What is the appropriate antibiotic to treat a tooth abscess?

 What is the appropriate antibiotic to treat a tooth abscess?

Perhaps one day you felt sudden pain in your tooth or gum that began to increase and intensify, and perhaps it was accompanied by a small balloon in the gum. This is an abscess! Continue reading the article to find out what are the best antibiotics to treat tooth abscesses.

What antibiotics are appropriate for tooth abscesses?

These antibiotics are able to eliminate bacteria present in the mouth in cases of tooth abscesses, and the doctor chooses the best one according to the person’s condition and whether he is allergic to the medicine:

Amoxicillin

It is the first antibiotic recommended by the American Dental Association for treating tooth abscesses, because it is effective in eliminating abscess bacteria and does not cause many side effects.

Usually, the doctor prescribes it at a dose of 500 mg 3 times daily, for 3-7 days, and is given orally.

penicillin

If amoxicillin is not available, the American Dental Association recommends choosing Penicillin at a dose of 500 mg 4 times daily, also for 3-7 days, and given orally.

Azithromycin or clindamycin

If the person has a severe allergy to penicillin or amoxicillin; The American Dental Association recommends taking one of the following two oral medications in the doses mentioned:

Azithromycin: Given at a dose of 500 mg on the first day, then 250 mg daily for 4 days.

Clindamycin: 300 mg 4 times daily, for 3-7 days.

Cephalexin

If the person has a mild allergy to penicillin or amoxicillin; The American Dental Association recommends cephalexin at a dose of 500 mg 4 times daily for 3-7 days.

Other antibiotics

If the previous antibiotics did not succeed in treating a tooth abscess, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics from other groups, such as metronidazole.

Should I take antibiotics to treat a tooth abscess without consulting a doctor?

No, the doctor alone is the only person who can determine whether you actually have an abscess, and whether it needs an antibiotic, and choose the appropriate type according to your condition, in addition to that the dose may be adjusted according to the health condition.

What antibiotics are appropriate for severe tooth abscesses?

In some cases, the abscess extends to the space between the neck muscles. This inflammation is very dangerous because it may prevent breathing and swallowing. In such cases, you must go to the emergency room immediately. An antibiotic is given intravenously, and the doctor opens the abscess area to be suctioned (drawn).

Doctors often prefer amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, and after the bacteria culture results appear, the doctor may change the antibiotic.

When does antibiotics begin to treat tooth abscesses?

The duration varies depending on the severity of the infection and the effectiveness of the antibiotic, but in general, most tooth abscesses improve or even disappear within 3-7 days. However, we recommend that you take the full course of antibiotics (take the entire medication as prescribed by the doctor) so that the abscess does not return again.

Does antibiotics relieve toothache?

An antibiotic does not relieve pain immediately as a pain reliever does; Therefore, if you feel toothache with an abscess, you can take a suitable analgesic such as ibuprofen (make sure you do not have any health problems).

But with time, the antibiotic will treat the abscess and get rid of it. The pain caused by this abscess will reduce.

Side effects of antibiotics for tooth abscesses

Certainly, antibiotics that are used to treat tooth abscesses are very useful. They treat inflammation and prevent it from reaching the bloodstream, but they may cause side effects, such as:

- Nausea or shortness of breath.

- Dizziness.

- Diarrhea.

- Skin rash.

- Fungal infections.

Many people take antibiotics and do not experience any symptoms or side effects; These symptoms do not appear in everyone, but you must be aware of them so that you know that they are caused by the antibiotic you are taking, and see your doctor if the symptoms are very disturbing.

Article summary

Most cases of tooth abscess require antibiotics to disappear, and the first antibiotic prescribed for these cases is amoxicillin. Usually the abscess disappears 3-7 days after using the antibiotic.