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If you have difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, swelling closing your eye, or chest pain alongside dental symptoms — go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not use this calculator first.
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Home care
Monitor symptoms. Use home remedies. Book routine dentist appointment.
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See a dentist
Book an appointment within 24–48 hours. Infection needs professional treatment.
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Emergency care
Go to hospital emergency room now. Infection may be spreading systemically.
🚨 Red flag symptoms detected
📊Symptom breakdown
📋What you should do now
🌿Safe home remedies while you wait
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Home remedies reduce discomfort only — they cannot cure a dental infection. Antibiotics and dental treatment are always required to fully resolve an active infection. Do not delay professional care because symptoms temporarily improve with home remedies.
💊Common antibiotics used in dental infections
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Never self-prescribe antibiotics. The information below is for educational awareness only. A dentist or doctor must prescribe the correct antibiotic based on your specific infection, medical history, and allergy profile.
| Antibiotic |
Common use in dentistry |
Typical adult dose |
Notes |
| Amoxicillin |
First-line for most dental infections |
500mg three times daily, 5–7 days |
Most common choice when no penicillin allergy |
| Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Augmentin) |
Moderate to severe infections, resistant organisms |
625mg three times daily, 5–7 days |
Broader spectrum — for spreading or treatment-resistant infections |
| Metronidazole |
Anaerobic infections, ANUG, pericoronitis |
400mg three times daily, 5–7 days |
Often combined with amoxicillin; avoid alcohol during course |
| Clindamycin |
Penicillin-allergic patients |
300mg three times daily, 5–7 days |
Alternative when penicillin allergy confirmed |
| Erythromycin |
Penicillin-allergic patients (mild infections) |
500mg four times daily, 5 days |
Less commonly used now due to resistance patterns |
🔬Types of dental infection — know the difference
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Understanding what type of infection you may have helps you communicate symptoms accurately to your dentist and understand why specific treatments are needed.
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Periapical abscessInfection at the root tip of a tooth, usually from untreated decay reaching the pulp. Severe throbbing pain, tooth feels raised. Requires root canal or extraction.
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Periodontal abscessInfection in the gum pocket alongside the tooth root. Gum swelling, pus from gum line, tooth mobility. Requires deep scaling and drainage.
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PericoronitisInfection of the gum flap over a partially erupted wisdom tooth. Common in 18–25 year-olds. Swelling, trismus, bad taste. May require antibiotics and wisdom tooth removal.
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ANUG (Acute Necrotising Ulcerative Gingivitis)Painful, bleeding, ulcerated gums with distinctive foul breath and fever. More common in immunocompromised patients and smokers. Requires urgent dental care.
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CellulitisSpreading soft tissue infection without a defined pus pocket. Facial swelling, fever, malaise. Can become life-threatening — requires urgent hospital care.
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Ludwig's anginaSevere bilateral floor-of-mouth infection spreading to neck. Airway compromise risk. Medical emergency — go to hospital immediately. Do not wait.
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This calculator is a guidance tool only. It cannot diagnose your specific infection type. Always consult a registered dentist or doctor for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Reviewed by Isreal Olabanji DST, RN — Dental Nurse, Healthsoothe.
This tool is for informational guidance only and does not replace professional dental or medical assessment.
Always consult a registered dentist or doctor for diagnosis, treatment, and prescription of medication.
Reviewed by Isreal Olabanji DST, RN — Dental Nurse & Founder, Healthsoothe · healthsoothe.com