Antibiotics for toothache, here are the options and the rules!

If taking regular toothache medication doesn't work, you may need antibiotics to treat a toothache. However, your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics if your toothache is due to an infection. Signs of infection in the teeth are swollen gums, inflamed, and even pus pockets (abscesses) appear. What are the most commonly prescribed antibiotic options for toothaches?

Choice of antibiotics for toothache

Antibiotics have a function to treat infections caused by bacteria. This drug is divided into several groups or classes. Each class of antibiotics has a different way of working against bacteria that cause infection.

However, in general, antibiotics work against, slow down, and kill the growth of bad bacteria in the body. Treating tooth decay is important to prevent complications. Therefore, antibiotics are needed to kill the infection.

There are many choices of antibiotic drugs to prevent infection. Summarizing the RXList, here are some types of antibiotics that doctors often prescribe to treat toothaches due to infections:

1. Amoxicillin

One of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics to treat toothache or infection is amoxicillin. Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin group.

These drugs work to kill infection-causing bacteria in the body or prevent their growth.

Doctors can prescribe these antibiotics alone or in combination with other types of antibiotics. But before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if you have an allergy to penicillin class antibiotics or any type of drug.

2. Metronidazole

Metronidazole belongs to a class of nitromidazole antibiotics that are prescribed for certain classes of bacteria. This medicine is sometimes given with penicillin class antibiotics to treat toothaches.

Each person may get a different dose of metronidazole. Usually the dosage of the drug is adjusted to the age, health condition, the patient's body response to treatment.

Antibiotics for toothache will work optimally if used regularly as recommended by the doctor. Therefore, take this medicine at the same time every day.

If you feel nauseous, you can take this medicine with food or a glass of milk.

You should not drink alcoholic beverages while taking metronidazole. The reason is, alcohol can cause problems in the stomach and make your condition worse.

3. Erythromycin

Erythromycin (erythromycin) can be prescribed by a doctor if you have an allergy to penicillin class antibiotics. This drug is included in the macrolide antibiotic class.

Just like other antibiotic drugs for toothaches, erythromycin works against and stops the growth of bacteria in the mouth that causes toothache.

This medicine should be taken before meals. The reason is, this drug will be more easily absorbed when your stomach is empty. However, if you feel nauseous, you can take this medicine while eating or drinking milk.

This drug is safe for consumption by pregnant women, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a food and drug regulatory agency equivalent to the BPOM in Indonesia.

However, do not hesitate to consult a doctor to ensure the safety of taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

4. Clindamycin

If the penicillin or erythomycin class of antibiotics are not effective for treating your toothache, your doctor can prescribe clindamycin.

Clindamycin is a drug that belongs to the lincomycin antibiotic class. This drug is often used to treat acne. However, doctors can also prescribe this drug to treat toothaches. This drug is available in many forms, such as capsules, syrups, gels, and lotions.

Take this medicine with a measuring spoon that is available in the box packaging if your doctor prescribes this medicine in the form of a syrup. Avoid using regular tablespoons to take this medicine, huh!

Stop using this drug and see a doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects. Some of them include bloody diarrhea, yellowing of the eyes or skin, difficulty urinating, and severe allergic reactions.

5. Tetracycline

Tetracycline antibiotics can also be used to treat toothaches due to gum disease (periodontitis). This drug works optimally when taken on an empty stomach.

Take this medicine until it runs out according to the consumption period that has been prescribed by your doctor. Stopping medication without your doctor's permission can make your infection worse.

If you forget a dose and the time interval for taking the next drug is still long, take this medicine as soon as possible. However, when it is near the time of your next dose, you can skip the missed dose and return to your regular medication schedule.

6. Azithromycin

This type of antibiotic for toothache has a way of working that can fight various kinds of bacteria while stopping their growth. Azithromycin may be effective for treating some dental infections.

However, doctors usually will prescribe this type of drug when you have an allergy to the antibiotics enis penicillin and clindamycin. The dose of each azithromycin is 500 mg every 24 hours and must be consumed for 3 consecutive days.

Not everyone needs antibiotics for toothaches

You shouldn't just take antibiotics to treat toothaches. Instead of getting better quickly, using inappropriate antibiotics will actually make your condition worse.

It is important to understand that not all oral and dental problems require antibiotic treatment. Generally, antibiotics are needed when:

• You show signs of gum or tooth infection. Includes high fever, swelling, inflammation, and an abscess appears in the problematic tooth.
• The infection has spread to other parts of the body.
• You have a weak immune system. Either because of age or have a certain medical history. For example cancer, AIDS / HIV, diabetes, and so on.

Before prescribing antibiotics, the doctor will check the condition of your mouth first. The doctor will examine your teeth, gums, and oral cavity thoroughly.

During the examination, the doctor will usually ask about your medical history and your habits of brushing your teeth.

Make sure you tell your doctor about any medical history you have. One of them is if you have a history of allergies to certain types of antibiotics.

In addition, tell the doctor about the medications that are being routinely taken every day. Including vitamins, dietary supplements, prescription drugs from doctors, over-the-counter drugs, to herbal medicines.

Rules for taking antibiotics for toothaches

Take antibiotics as recommended by your doctor. In order for the medicine to work more optimally, take the medicine at the same time every day.

You should not add or reduce the dose of medication without your doctor's approval. So, don't stop taking antibiotics even though your symptoms have disappeared or your condition starts to improve.

Instead, continue to take medication as recommended by the doctor.

The use of antibiotics includes to treat toothaches according to age, health conditions, disease severity, and treatment response. Avoid giving this medicine to other people, even if they also have the same symptoms as you.

Keep in mind, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance. If you have this, the disease you are experiencing will be more difficult to treat. So, be careful when using antibiotics.

Don't hesitate to ask your doctor directly if you don't really understand how to use antibiotics. Also ask your doctor if you forget how much medicine to take each day.

The doctor will be happy to answer and explain any questions you ask.

If you experience certain complaints, report it to your doctor immediately. Your doctor can change the dose or type of medicine you take.