Does it surprise you to hear that there are millions of tiny bacteria living inside our mouths? It’s true though. While some bacteria are beneficial to us, there are of course some stubborn bacteria that can harm us whenever they get the opportunity. The harmful bacteria will cause infections damaging to our tooth structure. Before it’s too late, anyone with a dental infection should seek the help of a dental team to prevent the consequences.
While there are a lot of options available to treat a tooth infection, you might have heard of the importance of using antibiotics in such situations. However, the decision to prescribe antibiotics on a patient is an ongoing struggle for dentists. So, they always to analyze and critically evaluate the signs and symptoms if a patient before prescribing antibiotics since over usage of antibiotics cause serious problems. It puts patients at risk for allergic reactions, bacterial resistance, and gastrointestinal related issues. A choice to use an antibiotic is really a decision that starts with a proper diagnosis by your dentist after a thorough examination of the patient. While some presentations could benefit from antibiotics, some of them don’t need antibiotics at all.
What are the signs and symptoms of a dental infection?
- Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet food and beverages
- Pain on biting
- Night pain which wakens you up from sleep
- Redness and swelling of the gums in relation to a tooth
- Pus discharging lump on the gum
If you see one or several of these symptoms, it’s better to meet your dentist soon. He will provide you with multiple treatment options after arriving at a proper diagnosis.
What are the treatment options available for a tooth infection?
- Draining the abscess to remove the pus.
- Filling of a decayed tooth after removing all the infected tissues in the tooth.
- Root canal treatment if the infection has spread up to the pulp; the innermost layer of the tooth which is the home for the nerves.
- Removal of the tooth if any other option isn’t going to work out.
When your dentist feels treating the tooth alone will not resolve the condition, he or she might prescribe you some antibiotics.
So, let’s talk about some common antibiotics and their dosage!
- Amoxicillin 500mg every eight hours
- Augmentin 625mg every eight hours
- Clindamycin 300 mg or 600 mg every eight hours
- Metronidazole 500-750mg every eight hours
- Erythromycin 300mg every eight hours or 500mg every 12 hours
While there’s not a best antibiotic for a specific dental infection, we should keep in mind that different antibiotics have different mechanisms of action. Your dentist may suggest the best antibiotic for you depending on several factors such as the severity of the disease, the extent of the infection, and patient factors like allergies to certain drugs.
What should you inform your dentist before taking any antibiotics?
Antibiotics have both pros and cons. The major drawbacks of antibiotics are,
- They can be allergic to some people. So, you should inform the dentist about the known allergies for drugs beforehand and should be prepared to face any allergy when you try an antibiotic for the first time.
- Metronidazole can be very harmful in several ways. Make sure to inform the dental team if you’re pregnant because metronidazole can give rise to birth defects. Metro is contraindicated for breastfeeding mothers as well since the drug can pass to the baby through breast milk and cause complications. If you are an alcohol consumer metronidazole will make you feel withdrawal symptoms like vomiting once you drink alcohol after taking the drug.
- They can cause antibiotic resistance in the long run. The bacteria become resistant to antibiotics if you take the same type of antibiotic for a long time.
Therefore, your dentist will weigh all the pros and cons before prescribing a certain antibiotic and give you the best available option if you inform about every important thing.
What you should keep in mind that antibiotics alone will not be a solution for a dental infection since they cannot penetrate the tooth structure and treat the tooth. Antibiotics are only an adjuvant to help you heal faster without further complications.
How long should you take antibiotics?
As the bacteria have the potential to grow back stronger and cause further infection it will be in vain if you stop using antibiotics in the middle of the course. So, it’s important to take the medication for the recommended period even if the symptoms go away beforehand. In dental scenarios, taking antibiotics for three to five days will be sufficient to control the infection.
If you still feel uncomfortable even after the full course, you must not take them again without any supervision of a dentist.
What are the home remedies for dental infections?
Anyone with a dental infection should seek the help of a dental team to prevent the consequences. Until you consult with a dentist you can try out some home remedies to reduce any discomfort and it’s also important to follow preventive measures.
- Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater.
- Gently rinse the mouth with baking soda in water and avoid extremely hot or cold food to avoid sensitivity.
- Chew with the other side of the mouth to avoid further harm to the area.
- Brush around the sensitive area with a soft toothbrush and avoiding particularly sharp, difficult-to-chew foods that may bump against the sensitive area or become lodged in the teeth
- Follow healthy oral hygiene practices by brushing your teeth with a fluoridated tooth paste especially at night before bed and flossing at least once a day.
- Don’t forget to visit the dentist for regular checks, can help to prevent tooth infections and their repercussions.
Dental infections can be treated with antibiotics along with other treatments. It’s always better to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of every treatment option and choose the best solution available. However, the final message you should convey that it’s always good to prevent any dental infection rather than curing them.
DISCLAIMER: The advice offered is intended to be informational only and generic in nature. It is in no way offering a definitive diagnosis or specific treatment recommendations for your particular situation. Any advice offered is no substitute for proper evaluation and care by a qualified dentist.