Is Doxycycline good for a tooth infection?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Is Doxycycline good for a tooth infection?
In this article, we will discuss the use of Doxycycline for the management and treatment of tooth infections. We will also talk about the dosage recommendations of Doxycycline for tooth infections and some common side effects associated with its use.
Is Doxycycline good for a tooth infection?
Yes, Doxycycline is a good antibiotic for the management and treatment of tooth and gum infections. Doxycycline is a bacteriostatic antibiotic that kills infection-causing bacteria and the results are quite promising (1,2).
This antibiotic might not be the first choice of treatment in some cases, but it has satisfactory clinical efficacy for the treatment of tooth infections (3).
Make sure you don’t use Doxycycline or any other antibiotic without your doctor’s approval. If you think you have a tooth infection, talk to your healthcare provider.
What are the recommended doses of Doxycycline for tooth infections?
The usual recommended dose of Doxycycline for tooth infection is 100 mg, once or twice each day. However, the dosage strength and the duration of your treatment are determined by the severity of your tooth infection and generally how widespread it is (4).
In some cases, 40 mg of Doxycycline once or twice each day is also prescribed for tooth infections. The common duration of treatment is 7-10 days (4).
However, some people may take Doxycycline for longer periods of time. If your doctor has prescribed you this antibiotic for a tooth infection or abscessed tooth, make sure you properly complete your course.
Leaving the treatment halfway will result in a relapse as the remaining bacteria will start to multiply and your resolved symptoms will most likely start to come back. This is why it is crucial to take Doxycycline for as long as your doctor has advised.
How long does Doxycycline take to work for tooth infections?
Doxycycline can take around 3-7 days to show noticeable symptomatic relief in case of a tooth infection. In most cases, people notice a relief in symptoms in about 3 days – but that doesn’t indicate that you should stop taking the medication (1).
Antibiotics should be taken for as long as directed by your doctor. This is because people may think that their infection has gone away completely within 3-4 days and may stop taking the medication – thinking there’s no need to continue the treatment anymore.
However, this is not a healthy practice and it can only lead to the worsening of the infection, but can also cause antibiotic resistance if it happens frequently. This is why you should complete your antibiotic course even if you begin to feel better days before it.
Tooth infections are associated with other symptoms as well, like fever and pain. OTC medications like Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can help manage these symptoms.
Just make sure you properly discuss your symptoms with your doctor and monitor your body temperature properly to get an accurate reading. Avoid checking your body temperature right after drinking cold water or other beverages.
What are the expected side effects of Doxycycline?
If you’re using Doxycycline for a tooth infection, there are some side effects that you might experience (1,5). These are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Upset stomach
- Dry mouth
- Body pain
These side effects are common and there’s nothing to worry about if you have them. Gastrointestinal side effects can be managed by taking Doxycycline with food.
This way, the drug won’t directly affect your stomach as food will act as a barrier. This will most likely resolve your nausea and overall upset stomach.
However, it is not recommended to take Doxycycline with dairy products. Taking this antibiotic with milk or other dairy products will affect the absorption of this med into your body. Make sure you avoid this drug-food interaction.
What are the alternatives to Doxycycline for tooth infections?
When it comes to treating tooth infections, there are several alternatives to Doxycycline. First-line agents typically include Penicillin and Amoxicillin, which are commonly used for such infections (3).
However, it’s important to note that some individuals may be allergic to these medications, so alternatives like Cephalexin and Clindamycin can be considered.
Your choice of antibiotic should be determined by your doctor, based on factors such as your medical history and any allergies you may have.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the safety and efficacy of Doxycycline for the management and treatment of tooth infections. We have also discussed some alternative treatment options if Doxycycline fails to help your symptoms.
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References
1.-
Patel RS, Parmar M. Doxycycline Hyclate. 2023 May 22. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32310348. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555888
2.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Doxycycline Capsules, USP. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/050641Orig1s032lbl.pdf
3.-
Ahmadi H, Ebrahimi A, Ahmadi F. Antibiotic Therapy in Dentistry. Int J Dent. 2021 Jan 28;2021:6667624. doi: 10.1155/2021/6667624. PMID: 33574843; PMCID: PMC7861949. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7861949/
4.-
National Health Service (NHS). Doxycycline: how and when to take it. NHS [Internet]. 2021 Jul 8 [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/doxycycline/how-and-when-to-take-doxycycline/.
5.-
National Library of Medicine. Acetaminophen. MedlinePlus [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682063.html.
