AROUND 10% OF ALL ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS come from high street dentists. Research indicates many of these prescriptions are unnecessary.
Do You Need Antibiotics?
You might visit your dentist with a toothache or niggle thinking you need to given antibiotics. You might not actually need antibiotics. Your dentist will check your mouth to establish a differential diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment when required, rather than just prescribing antibiotics. With antibiotic resistance on the rise it is important that your dentist (or doctor) only gives you antibiotics when they are necessary.
You Might Need Antibiotics
Antibiotics are not always the best way to manage toothache and dental infection but they are appropriate sometimes.
You might need antibiotics if you have the following symptoms:
- You develop a fever over 102°F (38°C).
- You develop redness and swelling of your face, jaw or neck.
- You are unable to open your mouth.
- You have severe pain uncontrolled by pain medicine.
- You have difficulty swallowing.
Treating A Toothache
If you haven’t got any of the above a toothache might be cured by a fillings, root treatment or sometimes extraction of the tooth.
Painkillers
Painkillers can help a toothache until you see your dentist. Taking paracetamol or, if you can safely take it, ibuprofen are both effective in helping with dental pain. Both can be bought from pharmacies and most supermarkets.
Emergency Dental Appointments
We are here to help so if you have a toothache and urgently need to see the dentist in Gravesend, please telephone the practice (Tel:01474 365671) from 8am and we will endeavor to see you on the same day. If the practice is closed please call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or 111.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health care professionals with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
