Can’t I Just Take Antibiotics For My Toothache and Call it Good?
Though this works for other infections in our body, sadly, taking antibiotics will only kick the can down the road for a tooth.
When a tooth is infected it will show an abscess on an X-ray or there may be a bubble present on the side of your gums.
You MAY or MAY NOT have pain. You MAY or MAY NOT see or taste white “exudate.”…aka puss.
The important thing to understand is that a tooth has an infection for a reason. It is infected because it has a problem.
The problem is USUALLY: The tooth has large decay, has a crack, or possibly has periodontal bone problems.
The infection means that bacteria has been allowed to reach into the middle of your tooth where the nerve canal is. It needs to be cleaned out and fixed.
If it’s a bone issue, the bone is being eaten away and is infected. It needs to be healed properly.
Sure, you can take antibiotics to clear it up for now, but the decay, crack, or periodontal disease is still there. More bacteria will break through again, and the infection will come back.
If you didn’t have pain the first time, you’re likely to have it eventually, as the infection returns and worsens.
Decay that goes un-noticed early on won’t simply stop. Once it has started, it will keep eating away at your tooth until it eventually reaches the middle where your nerve is. The infection will grow there and will eventually need a point of escape.
This is why we see bubble abscesses develop on our gums or on the x-ray. Your body is trying to release the infection.
The sooner you fix the problem, the better chance you have of saving that tooth. It’s possible for decay to eat TOO much of a tooth…to the point that there isn’t enough tooth left to save.
Let’s talk a little more about the periodontal disease possibility.
Your gum health is something else that definitely needs to be checked out by your honest dentist.
Periodontal disease, if left untreated, will result in the eventual loss of most, if not ALL, of your teeth. Worst of all, it’s mostly a silent disease.
Instead of eating at your teeth, causing cavities, the bacteria is eating away at your bone. This bone holds your teeth in your head. You need this bone! You need those teeth!
It’s recommended that you get a good, thorough dental cleaning according to your honest dentist’s recommendations. While there, they may suggest additional treatments to help. Make sure that they take the time to thoroughly explain why they are recommending those treatments. Make sure you understand.
They should be able to show you on your x-rays where your bone level is. (Please also see the SODA we have spilled on “How to Read Your Own X-rays.”) This will show you where a healthy bone level lies, and what it looks like when there has been bone loss.
They may be able to show you that your tartar “barnacles” have actually grown large enough to be seen on your x-rays. (You'll also find a picture of this in that same “How to Read Your Own X-Rays” article). Tartar “barnacles” are simply dead bacteria, and that stuff needs to be removed. If it’s been building up for a long time and is heavy, it will most likely take more than one cleaning appointment to get it all. Once its off though, it’s off. You can start new again.
It’s important.
It’s important for the health of your WHOLE body that you don’t allow yourself to live with the constant infection.
Your body has to try and fight that infection off, day in and day out. The infection gets into your bloodstream and travels throughout your body. It can reach your heart and all other organs.
It’s important to heal it, whatever it takes.
What is the best and most probable tooth fix?
First, lets just say that the fix does NOT have to be scary. We promise. Dentistry has come a long way in a short amount of time.
If you have taken the time to find your honest dentist, they will be gentle, thorough and will be sure that you have everything you need to be comfortable.
Dentists definitely did a number on some people back in the day. We wish we could change that past for you.
Dentistry evolved quickly, though, and it is not like it used to be…not when you take the time to find that good, honest dentist as we recommend.
Here are your treatment possibilities:
1. A root canal and crown will be the most common fix in these cases. The bacteria has been able to reach into the “canal of your root,” where the nerve is. This infection has to be cleaned out.
Side note: I have had two root canals myself, and I can honestly say that the procedure was quite relaxing. There was very little drilling. Mostly quiet, hand instruments are used. It may be a little sore afterward, but they give you pain medication for that-no need to worry.
The “horror stories” about root canals go back to the days when dentists weren’t good at numbing the area. Ummm, yeah, that would hurt! But now, you’re numb. You don’t feel a thing.
2. If your problem is past the root canal and crown point, your next probability is having the tooth taken out.
If this is where you land, next comes how to REPLACE that space where the tooth was removed. You’ll definitely need your honest dentist to help you make that decision.
Everyone’s mouths are different. Some people choose to have a dental implant. Others are good candidates for a bridge. For some, it’s better to have a removable partial made. Others simply choose to leave the space with no replacement at all.
3. If your infection is due to Periodontal Disease, you will most likely need to have a deep cleaning and see a periodontist to help with the “pocket(s)” created by the bone loss.
Bone loss occurs when gingivitis, or gum disease, has been present in your mouth for far too long. The gum disease (gingivitis) eventually travels into the bone underneath. There, the bacteria starts to eat not just your gums anymore but your bone. This bone is what holds your teeth in your head. You MUST get this disease to stop! You need that bone!
Usually, the patients who have trouble with bleeding gums, tartar, and bone loss don’t have as much trouble with cavities. It’s a different type of bacteria. A different gene that they have.
It’s a blessing and a curse, depending on how well you take care of your teeth. More often than not, people get a false sense of security because they don’t get cavities. They feel that they don’t need to be as diligent with their home care or visiting their honest dentist regularly. Silently, in the background, the periodontal disease is wreaking havoc in their mouths.
The moral of the story is that you need to take care of the problem causing your infection.
Be true to your teeth and they’ll never be false to you.
We hope this helped answer your question, while giving you a little extra knowledge too!
Though it would be best if we did, we’ll never claim to know it all, all of the time. Nobody knows it all! We do claim honesty, though, and we sincerely want to help as many people as we can! Our patients have maintained beautifully, following our conservative recommendations :)
So, thanks so much for reading and letting us spill our SODA! Remember to take the time to find your HONEST DENTIST, and be sure to browse around our links and follow us on social media for answers to more of your exciting dental questions, like:
