Use of Antibiotics for Dental Infections
What don’t antibiotics treat?
Antibiotics do not work for oral infections caused by viruses, cold sores, or fungal infections. They will also not cure a toothache. Your dentist must examine your mouth, determine what is causing the pain, and decide if antibiotics are appropriate for your dental problem.
Which antibiotics work best for a tooth infection?
Not all tooth infections require antibiotics. In some cases, your dentist may be able to drain the abscess. Other cases might require a root canal or removal of the infected tooth.
Antibiotics are generally used when:
- your infection is severe
- your infection has spread
- you have a weakened immune system
The type of antibiotic you’ll 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 of the penicillin class, such as penicillin and amoxicillin, are most commonly used to help treat tooth infections.
An antibiotic called metronidazole may be given for some types of bacterial infections. It’s sometimes prescribed with penicillin in order to cover a larger variety of bacterial species.
While penicillin antibiotics are common used for tooth infections, many people are allergic to them. Make sure to tell your dentist about any allergic reactions you’ve had in the past to medications.
If you’re allergic to penicillin, your dentist might give you a different antibiotic, such as clindamycin or erythromycin.
Spotting sepsis
Sepsis can be hard to spot. There are lots of possible symptoms.
Symptoms can be vague. They can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
You cannot catch sepsis from another person.
Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.
Urgent advice:Call 111 if:
You, your child or someone you look after:
- feels very unwell or like there’s something seriously wrong
- has not had a pee all day (for adults and older children) or in the last 12 hours (for babies and young children)
- keeps vomiting and cannot keep any food or milk down (for babies and young children)
- has swelling, redness or pain around a cut or wound
- has a very high or low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivering
Do not worry if you’re not sure if it’s sepsis – it’s still best to call 111.
They can tell you what to do, arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor, or call you an ambulance.
Contact NHS 111
