Ask a doctor on the topic of General medicine

Pus and antibiotics

September 3, 2014 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have two questions regarding the following situation:

I visited the dentist today, where I had previously undergone treatment for periodontitis. A pocket around a wisdom tooth was cleaned again, and large amounts of pus were released during the procedure. The dentist advised me not to swallow it, but I believe it was unavoidable and I unintentionally swallowed at least a part of it. I was also prescribed two different antibiotics again, for the fourth time this year (not always for dental issues). Despite the potentially life-saving properties of these medications in emergencies, the frequency of their use is concerning. Nevertheless, I will of course take them as I have been informed that the wisdom tooth in question may need to be extracted and it is important to kill the bacteria.

Now, my questions are:

1. Is it dangerous to swallow pus? Can it allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and potentially cause other illnesses in the body?

2. Should I be concerned about potential physical damage due to the frequency of antibiotic use this year? Apart from possible side effects, I have fortunately not experienced any problems so far. I am more concerned about long-term damage that could arise.

Thank you!

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening,

1. No, it is not dangerous to swallow pus because the bacteria contained in it are rendered harmless by stomach acid. They will not enter the bloodstream from the stomach.

2. No, you also do not have to worry about serious damage. While it is not advisable to take antibiotics indiscriminately, always double check if they are really necessary. Apart from a slight impairment of your immune system (unfortunately, antibiotics also kill important gut bacteria for defense), no harm is expected.

All the best!

Warm regards, Dr. Höllering