Antibiotic Treatment For Gum Disease

Periodontal disease is an infection that can quickly deteriorate your gums, teeth, and supporting bones. Common gum disease symptoms include redness, swelling, and soreness. 

Fortunately, antibiotic treatment for gum disease is well researched and effective when used with dental procedures. 

Here are some of the different types of antibiotics used to treat gum disease and how they work.

What Antibiotics Can Treat Periodontal Disease?

A dentist or periodontist will prescribe different antibiotics depending on individual preference and the severity of your gum disease.

Local Antibiotics to Treat Periodontal Disease

Antibiotics used to help treat gum disease are most often in topical form to isolate the medicine.

Since antibiotic rinses don’t stay in your gums for more than a few minutes, other application methods are used, such as topical gels and strips. 

The most common local antibiotics for gum disease include:

• Atridox® - Artidox® is used to treat adults with gum disease. It is injected directly beneath your gum line and hardens quickly. Over the next seven to ten days, it will dissolve, releasing powerful antibiotics to fight bacteria.

• Actisite® - Actisite® comes in the form of a thread infused with antibiotics. A dentist places it beneath your gums for ten days while the antibiotics are released into your gums. After ten days, you will return to the office and have it removed. 

• Arestin® - Arestin® contains similar ingredients as Atridox® and Actisite® but is delivered uniquely. It comes in powder form and is injected under your gums. Here, it sticks to your gums and stays there for two to three weeks while releasing antibiotics.

• Elyzol® - Elyzol® makes a topical gel and strips that are placed beneath your gums.  

• PerioChip® - PerioChip® comes in small medicated strips that a dentist places beneath your gum line. Once placed, it will release chlorhexidine (an antiseptic) for seven to ten days before completely dissolving.

Oral Antibiotics to Treat Gum Disease

Oral antibiotics aren’t used as much as their topical counterparts because they affect your whole body. However, they are sometimes necessary when fighting aggressive gum disease. 

• Tetracycline Antibiotics - Tetracycline antibiotics are the primary drug used to fight bacteria and swelling associated with gum disease. They are typically considered broad-spectrum and can treat a variety of bacterial infections.

• Macrolide Antibiotics - Like tetracyclines, macrolides are used to treat many types of bacterial infections, including gum disease. 

• Metronidazole - Metronidazole works best with one or more other antibiotics. It is used to fight bacteria after treatment for severe periodontal disease. Because of this, metronidazole is generally used to treat severe cases of periodontal disease.

How Do Antibiotics Treat Periodontal Disease?

Antibiotics are used to treat periodontal disease by attacking the bacteria responsible for the infection. They either do this by directly killing them or preventing them from multiplying. The lifespan of bacteria is very short, so if they can't reproduce, they will eventually die out.

Why is Antibiotic Treatment for Periodontal Disease Important?

When you get periodontal disease once, you are more likely to get it again. Because of this, your dentist may recommend regular antibiotic treatments to keep bacteria at bay. 

Periodontal Disease Treatment in Fremont, CA

If you think you might have periodontal disease, you should address it as soon as possible. It won’t go away on its own and will only get worse.

For gum disease treatment in Fremont, CA, schedule an appointment online or give us a call today!