chances of developing a dental abscess:

• poor oral hygiene plaque can build-up on your teeth if you do not floss and brush your teeth regularly
• consuming lots of sugary or starchy food and drink these can encourage the growth of bacteria in plaque and may lead to decay that can result in an abscess
• an injury or previous surgery to your teeth or gums bacteria can get into any damaged parts of the teeth or gums
• having a weakened immune system this includes people with certain underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, and those having treatment, including steroid medication or chemotherapy

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