Amoxicillin is one of the first antibiotics recommended for the treatment of a tooth infection. It has shown to be widely effective and have fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to other options. Antibiotics do not relieve pain directly, but pain may be reduced as the infection is knocked out by the antibiotic.
It typically helps to resolve tooth infection symptoms within a few days, but as with all medications, amoxicillin may also cause side effects. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you're experiencing unwanted side effects, or if your tooth infection isn't improving or is getting worse with treatment.
Penicillin/ Amoxicillin
This class of antibiotics is the most commonly prescribed for tooth infections. The typical dosage of amoxicillin is 500mg every 8 hours or 1000mg every 12 hours.
There are several reasons antibiotics alone will not cure the infection. The blood vessels that once supplied the inside of the tooth with your body's antibacterial defenses have been destroyed. Therefore, the antibiotics cannot reach the inside of the tooth to cure your infection.
It will not improve until a dentist removes the infection with root canal treatment. Although a dentist gives you antibiotics, the medication does not remove an infection from your tooth. Look for a dentist experienced with root canal treatment and explain your anxiety.
How can I tell if the antibiotics are working for tooth infection? If your antibiotics are working, the symptoms of your tooth infection will begin to subside. Your fever, fatigue, pain, and/or swelling will decrease. If your symptoms persist or get worse, contact your dentist right away.
After a person begins to take antibiotics, it should take 2-3 days for the infection to begin to clear. A person should finish the entire course of the medication as prescribed by their doctor even if they begin to feel better sooner. A common treatment period is 7 days.
Antibiotics will not cure toothache, they will only mask the problem until you have something done about the tooth itself. They may stop the pain for a few days, weeks or even months, but it will always come back with a vengeance!
The preferred prescription for prophylactic antibiotic treatment is: Amoxicillin 500 mg, 4 tabs, 1 hour prior to procedure/dental cleaning. If allergic to Penicillin then Clindamycin 300 mg, 2 tabs, 1 hour prior.
Tooth infections that have traveled to the jawbone can lead to severe dental abscesses and jawbone infections. Osteomyelitis in the jaw causes persistent pain, jaw stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. Additionally, bacterial infections of the teeth can also spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis.
Painkillers. It's fine to take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin while you're taking amoxicillin, assuming these are appropriate for you.
How should this medicine be used? Amoxicillin comes as a capsule, a tablet, a chewable tablet, and as a suspension (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 12 hours (twice a day) or every 8 hours (three times a day) with or without food.
For dental abscess, prescribe a course of amoxicillin for up to 5 days (review after 3 days): Adults: 500 mg to 1000 mg three times a day. Child 12–18 years of age: 500 mg three times a day. Child 5–12 years of age: 500 mg three times a day.
Antibiotics for Tooth Infections
Amoxicillin, a type of penicillin, may be given with clavulanic acid, 500 to 2,000 mg every 8 to 12 hours. Amoxicillin with clavulanate, another antibiotic, may be taken in a dosage of 875 mg/125 mg twice a day.
If the pain suddenly stops, it does not mean the infection has gone away. Rather, it probably means that the nerve inside the tooth has died. The infection could continue to spread and affect nearby tissues. It could even cause systemic illness.
Eventually, the pulp of the tooth which has been infected dies. This no longer has blood flow so the antibiotic doesn't get to that part of the infected tooth structure. At that point, the only way to truly deal with a tooth infection is for the dentist to physically get in there are remove the infected pulp.
A tooth abscess won't go away on its own. Pain may stop if an infection causes the pulp inside your tooth to die. The pain stops because the nerve isn't 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 a fever and swelling in your face and you can't reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Also go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. These symptoms may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw, throat or neck or even to other areas of your body.
Yes, your dentist can pull an infected tooth—generally, the sooner they extract it, the better. Your dentist can remove this infection with an extraction, root canal, or a deep cleaning if it's in the gums.
Yes! It is safe to use paracetamol at the same time as taking most antibiotics. Taking antibiotics at the same time as paracetamol shouldn't cause any problems. However, we recommend checking your medication leaflet and talking to your pharmacist or GP if you're still unsure.
Instructions will typically include starting the antibiotic several days prior to when the extraction is scheduled. A total course of 7 to 10 days is common, with the extraction taking place towards the end of the regimen.
Once the antibiotics run out, your tooth infection will come back with a vengeance. The only way that you can stop a tooth infection is by having a dentist physically go in and remove the infected pulp.
Amoxicillin can interact with medications like warfarin, allopurinol, and probenecid. It may also interact with alcohol and some live vaccines. Make sure to provide an updated medication list to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.