When a tooth starts to become painful, especially during the night, it is only natural that your immediate thought is that you want instant relief. All you want is for the pain to stop.
It's not unusual for patients to ask whether antibiotics might help in this situation, especially if they are nervous about receiving dental treatment. The idea of taking a few tablets and waiting for things to ease certainly sounds much more attractive than having a tooth filled or even extracted.
Unfortunately, antibiotics aren't a quick fix for the vast majority of toothaches. They do have a role to play in dentistry, certainly, but taking them is probably going to offer temporary relief at best, and it definitely doesn't guarantee that the problem has gone away and will very likely return.
A toothache can happen for a number of reasons and tooth decay is one of the most common causes. The bacteria and acids that cause decay will gradually eat away at the enamel tooth surface, and, if it gets deep enough, it may reach the soft tissue inside the tooth, often known as the pulp. This soft material contains the nerves and blood vessels, and if it becomes inflamed, the resulting discomfort can be very painful indeed.
Other causes of tooth pain might include a cracked tooth, a broken filling or a problem with the gums. Sometimes, where an infection develops around the tooth root, this may lead to an abscess.
The fact is that there is no single treatment for every toothache. One thing that is sure when this happens though, is that the tooth will need to be treated at the Smile Dental Practice Croydon, perhaps with a filling or potentially a root canal procedure if infection has spread.
While antibiotics can work against certain bacteria, they definitely won’t repair a cracked tooth, remove decay or even ease an inflamed nerve inside the tooth. If any of these are causing the toothache, antibiotics are simply not a suitable or effective treatment.
Having a painful tooth is a pretty much guaranteed indication that you will need to have some invasive treatment, even if it is a relatively minor filling. Those who are nervous about dentistry often find this prospect very anxiety inducing and so it is only natural to look for other options, however pointless this might be. Asking for antibiotics though, would do no more than perhaps delay the inevitable, allowing the problem to potentially become even worse than before.
Dental anxiety is normal and common, but please don’t put off treatment that you know or suspect is needed. Our Croydon dentists are experienced in treating nervous patients and will do what we can to help you stay relaxed as much as possible.
When you book an appointment, make sure to let us know if you suffer from anxiety so that we can put any additional measures in place before your appointment time.
There are times when antibiotics might be an appropriate treatment for oral health problems.
If an infection is spreading beyond the tooth or you are starting to feel generally unwell following some dental issues, antibiotics can be effective in treating infections and help to prevent more serious issues from arising. Generally though, a localised issue is likely to need to be treated and any antibiotics given would have little or no effect.
There is also the issue of antibiotics being given too freely and increasing our resistance to them which can have implications should we become ill in the future.
If a tooth is causing you discomfort or pain, you should take that as a warning sign and see your dentist as soon as you can. You can take painkillers to manage it of course, but not to avoid the inevitable treatment by using them as a ‘delaying tactic’.
If you notice serious issues such as facial swelling or difficulty in swallowing or breathing, you should call 999 for emergency advice immediately.
The bottom line is that antibiotics are a very important part of medical care but only in certain situations. For toothache or similar dental issues, treatment is likely needed. If you have toothache or an obvious issue such as a broken tooth or a filling that has come out, you should contact our Croydon practice for an appointment. You can book yours by calling the Smile Dental Practice on 020 8649 7911.
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