Dental & Community News

Resistant Bacteria Linger in the Mouth
2007-09-12

Researchers in Europe have found that even a single course of antibiotics can increase the number of resistant bacteria found in the oral cavity for up to six months. Their findings were reported in the medical journal, the Lancet(Feb. 2007).

The study concludes that physicians and dentists should be more cautious when prescribing antibiotics and be certain that a bacterial- not a fungal or viral infection- is to blame for a patient's symptoms.

It is also recommended that patients who are prescribed antibiotics should take them exactly as directed and until the entire prescription is gone.