How Long After Starting Antibiotics Will Tooth Pain Go Away
Tooth pain can be felt in your gum line, tooth root, or nerves.
The pain can become severe if it is not brought under control using natural ways.
Antibiotics and other alternate options can be used to relieve pain.
There are many antibiotic products available in the market, but you need only need to use the one that your doctor prescribes.
Otherwise, using any unprescribed medicines may not give positive results and could even lead to drastic side effects.
How Long After Starting Antibiotics Will Tooth Pain Go Away?
It usually takes 7 to 10 days for antibiotics to relieve your tooth pain that is caused by an infection. Otherwise, typical tooth pain caused without infection may go away within 1 – 2 days with common painkillers.
In simple words, the treatment duration of tooth pain depends upon the condition that caused the tooth pain.
What is a tooth infection?
Tooth infections are caused by bacteria, which means you need to take antibiotics to eliminate them.
Generally, everybody has bacteria in their mouth, which is normal, but when bacteria grow into the inside of the tooth, gums, or other spaces in the mouth, it can lead to an infection.
Infections can be caused by poor dental hygiene, which can lead to plaque buildup and cavities in your mouth.
Injury to the tooth and improper dental procedures can also cause infection in your mouth.
What is the best antibiotic to treat a tooth infection?
There are many antibiotic products available in the market that can treat a tooth infection. However, you should only use the one your dentist prescribes.
Never take any medicine with your discretion because the wrong dosage of antibiotics has a high chance of causing drastic, or even fatal, side effects.
However, tooth pain can also be caused by natural reasons, in which case, you don’t need to use any antibiotic products, and the pain can go away using just simple medicines or other natural remedies.
All in all, consult your dentist before using any medicine for tooth pain or any other dental issues.
What are the most common symptoms of a tooth infection?
If you’ve never suffered from a tooth infection before, you might be wondering how you can know if your teeth are infected.
Well, the pain is often the most typical sign of a tooth infection. However, this pain is not always related to the tooth itself because our teeth are connected to many nerves.
What’s more, the pain from an infected tooth can spread to your jaw, face, and even your neck and throat.
Here are some of the typical signs of tooth infection!
Severe toothache
Toothache is one of the most common signs of tooth infection.
That is, you may feel throbbing pain that can even spread to the jawbone, neck, or ear.
Teeth sensitivity
You may feel irritation or sharp pain inside your teeth after consuming any hot or cold foods in this symptom.
Foods like ice cream, cold drinks, or hot coffee can make you feel teeth sensitivity.
Pain while chewing
Eating any solid food may cause pain in your teeth.
You may feel pain while eating hard foods like meat, french fries, snacks, or other solid foods.
Fever
Fever is also a sign of tooth infection.
You may feel minor to severe fever along with some nausea if you have a tooth infection.
Swelling
Swelling in your gums, cheeks, or even the entire face is also a sign of this issue.
Applying an ice pack may help relieve and reduce the swelling.
Home remedies for tooth pain
It’s possible to relieve tooth pain using homemade remedies as well as antibiotics. [alert type=”info” icon-size=”normal”]Related post: How To Stop a Toothache from a Broken Tooth[/alert]
Take pain-killers
Over-the-counter pain relievers can temporarily and effectively reduce tooth pain.
Try aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen for comfort.
Make sure never to use aspirin after wisdom teeth surgery.
Ibuprofen is the best recommended among all.
Chew from the other side
Try to use the opposite side of your mouth for eating.
Give the infected tooth a rest and use the other side for some days.
Use a soft brush
Stiff bristles in toothbrushes can increase the pain in the infected tooth.
They can also erode the tooth enamel and make the tooth sensitive to high and low temperatures.
It is therefore recommended to use a toothbrush with soft bristles, especially when you have a toothache.
Apply a cold compress
Take an ice cube and apply it directly to your cheeks.
Apply continuously for at least 2 – 3 minutes.
Don’t use it too often, as it may cause spots on the skin.
Saltwater rinse
Saltwater is an effective way of removing stuck particles that lead to tooth infections.
Add one teaspoon of salt to a glass of water and rinse your mouth with it.
Rinse for at least 1 minute for better results. Repeat this twice a day until complete pain relief.
Preventing Tooth pain
Here are some tips to prevent tooth pain
Avoid hold & cold foods
Hot or cold meals can cause pain or discomfort in your teeth.
Foods like coffee, tea, and cold drinks can increase the pain.
This is true, especially if you have sensitive teeth, in which case you must avoid them for a couple of days.
Avoid sweets
Sugary foods are one of the reasons behind teeth infections.
Foods like chocolates, sodas, candies, and starchy foods can decay your teeth over time.
It is recommended to reduce the consumption of sweet foods and brush your teeth before you sleep. [alert type=”info” icon-size=”normal”]Related post: Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Eat Sweets & How To Fix That![/alert]
Brush regularly
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least 2 minutes.
Move the brush in a clockwise and anti-clockwise manner.
Try your best to reach the brush to the molar’s back-most areas to avoid infection.
Floss everyday
Some of the areas in your teeth can’t be cleaned by a toothbrush. Floss at least once a day to remove stuck particles in the lines of your teeth and gums.
Use mouthwash
Mouthwash is best used to fight bacteria that may lead to tooth infection.
Use a mouthwash at least 2 – 3 times a week, but don’t use it immediately after using toothpaste, or it won’t be much effective.
Rinse routinely
Rinsing your mouth helps to remove food particles stuck in the teeth and gums.
Always rinse your mouth with lukewarm water after meals.
Rinse multiple times to remove all possible particles from your mouth.
Have regular checkups
It is recommended to visit your dentist after every three months.
Discuss your dentist about every complaint you’re having regarding your teeth.
Avoid late-night foods
Bacteria usually grow in our mouths while we are sleeping.
Having meals before bed can increase the chance of tooth decay.
So it is recommended to avoid foods at night and clean your teeth properly before going to bed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the commonly asked questions regarding tooth pain.
How long does it take amoxicillin to work on a toothache?
Amoxicillin usually takes 2 – 3 days to bring down the infection.
Don’t use amoxicillin or any other antibiotics without the prescription of your dentist.
The tooth abscess is still swollen after three days of antibiotics
You need to consult with your dentist if a tooth abscess still visible in your mouth.
Your dentist may change the pills or recommend any other treatment for that.
However, you should also strictly maintain oral hygiene to disallow tooth abscess from spreading in your mouth.
How long before tooth infection comes back after antibiotics?
There is no actual time frame as the situation is different for everyone.
It usually varies on the severity of infection and excessiveness of abscesses.
It sometimes also depends upon your immune system.
My tooth pain has worsened after antibiotics; what should I do?
It is recommended to use antibiotics only when they are needed. Excessive use may result in side effects on your oral health.
You can use the tips mentioned above, but it is better to discuss with your dentist if your tooth pain has worsened after any medicine.
Toothache won’t go away with antibiotics; what should I do?
If not caused by an infection or abscess, toothache may not go away using the only antibiotic.
Apart from infection, many other reasons can also lead to toothache, i.e., tooth decay, broken tooth, cavities, etc.
In that case, you may need a root canal to fix the issue.
How long can a tooth infection go untreated?
Firstly, a tooth infection should never be left untreated, or it may spread throughout your mouth.
Secondly, there’s not a specific time where a tooth infection goes untreated.
Lastly, it is always recommended not to ignore tooth infection and have its proper treatment as soon as possible.
The Bottom Line
Tooth pain is one of the most common oral issues.
It can happen to a child or an older person without any warning.
However, tooth pain can become a problem if an infection causes it. And in that case, you need to be conscious and consult your dentist so they may recommend antibiotics and other prescriptions to get the pain and infection under control.
Also, follow the critical oral health guidelines to prevent tooth infection and other oral complications.
