Amoxicillin for Tooth Infection

Tooth infection and abscess are commonly reported dental problems, which affect people of all ages. The increased rate of infection is due to repeated exposure of teeth to pathogenic bacteria. Also, teeth are involved in grinding and chewing foods, which serve as food for bacterial growth. Administration of amoxicillin for tooth infection is effective for combating mild cases. On the other hand, a severely infected tooth is either extracted completely or cleaned by means of a procedure called root canal therapy.

An Overview on Amoxicillin for Tooth Infection

The obvious treatment option for tooth infection is adopting antibacterial therapy. Similarly, antibiotics are recommended to cure tooth abscesses, which stem from bacterial infection. Amoxicillin is included in the list of popularly prescribed antibiotics for tooth infection. However, there is no point in using this medication for soothing tooth pain, trauma and in dental surgery cases. For your reference, presented below is a brief overview on amoxicillin concerning its uses, mode of action, recommended dosage and its mild side effects.

What is Amoxicillin Used for?
Amoxicillin is a type of prescription antibiotic medication based on penicillin. It is effectual for a wide range of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection, skin infection, ear infection, sinus infection, gonorrhea, ulcer cases and even for dealing with infections in postoperative patients. The use of penicillin antibiotics for dental infections is not a new aspect in medical science. Its effectiveness depends on how far tooth infection has spread, and if required, combination therapy is followed. Read more on amoxicillin uses.

Mechanism of Action of Amoxicillin
So, how does amoxicillin work in combating tooth infection? As aforementioned, it belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics. The biological activity of amoxicillin involves inhibiting the multiplication of bacteria by arresting the growth of bacterial cell wall. Thus, it belongs to the beta-lactam group of bactericidal antibiotics. Without a cell wall, the bacterial cells disintegrate, leading to their death over time. The earlier amoxicillin antibiotic is taken for tooth infection, the better will be the treatment result.

Mode of Using Amoxicillin
The method of taking amoxicillin for tooth infection depends upon which form of antibiotic is being used. It is available in chewable form, tablets, syrups and powder version for delivering via injections. Amongst all these, oral administration of amoxicillin tablets is most commonly used for treating tooth infection. For children, syrups may be recommended for easy feeding. The amoxicillin injections are restricted for severe cases of bacterial infections and not for mild tooth infection.

Safe/Recommended Dosage of Amoxicillin
As with any type of medications, the effectiveness of amoxicillin for addressing tooth infection largely depends upon taking it in correct dosage, which is decided by the concerned doctor. The safest amoxicillin dose for tooth infection, tooth abscess and other similar cases is 250 mg of amoxicillin 3 times a day, i.e., after every 8 hours for 10 days. For severe infections, the dose for adults may be increased to 500 mg amoxicillin three times per day for a week. To get prompt results, make sure that the prescribed medication course is completed.

Side Effects of Amoxicillin
The probable side effects of amoxicillin are skin rashes, colitis, nauseated feeling, vomiting, loose stools and abdominal discomfort. These are mild adverse reactions of taking amoxicillin for a tooth infection. In children, nonallergic skin rashes may be manifested after taking this beta-lactam antibiotic. Very rarely, it induces sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, mental changes and other severe effects. To minimize risks of side effects, avoid self administration of amoxicillin.

Who should not Take Amoxicillin?
Taking the correct dose of amoxicillin for tooth abscess and infection is relatively safe. Nevertheless, some people are allergic to this prescription medication. So, this antibiotic would not be the right choice for those who have allergies to penicillin group of antibiotics. In addition, people having a medical history of asthma, kidney disorders and liver problems should inform the doctor about their condition before taking amoxicillin for tooth infection or abscesses.

For pregnant women, amoxicillin is a safe drug to combat bacterial infections. But it is to be borne in mind that amoxicillin is prescribed for killing the pathogenic bacteria and not for relieving pain symptoms. Of course, the pain intensity will subside gradually as bacteria get expelled from the infected tooth. For those who experience unbearable pain because of tooth infection, the doctor may recommend painkillers and home remedies to get relief from symptoms of discomfort.