Antibiotics for a toothache: what to take ?

“Antibiotics are not automatic. Everyone has heard this phrase once in their life, perhaps without fully understanding its meaning. And yet, the overuse of antibiotics represents not only a danger of resistance to the patient, but also a global health issue.

When we know that more than 10% of antibiotics prescriptions are made by dentists, understanding their function, their fields of action and their limitations allows to preserve the health of patients, but also of future generations.

For what dental problems are antibiotics useful? ?

When to take antibiotics ?

For several years, health professionals have been warning about the overprescription of antibiotics throughout the world. If this awareness campaign is to be taken into account, it is because a significant number of antibiotic prescriptions The current practice of using the drug can lead to a rapid development of resistance and ineffectiveness of the drug.

Antibiotics are vital for treating bacterial infections and many serious diseases. The importance of prescribing only what is necessary is understandable in view of the rapid increase in the number of cases of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics are drugs that should only be taken in case of bacterial infections. Viruses, inflammations and other pains not related to the presence of parasitic bacteria are not included in the scope of antibiotics.

Dental problems requiring a prescription for antibiotics

Several types of bacterial infections In the oral area, it can lead to the prescription and use of antibiotics. Nevertheless, there are three recurrent pathologies requiring this type of medication.

Dental abscesses

Dental abscess is not a toothache like any other. Bacterial infection is an accumulation of pus located in a tooth or gum. While antibiotics can be used to treat abscesses, many dentists and dental surgeons prefer to drain the pus, which is usually enough to eliminate the abscess.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is an uncommon but serious infection of the gums, located at the level of the dental roots. Most often resulting from poorly treated gingivitis, periodontitis can lead to loosening of the teeth, hence the importance of prompt treatment. Antibiotics are the main treatment.

Dental cellulitis

Dental cellulitis is a bacterial infection that affects the fat cells (soft tissue) of the face. Very serious, it results from an abscess, periodontitis or another severe infection. Bacteria then attack the tissues of the cheek, jaw or neck.

Management must be rapid, as this infection can quickly become life-threatening.

What antibiotics to take when you have a toothache ?

Antibiotics can only be delivered by medical prescription. In case of dental pain, it is imperative to have a prescription to present to the pharmacist. Antibiotics must be used be taken at set times within the indicated hours.

In case of lack of medication, it is important to go and buy some, even at night. Antibiotics can be found just about everywhere, whether in the city center or at a pharmacist’s on call in the Vosges.

Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic from the same family as penicillin. It is the most used antibiotic in dental care because of its broad spectrum of action, targeting the germs responsible for dental pain, its non-toxicity and its relatively low cost. It is forbidden to take amoxicillin if you are allergic to penicillin.

Azithromycin

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including lung infections, genital infections and dental infections. However, be careful when taking other medications, mainly against migraine, gastric reflux or colchicine.

Metronidazole

Metronidazole is an antibiotic of the nitroimidazole family. It has an antibacterial and antiparasitic action. It is used primarily to target anaerobic bacteria, one of the components often found in mucous membranes such as the mouth, genital or digestive area.

It is an antibiotic mainly used to treat periodontitis, in combination with penicillin.

Clindamycin

Clindamycin is an antibiotic with a strong bactericidal effect. It is mainly used to fight against penicillin resistance, which is on the rise. It is effective against both anaerobic and aerobic Gram-forming bacteria +.

Only the Eikenella bacillus is naturally resistant to clindamycin which has no effect on it.