erinbard,

Anytime you take an antibiotic your immune system becomes comprised as the medication kills the healthy bacteria in your intestines. This predisposes the user to various degrees of intestinal upset that can lead to an intestinal infection. Unnecessary use of antibiotics can also cause someone to become resistant to that species of medication. Which means when then happens, if you were to need that particular antibiotic at some other time it may not be effective. So it is not wise to go on an antibiotic unless it is absolutely necessary and it is not wise to stay on the medication any longer than necessary.

Just so the time frame is clear .... The problem with your tooth did not begin when your symptoms began. The problem started the day you had the root canal done as the tooth has been infected since then. It was just asymptomatic until the infection spread beyond the tooth.

I know this is a hard decision to make and the timing is not good as you are going on holiday. If your intention is to have the tooth removed then it may be best to do that asap so that it has some time to heal before you go away. Of course the choice is yours and hopefully all will be fine with whatever you decide to do.

Bryanna