Do You Need Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection?
Quick answer: Do antibiotics treat a tooth infection?
Sometimes, but not on their own. A tooth infection starts inside the tooth, so a dentist usually has to treat the source with drainage, a root canal or removing the tooth. Antibiotics are added mainly when the infection is spreading or you feel sick, for example with a fever. Pills alone do not remove the cause.
The American Dental Association advises dental treatment first and antibiotics only in certain cases.
A tooth infection does not go away on its own, even if the pain fades.
Swelling that spreads, a fever or trouble swallowing or breathing needs urgent care.
Only a dentist or doctor can prescribe antibiotics and choose the drug and the length of treatment.
You were told you may have a tooth infection, and now you wonder if a prescription will fix it. Antibiotics help in some cases, but they rarely solve the problem on their own. This guide explains when they are used, what actually treats the infection and when to get help fast. If you are near Smyrna Dental Studio in Smyrna, GA, this is what to know before you call.
Do you need antibiotics for a tooth infection?
Not always. Many tooth infections need a dental procedure more than antibiotics. The American Dental Association recommends against antibiotics for most of these cases in adults who are not severely immunocompromised and points dentists to a root canal or drainage first. Antibiotics come in when the infection spreads or you feel ill, such as with a fever.
When do dentists add antibiotics?
Cleveland Clinic says dentists typically prescribe antibiotics for severe infections and for infections that are spreading. They may also use them if your immune system is weakened, because a mild infection can turn serious more easily. The ADA guideline says dentists should prescribe antibiotics when the condition progresses to systemic involvement, meaning signs like fever or feeling unwell.
Why do pills alone not fix the problem?
The infection sits inside the tooth. Cleveland Clinic explains that bacteria trapped there destroy the blood vessels antibiotics need to reach them, so the medicine cannot get to every place the bacteria hide. The infection can come back when the course ends unless the cause is treated.
That is why the dentist's main job is to remove the infected tissue or the tooth itself. If you think you have an infection, our emergency dental care page shows how to reach us.
Can a tooth infection go away on its own?
No. Cleveland Clinic states that a tooth abscess will not go away on its own, and that antibiotics will not remove the cause, which is the affected tooth. The pain can ease while the infection stays. A dentist has to treat the source.
Why can the pain stop while the infection stays?
Pain can fade when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, dies. The infection can keep spreading and damaging tissue even though the tooth feels better. A sudden drop in pain is not proof that you are healing. Some people with an infection never feel pain at all.
What happens if you wait?
Left untreated, the infection can damage the tooth beyond saving and spread to the jaw, face and neck. Cleveland Clinic also notes it can enter the bloodstream and cause sepsis, a life-threatening condition. Waiting is a real risk.
If you want to know what an abscess can look like, see our post on what a tooth abscess looks like. We also cover the 3-3-3 rule for tooth infection in a separate post.
Want this checked? If you think you have a tooth infection, you can book online or call (770) 863-0005, and our team will help find the earliest visit available.
When should you call a dentist right away?
Call a dentist right away for a toothache with swelling, a bump or sore on the gum, or pain that keeps getting worse. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, spreads toward your eye, face or neck, or comes with a high fever.
Signs that need care right away
Swelling in the gum, jaw or face
A fever along with tooth pain
Severe pain that medicine does not relieve
A bump or draining sore on the gum
Swelling that spreads toward your eye, face or neck
Trouble swallowing or breathing, or confusion
Call us at (770) 863-0005 for swelling, a bump or sore on the gum, or tooth pain with a fever. For trouble breathing or swallowing, spreading swelling, a high fever, confusion or unbearable pain that medicine does not relieve, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Our post on stopping a dental infection from spreading has more background.
What will a dentist do about a tooth infection?
A dentist treats the source of the infection. That may mean draining the abscess, a root canal to remove the infected tissue inside the tooth, or removing a tooth that cannot be saved. Antibiotics may be added, but they do not replace that treatment.
What are the main treatment options?
Drainage: the dentist opens the abscess, drains it and cleans the area.
Root canal: the infected pulp is removed and the tooth is sealed, often followed by a crown. See whether a root canal is painful.
Extraction: a tooth that is too damaged to save is removed. We offer tooth extractions when that is the right choice.
Will the dentist always prescribe antibiotics?
No. Cleveland Clinic notes that dental procedures often clear the infection, sometimes without antibiotics. Whether you need them depends on how far the infection has spread and on your health. The dentist decides the drug, the amount and the length of treatment.
What can you do at home while you wait for a visit?
Home care can ease discomfort, but it does not treat the infection. Cleveland Clinic suggests an over-the-counter pain reliever used as the label directs, a cold compress on the jaw, a soft toothbrush, warm saltwater rinses and chewing on the other side of your mouth.
What should you avoid?
Avoid very hot, very cold, hard or crunchy foods. Do not place aspirin directly on the tooth or gum, because the ADA's MouthHealthy site warns it may burn the gum tissue. Ask a pharmacist or your doctor what is safe for you.
Do not count on home remedies to clear the infection. Cleveland Clinic notes there are no natural antibiotics that will improve a tooth infection.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get antibiotics for a tooth infection without seeing a dentist?
No. Antibiotics for a tooth infection require a prescription. A visit also lets the dentist examine the tooth and look for the cause, which a prescription cannot do. Without treating the source, the infection can return after the medicine is finished.
Will the infection come back if I only take antibiotics?
It can. Cleveland Clinic says that even if an infection goes away after antibiotics, it will come back unless the underlying problem is treated. The tooth itself needs care, such as a root canal, drainage or removal of the tooth.
Can you have a tooth infection without pain?
Yes. The American Association of Endodontists says the infection around the root of a tooth may or may not be painful. Cleveland Clinic also notes that some people never have pain. A bump on the gum, a bad taste or swelling still deserves a dental visit.
Should I go to the ER for a tooth infection?
Go to the ER for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward the eye or neck, a high fever or confusion. An ER can give medicine for pain and swelling, but it does not do dental repairs such as fillings or crowns. You still need to see a dentist afterward.
Are there natural antibiotics for a tooth infection?
No. Cleveland Clinic states that no natural antibiotics will improve a tooth infection. Cleveland Clinic lists warm saltwater rinses and a cold compress as ways to ease discomfort. Neither one treats the infection inside the tooth, so a dental visit is still needed.
Get the cause of the infection treated
A tooth infection needs a dentist, not only a prescription. You can see Dr. Leslie Patrick, who provides family, preventive and general dentistry. Book online or call (770) 863-0005, and our team will help find the earliest visit available for patients from Smyrna and nearby areas. This is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to advise on your situation.