We know how severe toothache can make your life challenging to say the least. In those moments of despair, you will look for a remedy, something that can soothe the pain and contribute to permanent pain relief. OTC painkillers may work for a while, but the pain resurgence confirms that something foul is at play. You visit a dentist, and it turns out you have been prescribed antibiotics for your toothache. An antibiotics prescription for toothache is not the standard; let’s learn why and when antibiotics will suit your tooth pain.
What Are The Causes Of Toothache?
Your dentist will troubleshoot a toothache with all these possible causes:
- Cavities or dental decay. When cavities bore deep into your tooth and reach the nerves, they can trigger pain.
- Cracked or damaged tooth.
- Loose or broken fillings.
- Dental infection.
- Dental abscess.
For the latter two, your dentist will recommend an antibiotic. For remaining root causes, dentists have some other cards up their sleeves.
How Does Antibiotics Help With Toothache?
A bacterial infection causes a tooth infection or tooth abscess near the root of your tooth. This is where nerves leading to the tooth pulp are found; an attack on them will undoubtedly be painful. A dental abscess is pus accumulation in the gums or teeth due to the infection and must be drained by the dentist. This accumulation of pus presses against the nerves radiating an agonizing pain. Both can be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics contain chemicals that are lethal to the bacteria. Hence, a drop in bacterial numbers follows a dose of antibiotics, which eases the infection.
How To Recognize A Tooth Infection?
Some telltale signs can give away a tooth infection. It’s better to recognize a tooth infection early in the act and visit a dentist as soon as possible to limit the suffering. Look out for these signs:
- Severe, constant, and throbbing toothache can increase in severity. The pain may also radiate to neighboring tissues like your jaw bone, neck, or ear.
- Fever, it’s the characteristic symptom of tooth infection. Body temperature rises as an immune response to bacterial invasion.
- Localize swelling that increases with time. The swelling may make it difficult and painful to move your jaws. Hence, such swelling may hinder eating and speaking properly.
- Tender or swollen lymph nodes under your jaws or neck.
- A foul odor emanates from your mouth.
- If the abscess ruptures, a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth and pain relief.
Seeing A Dentist:
Visit a dentist immediately on the onset of the above symptoms, especially fever. An antibiotic dose early can help you with swift recovery and quick pain relief. Therefore, if you are suffering from a toothache and suspect it might be an infection, don’t delay your visit to a dentist. You know that antibiotics can remedy toothache in case of an infection, but we don’t recommend you go on a self-prescription. Try to tread carefully when dealing with antibiotics; always visit a dentist, and complete the prescribed course. For more information, you can call Bayside Dental at 979-330-4113.