I have bad teeth and no matter if I brush/floss regularly & don't eat sweets & quit drinking pop I am still getting pain that is usually associated with infection. I can't remember what antibiotics I was given for my teeth I have clindamycin and cephalexin. All I remember is the Doctor telling me the antibiotics he gave were ones that were good for infection that goes down to bones so does anyone know which out of these that would be?
Which antibiotics are best for tooth infection cephalexin or clindamycin?
Question posted by ntvangel69 on 18 Dec 2014
Last updated on 12 April 2020 by Mackintosh
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17 Answers
Mackintosh
12 April 2020
Clindamycin. This is what I have been prescribed for chronic tooth infection issues for several years now, and my trusted PCP also told me he prefers it over other antibiotics for a tooth infection, especially if patient is resistant to Amoxicillin and/or Penicillin is ineffective (I fall into both of those categories; btw, Penicillin is ineffective in about 30% of people). Clindamycin has always cleared my tooth infections up quickly.
Justagirlintexas0613
28 Nov 2018
I was prescribed Clindamycin 150mg for my tooth infection as far as antibiotics and tramadol and ibuprofen 800.
MecheleUpshaw
27 Aug 2018
Neither pill.
helllooonurse81
1 Jan 2018
Keflex and Cillin class antibiotics are most commonly ordered for my patients with abscess teeth or gums. Ask your doc for diflucan to go along with it to keep yeast at bay that are caused by these antibiotics. Also if the abscess is oozing they will culture it to see what antibiotics it’s sensitive to. Please don’t pop it or squish it (for lack of a better term) as the infection can enter your blood system and you can become septic.
Tsamsal
15 Jan 2018
Hi, I got cdiff from antibiotics the dentist gave me in 2014 Calinda crap. I haven’t taken antibiotics since and I take a probiotic daily now. Last year I had a root canal done that wasn’t right and I made many trips back complaining about this tooth only to be told it was my bite. Last week my face felt tight and my ear was clogged my eye was a little swollen so my doc put me on a 500 mg z pack with 500 mg of flagyl. Everything cleared up I had a retreat on the tooth and as soon as the zpack was out of my system the symptoms came back. Of course this happens on a weekend so I went to an urgent care. They gave me 250mg of keflex with 250mg flagyl. So now I’m back to back antibiotics with the latest probably going to give me cdiff again and not help my infection. I wish I could get a straight answer from someone on what to do. I saw my family doc 4 times in 7 days and the dentist once.
ClayCenter
5 June 2018
To the person with c-diff issues... I know this thread is old but hoping someone sees my post and benefits. The best probiotic to be on if you have ever had c-diff is call Florastor. Very specifically targets this type of infection.
ClayCenter
5 June 2018
To the person with c-diff issues... I know this thread is old but hoping someone sees my post and benefits. The best probiotic to be on if you have ever had c-diff is call Florastor. Very specifically targets this type of infection.
Mspann1
1 Dec 2017
Both antibiotics are good for dental infections. However, if severe would recc the antirobe( clindamycin ). Moderate infection use keflex( cephalexin) but make sure with the prescribing physician that both the concentration and signalment are correct for the infection you have.
Farzane t
9 Oct 2017
I am taking cephalexin 500mg 4 times a day for one week for tooth abscess
Ali Al sinayyid
17 Sep 2017
CLINDAMYCIN HCL 300 MG CAP.is the drug of choice for gingivitis ,tooth pocet,deep tooth root
tasherit1
4 Dec 2016
I know that for gum infections they prescribe amoxicillin in combination with metronidazole.
Alexisss
21 Oct 2016
Hiya. I just got home from my doctors. I have an abscess on roof of my mouth from a bad infection. First it had to be lanced, and the medicine I have is APO-CEPHALEX 500MG 4x a day. Plus a naproxen 700mg for pain. Quite painful. Hope this helps
Moneywell
16 Jan 2016
Clindamycin would be the correct choice. This drug is effective on anaerobic bacteria. Keflex (cephalexinis )not. Keflex is a strong antibiotic good for cellulitis but not effective on typical Anaerobic ( non oxygen using) bacteria as are common with tooth access etc.
You should see a professional... if pain goes away it doesn't mean infection is gone. The nerve might be dead. Very serious medical problems can occur if you let it go.
AllisS
30 May 2016
See comment re: dangers of clindamycin above. It is responsible for more cases of C. difficile colitis than any other antibiotic. C. difficile is no trivial matter.
Nathan alexander
18 Nov 2015
Your gone get root canal done so medaicine so
kkeller51
29 June 2015
Clindamycin is a first-line antibiotic for dental infections especially for those allergic to penicillin. Also, one of the most common bacteria for dental infections has become resistant to penicillins/amoxicillins.
See: https://www.drugs.com/article/antibiotic-resistance.html
I encourage you to see a dentist even if you "have bad teeth". It is not normal to have mouth pain nor bad teeth. I don't know if you are still suffering; I hope not.
Kelly Keller NP
animalfan
19 Dec 2014
Just wondering why you have antibiotics left over, you should alwys take all to keep infection from coming back. I have bad teeth also, so I know what you are going through. There is little help with dental care insurance, only pay 50% for dentures.
ReikiNurse
27 May 2016
First, you shouldn't have antibiotics leftover as usually they are prescribed and should ALL be taken whether or not the symptoms disappear. Secondly, dentists and MD's usually prescribe clindamicin for oral infections in my experience. I hope you're feeling better!
AllisS
30 May 2016
Use of clindamycin is a major risk factor for C. difficile colitis, an increasingly treatment-resistant dysenteric infection. It should be avoided if possible.
Zoney
27 Feb 2017
Hooray! The ubiquitous "antibiotics gestapo" have decided to chime in with their "invaluable" sanctimony.
There are any number of reasons a person may have antibiotics around the household. For example, another person in the household may have had an unpleasant side-effect to one kind of antibiotic, and their doctor prescribed something different; or, a person was under long-term antibiotic therapy and knew enough that they were well over the infection beyond any doubt. People tend to know what they need. But thanks for the "doctorly" sermon! Sheesh, even most physicians wouldn't raise an eyebrow about people having leftover antibiotics.
henessy3022
18 Oct 2017
Clindamycin gave me c-diff after taking it for MRSA... that was 3yrs ago and I still struggle with the symptoms of it... it clears out all the good bacteria... if u can avoid it, I would. Keflex WILL help.
SHEsevEN4
18 Dec 2014
So sorry, that is bad pain, when I had it I took cephalexin 500mg for seven days hope this helps, and you get to feeling better soon.
babydoll610
18 Dec 2014
Bactrim or how ever its spelled
Daisy Yvonne
4 July 2016
Bactrim is a good drug but I thing Kelfex is a better drug for a tooth infection.
Related topics
infections, bone infection, pain, cephalexin, clindamycin, tooth infection, antibiotics, tooth
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