A constant throbbing toothache might be more than just a cavity; it could be an abscessed tooth. This happens when bacteria cause a painful infection in the tooth or gums, leading to a buildup of pus. If not treated, the infection can spread to the jaw or other parts of the body.
Antibiotics can help control the infection, but if your tooth still hurts after 4 days of antibiotics, they are not working. Consider it a dental emergency and visit your dentist immediately to eliminate the infection.
How Soon Will Antibiotics Stop Tooth Pain?
Antibiotics usually start to ease tooth pain within one to three days after you begin taking them. However, this can vary depending on how bad the infection is, the type of bacteria, and your overall health. While antibiotics help by reducing bacteria and swelling, they might not fully get rid of the infection or all the symptoms. Most people feel better in about five to seven days if the infection isn’t too serious and treatment starts quickly. But antibiotics alone often aren’t enough; seeing a dentist for follow-up treatment is usually needed to fix the real problem.
Reasons for Continuous Tooth Pain After Starting Antibiotics
It’s abnormal for your tooth to hurt after starting the treatment. Here are some reasons why tooth pain may continue:
- Severe Infection: If the infection is very bad or has spread, antibiotics alone might not be enough. You may need extra dental treatment.
- Antibiotic Resistance: Sometimes, bacteria stops responding to antibiotics, especially if you’ve taken them recently. This can make the medicine less effective.
- Wrong Antibiotic: The antibiotic given might not work against the specific bacteria causing the infection.
- Pain Still There: Antibiotics don’t relieve pain directly; they only fight the infection. You may still need pain medicine to feel better.
- Started Too Late: If antibiotics are started too late, the infection can get worse and may need more serious treatment.
- Doesn’t Fix the Cause: Antibiotics don’t cure the real dental problem, like an abscess. They just help with symptoms until the tooth can be treated properly.
- Other Problems: Ongoing pain could be caused by issues in other teeth or new infections that antibiotics don’t cover.
The Next Step
If tooth pain doesn’t improve after four days of taking antibiotics, the dentist will look into what’s causing the problem. They may check if the infection has spread or if there are other symptoms like fever or feeling sick. If needed, they might change the antibiotic or suggest more treatment. The dentist could also perform a procedure, such as draining the infection, doing a root canal, or removing the tooth if it can’t be saved.
Pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help manage the pain in the meantime. To better understand what’s going on, the dentist might take X-rays. In more serious cases, they could refer you to a specialist like an oral surgeon or endodontist. If the current antibiotics aren’t working well, they may switch you to a different one that’s more effective.
Wrapping Up
Not all tooth infections need antibiotics. But sometimes, a dentist may prescribe them to help stop the infection from spreading and save the tooth. However, it’s possible for your tooth to still hurt after 4 days of antibiotics, but don’t panic. Visit your dentist, and they will take care of it.
Visit Dr. Ayesha Muzaffar at iCare4Smiles for emergency dentistry services. Our doctor has over 10 years of experience and has completed more than 600 hours of continuing education to stay updated with the latest advances in dentistry. Call us at (732) 800-9524 to book an appointment.