No abx after abscess?

[bbrandonsmom]

I just had a tooth pulled (couldn't save) and it was abscessed pretty bad. They cleaned out all the infection they could see, but said it still might drain some through the empty spot. Abx were prescribed. I don't really want to take them. Besides SA (which I don't have handy, and no health food store local carry), what can I do? I'm allowed to start rinsing w/ salt water tomorrow evening, but I don't know about that helping any left over infection present, that was down where they couldn't get. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they got all of it, but wondering what my options are. I'm going to try to look later, but I'm pretty tired and figure to crash soon as the kids fall asleep. The pain from the tooth kept me up till 3 a.m. so I didn't get much sleep.
Thanks.

[VillageMom6]

It is my understanding that infections that are in the gums can get into the blood stream and be very serious.

Personally, I would take the antibiotics. In fact, I have twice already in the past eight months. At the beginning of this pregnancy I had a bad abscess that required a root canal.

That same area became infected again a few months later. The risks from the infection were far greater than the risks of taking amoxycillin.

I hope that you heal and feel better very, very soon. That pain is something else, isn't it?

[happysmileylady]

I agree with the above. Dental infections are nothing to mess with. If it was infected enough that they weren't sure if they got all the infection when they pulled the tooth, then I think antibiotics are warrented.

[goodygumdrops]

Take the antibiotics. Seriously, this is an abcess, not a case of antibiotics being over prescribed.

[34me]

I have had 4 abcesses in the past 3 years and have never been given antibiotics afterwards.

[goodygumdrops]

My cousin just had an abscess and the infections went to her bone and she had to have a bone graft. Nasty stuff.

[sapphire_chan]

I've had experience with taking and abx unnecessarily and I'd still take an abx in this case. I'd also take a TON of probiotics.

[JaneS]

If you do take the antibiotics, you can take Florastor or another form of saccharomyces boulardii, a beneficial yeast, with them which will prevent other bad bacteria from colonizing as the good ones are killed off by the antibx.
Then do a course of very good lactobacillus and bifido probiotics after you finish the antibx.

[mamagranola28]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I've treated my daughter's abscess without antibiotics. First I would go with your gut. If you feel like what you're doing isn't helping you can always take them. If I remember right I did general things to help her immune system like probiotics, fish oil, vit D, and colloidal silver (internal and swishing in the mouth). For the abscess: essential oils. We used clove (dilute 1 drop oil 5 drops carrier) and two blends from doterra (On Guard and Purify) dilute these 1:15. I would apply once an hour to abscess using a q-tip with which ever oil felt best at that moment. Salt water is a good idea too. For pain, try homeopathy Arnica and Nux Vomica (consult a good Homeopathy book).
Leah