I have cephalexin 250 and have a swollen gum around my tooth. can I use this medicine for infection in my mouth?
Can you use cephalexin for an absessed tooth?
Question posted by sthrone on 15 May 2013
Last updated on 1 October 2021 by Balford
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5 Answers
Balford
1 Oct 2021
As the person stated above you can buy amoxicillin and other antibiotics in the fish department are online . It is the same as we take . I ask a local vet when my kids were young I had no insurance and I would get them online my friend was a paramedic and they ordered there's online also. They are a lot cheaper and you do what you have to do until you get to a doctor .My friend would buy penicillin from feed store and give his self shots .I no only too well what it's like to not have the money are insurance to go to the doctor so be careful and make sure you research the what the antibiotic you plan on using is used for there you will find what works best and the recommended dose.
Sherry220
9 June 2017
To answer this question yes you can, I know only because I have been prescribed keflex (with refills because of insurance purposes) I had UTI that came back often due to kidney stones. In called my dentist and told them I can't afford to pay for a refill on the Amox, she said keflex is OK to take but only take 500mg 2 times day, uti was 4x ... It worked and I was able to get it pulled two days later. I will say keflex is much stronger and can weaken your amuine system so be carful taking it when the infection doesn't require it, as well as those mentioned before myself!
hammerstone
23 Dec 2016
We'll I am one of those who can't get Medicare yet. Have to wait 2yrs. Only have one more left. Not only do I have many health problems and no one will help but can't get Medicaid because I own my 2001 jeep. I am totally disabled and called for our state insurance and they want $160 a month. I've lost the bone to hold my teeth and they want 200-300$ to pull a tooth. I have absesed teeth also. I just pulled one myself, which was 3/4 of an in. long=jaw tooth. Now my wisdom tooth is rotting and in need of being pulled. Went to Aspen Dental and they want $133 a Tooth. Would have made payments but they said no but I could finance dentures. Didn't ask the price because for one I can't even afford groceries let alone pay $300 a month for dentures. Also my credit sucks so that won't happen. Got some penicillin and it took about 7 hours to finally get one of them out.
I've tried to pull the wisdom and the pain is so intense I am struggling to get it out. Got some Cephalexin 500 from a friend. Was hoping it would work. The pain is so bad I've resorted to rubbing alcohol and doing it the same way as salt water. Can only soak it for 10 minutes because it does burn but helps. Advil really can help but I can't take it because of the pain it causes in my stomach and I bleed through my bowels. Infection is so bad now it's went into my nose and working towards my eye. Our hospital here is non for profit but still refuses to help me because you have to pay large payments. I've worked all my life paying into the welfare system and unless you've never worked or was born into welfare you can't get any help. I am almost 60 and have reached my limit for living anymore like this. Never asked for help until now and I can't get it. Tired of living. Tired of this one sided system and tired of being in pain constantly. Obama care has screwed everything up. Not sure what's left to live for. I pray every day for God to take me and yet here I am. I've lost the war, so where is my ending.
shlaxyl
30 Dec 2016
Hi there... I haven't had insurance for many years because I just can't afford it, but I make too much to qualify for any through the County/State programs. Anyway, I know your pain. Although I see you asked your question in August, this may help you in the future if you don't have insurance or access to a doctor/dentist. You can google it as well. Go to your local pet store (not the big chains like Petsmart-a small local pet shop usually). We have a small one in our area with 2 locations called Benson's. They carry Amoxicillin and Cephalexin, both great antibiotics, in the store, in capsule form. It would be near the fish supplies/meds. I have used the Amoxicillin previously for a sinus infection on both me and my 14 yr old son and results within 24-48 hours. Yesterday, I bought the Cephalexin because my whole right side of my face is swollen due to a bad infection in a rotted/broken tooth.
I took 3, 250mg capsules around 7pm and when I woke up today, my face felt way better. The swelling has gone down and the pain subsided somewhat. Of course, 24-48 hours I should be feeling great. I will continue to take the Cephalexin until next week, when my dental insurance kicks in and I can see a dentist, but will take 2 capsules twice daily until Saturday and then take 1 each day until Tuesday. Google "fish antibiotics or fish amoxicillin human use". I saw a show with preppers on it, buying all these supplies up for their stash when the apocalypse hits so I did my research and they are perfectly safe and the same as what you'd get at the pharmacy. Just something to consider having on hand in case you get another infection of some kind.
shlaxyl
30 Dec 2016
Sorry... copied and pasted what I wrote other person but you understand what I was saying. Same deal. Get yourself some amoxicillin from a pet shop. It's supposedly better for tooth abcesses, but cephalexin worked on mine.
Our hospitals around my area have something called "Charity Care", which is an application for low income folks to complete after service is done to see if they qualify for help. My mom got approved at 100%. It also covered any services provided by an affiliate of the hospital, which her dentist is-so it paid her bills for them.
Julia57
15 May 2017
Hello. Your coverage can depend upon what state you live in!
I'm almost 60, and was rewarded Disability last year after waiting FOUR years! Arizona have me Medicaid, and also awarded Medicare. What a blessing. I have worked from 1976 to 2011!
So please Research for health benefits and use the year you applied for disability.HOPE THIS HELPS!
mercster
7 Jan 2018
Hey bud... a few things. First thing's first, you need to get in contact with your county's health department. They might pull teeth for as low as $25 per tooth.
Secondly, Walgreens has clinics now. Four days ago, one of my rotten teeth in the back got very infected, swollen, immensely painful. I went to Walgreens, they wrote me a script for Cephalexin and I feel muuuuuuuch better.
Thirdly, and by no means am I recommending this, but you can get antibiotics from a pet supply store. The most often used are for fish... fish amoxicillin is popular. I think maybe you've just not exhausted all your options yet, Aspen Dental?! That's for rich folks! Good luck, hope you are not in too much pain.
sammygirl49
11 March 2018
I agree with Shlaxyl, the fish antibiotic is the same thing we get from our doctor/dentist. I have been using Amoxicillin and cephalexin as well. Right now I am using cephalexin for my tooth abscess. Normally it would work great however this time my abscess is under my gums so I cannot pop the postule that is usually there and once you pop it and clean it then everything is good again. I am fearing that for this one i will have to see the dentist and getting poked at while it hurts like heck.
DaxMan
20 July 2018
I can see this is a very old message. I wish I saw someone else who wrote to you back then but I don’t. I hope whomever you are that you’ve since found a compassionate person to help you get the help you so rightfully deserve.
Maddy2727
13 Aug 2016
I have my gum swollen do to pain in my teeth and my lips and face what medication Can I buy over the counter for that do I go to the dentist I think I got an infection
shlaxyl
30 Dec 2016
Hi there... I haven't had insurance for many years because I just can't afford it, but I make too much to qualify for any through the County/State programs. Anyway, I know your pain. Although I see you asked your question in August, this may help you in the future if you don't have insurance or access to a doctor/dentist. You can google it as well. Go to your local pet store (not the big chains like Petsmart-a small local pet shop usually). We have a small one in our area with 2 locations called Benson's. They carry Amoxicillin and Cephalexin, both great antibiotics, in the store, in capsule form. It would be near the fish supplies/meds. I have used the Amoxicillin previously for a sinus infection on both me and my 14 yr old son and results within 24-48 hours. Yesterday, I bought the Cephalexin because my whole right side of my face is swollen due to a bad infection in a rotted/broken tooth.
I took 3, 250mg capsules around 7pm and when I woke up today, my face felt way better. The swelling has gone down and the pain subsided somewhat. Of course, 24-48 hours I should be feeling great. I will continue to take the Cephalexin until next week, when my dental insurance kicks in and I can see a dentist, but will take 2 capsules twice daily until Saturday and then take 1 each day until Tuesday. Google "fish antibiotics or fish amoxicillin human use". I saw a show with preppers on it, buying all these supplies up for their stash when the apocalypse hits so I did my research and they are perfectly safe and the same as what you'd get at the pharmacy. Just something to consider having on hand in case you get another infection of some kind.
DzooBaby
15 May 2013
You should never HAVE left over antibiotics. Antibiotics should be taken in a full course to combat infection. When you do not take a full course, you risk several things. One is not getting rid of the infection. You might feel better but you may still have low grade infection that will come back in full force once you are off antibiotics for a while. Another thing that can happen is bacterial resistance. When you expose bacteria to an antibiotic but you dont kill it, it can develop resistance to the antibiotic so that it doesnt work the next time. This is why we are seeing so many resistant strains of bacteria (like MRSA for example) The only reason someone may have left over antibiotics is if a Dr does a sensitivity test and finds out the antibiotic he started wasnt effective against the bacteria and so he changed to another antibiotic. It is rare for this to happen. So even if, for some reason, you have left over antibiotics, you likely dont have enough for a full course.
You dont want to start treating something and not have enough medication to kill the bacteria. You need to contact your dentist for a new prescription. Just because the gum is swollen, it may not mean it is infected. It could be something else. Only your dentist (or if you cant see your dentist, go to Urgent Care) can tell you what antibiotic or other treatment to use.
kimikoluv1
19 July 2013
Well too bad that does not answer this person's question at all! They asked if they could take some Cephalexin in an emergency situation for a tooth infection or gum infection. First off if you get antibiotics cheap as my parents do at their vet clinic (many of the same ones we take in lower dosages), or you have a practitioner in the family that has a lot of antibiotics on hand, well then you COULD have a bottle of Cephalexin good and laying around full even. Let's face it. With the cost of medical care nowadays and how many people are going without any insurance at all people are going to call relatives & friends asking if anyone has any antibiotics till they can get to a dentist or doctor. It happens. It's actually the right thing to do. Many people start an antibiotic and then are switched to another if it is not working and in truth people don't understand how important it is to finish them so there is that too.
There are a lot of people who pick them up and never take them at all. Meanwhile YOU have a bad absess and need answers so even though it would not be the first choice it WILL work on it. Make sure though when you get to a dentist and YOU MUST get to one soon because the things that an everyday tooth infection can turn into you do NOT even want to KNOW, make sure you tell the dentist that you have taken X amount of this antibiotic because it was badly infected and painful.Let the dentist know you had it on hand and then he/she will advise you on what to do from there after checking to see how your mouth is. I have seen people not go to a dentist and wind up paralyzed, or with brain damage, infections around the walls of their heart, needing rebuilt jaw bones, sinus taps, among a ton of other grizzly things that can happen JUST from ignoring a tooth infection. That kind of infection can really spread. It is NO JOKE. If you take the antibiotic and don't feel some relief in 24 hours please go to an emergency room or a dentist immediately okay?
rileyandme
20 July 2013
KimmiKiluv1, Im sorry if Zoobabys response did not answere your question, But I think you would be very wise to head the advice given. As someone who knows first hand how very dangerous it can be to experiment with other peoples medications and especially crossing borders with veterinary meds . It is NEVER a good idea to use a medication that was not perscribed specifically for you and your diagnosis. And the advice about antibiotics is especially true.
Mvero50
25 July 2013
Thanks for answering the question . My friend has fidelis and no dentist wants to take him,he is running around looking for someone who will do root canal and they are telling him approval takes 7 to 14 days, maybe pull tooth. Wow is that crazy. Dying in pen ,thank god the dog has some keflex,maybe it will help. He cant even get someone to prescibe to him with paying up friend
Mvero50
25 July 2013
Without paying up front.the bureaucratic snafu makes it easier for the insurance company to pay lower amount of tooth pull then stay in pain waiting for approval of root canal disgusting . And you people are worried about using others antibiotic join the real world,where people don't have health ins that covers them . Keep taking from the underprivileged,they don't deserve. to have teeth it seems like.Waiting 7 to 14 days when you are in pain ,its a system designed to say pull it. Drs to lazy to want to do the paper work and dont want to take what ins pays
rileyandme
25 July 2013
I very much feel your pain, and that is not a play on words I too have suffered the absolute insanity of seeing endless adds for dentists wanting new patients ,yet you cant get the help you need. I have actually been forced to have several of my teeth extracted due to severe pain and no way to get help or relief without that end. and now at 55 I find myself without any upper teeth as I eventually had to remove the last 17 at one time due to insurance requirements and now I live with a full upper which I absolutely hate and wont wear.That being said ,, PLEASE be careful with antibiotics as they are specifically designed to attack a peticular infection and can be very dangerous which most people dont think is true. As far as what will work the only thing I am aware of that is prob. safe would be AMOXACILLEN, spell check that though? 500 mgs. for ten days once the infection is gone you will get relief from your pain for a short time until you can get help. good luck I MEAN IT OH ! and ibuprophen takes care of inflamation and some throbbing pain.
belledawn
3 Feb 2015
My DR called in Keflex (cephalexin) for me for me, thinking I had cellulitis and it was actually a staff infection, so I had about 18 Keflex leftover, once he switched my antibiotics. Thank God I did because I ended up with an abscess under a tooth 2 months later and since it was the weekend, I started taking the Keflex. That is exactly what he prescribed for me on that Monday when I went to the DDS. At least i had a good start on the meds!!
Dawn moffit
17 Aug 2016
Can't you just answer the question!!
Zoney
27 Feb 2017
Oh goodie, the "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.
Related topics
infections, bacterial infection, cephalexin, medicine, mouth
Further information
- Cephalexin uses and safety info
- Cephalexin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cephalexin (detailed)
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