Reviewed by Dr. Alan Baughman, DMD, MBA
Reading time: four minutes
It’s easy to assume that antibiotics can treat any kind of infection, including one in your tooth. After all, they’re often the first thing doctors prescribe when you’re sick.
But if you’ve ever left the dentist with a root canal appointment instead of a prescription, you’ve probably wondered why. Tooth infections behave differently than other infections in the body.
In this blog, you will learn why antibiotics don’t work to completely cure tooth infections and why a root canal is the best option to treat a tooth infection.
Table of Contents
- What Clearwater Dentistry Offers for Infected Teeth
- How a Tooth Infection Starts
- How to Get Rid of a Tooth Infection Without Antibiotics
- Your Health Always Comes First
- Get Honest, Patient-First Care At Clearwater Dentistry
- FAQs
Key Takeaway
Antibiotics cannot completely cure a tooth infection because they do not reach the source of the problem inside the tooth. The infection can only be treated by removing the bacteria from inside the tooth through a root canal or extraction, which stops it from growing or spreading and protects your health.
What Clearwater Dentistry Offers for Infected Teeth
If you have a tooth infection, we provide:
- Complete exams and dental X-rays
- Root canal therapy to save your tooth
- Tooth extractions when needed
- Same-day emergency visits for severe infections
Dr. Alan Baughman will evaluate your tooth and explain the best way to treat the infection and protect your oral health.
How a Tooth Infection Starts
A tooth infection begins when bacteria enter the soft inner layer of your tooth, called the dental pulp. This can happen from:
- Deep tooth decay
- A cracked tooth
- A failed filling or crown
- A traumatic injury
Once bacteria reach the pulp, they multiply and release toxins that damage the blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth. With the increasing quantity of bacteria and toxins, the pulp tissue dies, and infection spreads into the surrounding bone. Your immune system cannot clear this type of bacterial infection on its own. You will likely develop tooth pain, swelling, and an accumulation of pus (called a tooth abscess).
Why Antibiotics Alone Do Not Cure a Tooth Infection
Many people assume antibiotics will clear any infection. But this is not the case with a dental infection. Here is why:
- No blood flow to infected pulp: The infected dental pulp has no blood supply, as the blood vessels have been destroyed by bacteria. Antibiotics travel through the bloodstream, so they cannot reach bacteria trapped inside the tooth.
- Bacteria remain inside the tooth: Even if antibiotics help with surrounding swelling, the bacteria inside the tooth remain protected. The infection will return once the antibiotics have been stopped or completed.
For this reason, dentists do not prescribe antibiotics as the sole treatment for tooth infections. They only use antibiotics to control spreading infection or manage symptoms before dental procedures.
When Are Antibiotics Useful?
Dentists sometimes prescribe antibiotics in cases such as:
- Severe facial swelling
- Signs of infection spreading (fever, swollen lymph nodes)
- Patients with a weakened immune system
- Before treatment if emergency care is delayed
In these situations, antibiotics help manage the spread while you wait for treatment, but they do not replace the need for dental treatment.
How to Get Rid of a Tooth Infection Without Antibiotics
The only way to get rid of the infection is to remove the source of the infection. There are two ways to do this:
- Root canal treatment: The infected pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent the infection from coming back.
- Tooth extraction: The entire tooth is taken out which stops the infection from spreading to nearby bone or tissue.
Without either of these dental treatments, the infection will continue to grow and may spread to the jaw or other areas of the body. Learn more about both treatments here: Tooth Extraction or Root Canal? Understanding Your Best Treatment Option.
Your Health Always Comes First
Some people worry that root canals or extractions are suggested when they aren’t really necessary.
At Clearwater Dentistry, decisions are made with your health in mind. If Dr. Baughman recommends treatment, it is because the infection will not go away on its own, and leaving it untreated can lead to more serious problems.
He takes time to show patients what is going on and why treatment is necessary. If there is a way to save your tooth, he will explain it. If your tooth cannot be saved, he will walk you through the next steps.
The goal is always the same: to stop the infection and protect your health.
Get Honest, Patient-First Care At Clearwater Dentistry
At Clearwater Dentistry, you will get clear explanations, thoughtful recommendations, and care that puts you and your health first. If you have a tooth infection, our first priority is to stop the infection, relieve your pain, and protect your long-term health.
To book an appointment at our dental office in Greeley, CO, (970) 515-3550 or visit us at 3110 67th Ave Pl, Greeley, CO.
FAQs
There is no natural remedy that can cure a tooth infection. Some ingredients like garlic, clove oil, or saltwater rinses may reduce inflammation or ease pain temporarily, but they do not remove the source of the infection. Only professional dental treatment, such as a root canal or extraction, can eliminate the infection completely.
A tooth infection will not go away without treatment. The infection may temporarily feel better if the pressure reduces, but the bacteria remain inside the tooth and can continue to spread, leading to more serious complications.
The right treatment depends on the condition of your tooth. If the tooth can be saved, a root canal is often the best option. If the damage is too severe, an extraction may be necessary. A dental exam and X-ray are needed to determine the best course of action.
Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed to control pain or swelling if treatment needs to be delayed, such as over a weekend or in the case of severe infection. However, antibiotics are not a substitute for treatment, but work in conjunction with treatment, and must be followed by a root canal or extraction to resolve the infection.
