190 Where There Is No Dentist 2012
Treatment:
• Keep the area clean to control the infection
and to help the skin heal. Use any of
the methods described in the “General
Treatment” box on pages 184 and 185.
• Very gently remove the tartar around the
teeth. Be especially careful not to cause
damage to the gums (see “Scaling Teeth”
on pages 127 to 133).
Also give antibiotics if:
• the neck is sore or stiff, and there are soft lumps just underneath the
lower jaw bone.
Give 500 mg of amoxicillin by mouth, 3 times a day for 7 days.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can use this treatment.
OR for persons allergic to amoxicillin, give 100 mg of doxycycline by
mouth, 2 times a day for 7 days.
OR give 500 mg of tetracycline by mouth, 4 times a day for 7 days.
Do not give tetracycline to pregnant women because it can harm a
baby’s developing teeth.
OR for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and are allergic to
amoxicillin, give 500 mg of erythromycin by mouth, 4 times a day for
7 days.
• the gums between the teeth have ulcers, and the person’s mouth
smells bad.
Give 500 mg of metronidazole by mouth, 2 times a day for 7 days.
Once the area is clean and the infection is controlled, take out any teeth that
are very loose (see pages 163 to 167).