Antibiotics are the most common form of drugs prescribed in dentistry. Your dentist in Wickham can prescribe you a range of antibiotics designed to treat the many different types of bacterial infections that can occur in the mouth, teeth, and gums.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are prescription only medications that are designed to destroy or inhibit the growth of their target bacteria. They are most commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections, and in dentistry more specifically infections that occur in the teeth, gums and the mouth. Naturally, your mouth contains a wide range of bacteria that is usually harmless, however when the bacteria come into contact with sugar and starch particles from the food and drinks that you consume, they can become harmful and turn into infections which can have detrimental effects on your teeth and gums. There are many variables when it comes to the dose and type of antibiotic that you may require, but your dentist in Wickham will know what combination is most suitable for your specific needs; this can include the type of infection present in your mouth and its severity, the strength of the antibiotics and how frequently you will require the dose to control the bacteria growth and infection rate. It is more than likely that your dentist in Wickham has prescribed you a course of antibiotics in the past, and depending on the condition of your oral health, you may find them prescribing you more in the future.
Do antibiotics come with side effects?
As with almost all medical drugs, antibiotics unfortunately come with different side effects. While most of the side effects are manageable, there are some that could be detrimental if you are allergic to the specific antibiotic, so it is essential you make your dentist aware of any allergies you have in order to avoid any severe allergic reactions from taking place. Common side effects of taking antibiotics include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and dizziness; if you experience any of these side effects, contact us at Wickham Dental so that we can prescribe an alternative antibiotic.
What are the most common antibiotics prescribed in dentistry?
In dentistry, the most commonly prescribed antibiotics are amoxicillin and clartihromycin.
Amoxicillin is a popular choice for dentists as it has the ability to treat a wide range of bacterial infections such as abscesses and acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis. Amoxicillin is typically prescribed in the form of a capsule, however it is prescribed in liquid form for children and adults who have difficulty in swallowing large capsules. Amoxicillin is taken orally every eight hours; the duration of the antibiotic course differs in each individual case with the duration lasting from three to seven days. We must stress that it is pivotal that you complete your prescribed course in order for the infection to be treated properly and to prevent the chances of reinfection from occurring.
Unfortunately, a large proportion of the population is allergic to penicillin which is the primary drug found in amoxicillin; if you are allergic to penicillin, it is highly important to notify your dentist so that they may prescribe an alternative antibiotic known as clarithromycin. Clarithromycin is an antibiotic commonly prescribed in dentistry when someone is allergic to penicillin and it is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to penicillin. Similarly to amoxicillin, clarithromycin works to treat infection such as abscesses and sores located in the mouth.