Certain Medications Can Have An Impact On Dental Health

Did you know that certain medications could have an impact on your dental health? Medications have a vital role to play in keeping people healthy and traditional medical practices rely on them to treat patients. Many of the medications used to keep us healthy including vitamins, minerals, and herbal preparations can also have a damaging effect on our dental health. Because of the possible damage that certain medications can cause it is important for your dental office to have a list of all medications including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins and mineral supplements and herbal therapies that you are also taking. What kind of impact can medications have on your dental health?

Dry mouth:

It is true that some medications both over-the-counter and prescription can effect your mouth and teeth including those that cause dry mouth like antidepressants, antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, high blood pressure medications, and pain medications.

Bleeding:

Other medications could cause abnormal bleeding when you brush or floss that can cause you to avoid doing these vital dental care tasks leading to dental cavities and other dental problems.

Here are some other ways that medications can impact your oral health:

Some medications can cause abnormal bleeding when undergoing dental procedures such as aspirin, and anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin. Make sure you tell your dentist if you take any of these medications.

Other medications can alter taste causing you to taste a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth or change the way you taste foods or cause you to not be able to taste foods at all. These medications that may have an impact on taste are cardiovascular agents, and central nervous system stimulants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and medications used to help smokers to stop smoking, as well as inhalers used by those for respiratory problems such as asthma.

Certain medications may even cause soft-tissue damage such as oral sores, or inflammation. Medications that can do this include those that are prescribed for high blood pressure, certain immunosuppressive agents, chemotherapeutic agents and oral contraceptives. If you do develop oral sores from taking these medications your dentists can give you a prescription for an oral hygiene regimen that will decrease the discomfort you feel.

Antiseizure medications, immunosuppressants medications and those medications given after an organ transplant can cause gum enlargement. If you develop gum enlargement it is really important for you’re to have good oral hygiene.

Many liquid medications especially those made for children contain sugar. Other medications that may contain sugar include cough drops, vitamins, antacids and antifungal agents. If you take these medications for a long time you will be at a greater risk for dental cavities because of the sugar content of the medication. Ask your doctor if there is a sugar-free alternative. If you know your medication has sugar in it rinse your mouth with water if you are unable to brush your teeth right away.

If you are going to undergo cancer treatment let your dentist know ahead of time so that any dental work that needs to be done can be done before you start taking these cancer treatment medications.

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