Medications and Oral Health
You may have heard reports associating oral diseases with other diseases. These reports typically talk about periodontitis (an advanced form of gum disease) and diabetes, heart disease or pneumonia. Periodontitis also has been associated with stroke and problems related to pregnancy, like early delivery or low birth weight babies.
What do these reports mean?
Studies suggest that periodontitis is associated with the conditions listed above. Associated means that people who have certain diseases—like diabetes or heart disease—also may have periodontitis. Similarly, periodontitis may be present in people who have had a stroke or in pregnant women who have delivered early or had low birth weight babies.
These associations are very interesting, but we want to know more. Does one disease cause the other? Are you more likely to get periodontitis if you have one of those conditions mentioned above? Does one disease make the other worse? It is also possible that these associations are caused by a third factor. For example, people who smoke are at increased risk for periodontitis and a number of other conditions, including oral cancer and heart disease. So, it is possible that a person could have both periodontitis and oral cancer or heart disease because he or she smokes.
Now that these associations have been identified, further research can define if a relationship exists and if so, how the conditions are related.
Medications and Oral Health
Many medications—both those prescribed by your doctor and the ones you buy on your own—affect your oral health.One of the most common side effects of medications is dry mouth. Dry mouth increases your risk for tooth decay. Saliva helps keep food from collecting around your teeth and neutralizes the acids produced by plaque. Those acids damage the hard surfaces of your teeth.
Your soft oral tissues—gums, cheek lining, tongue—can be affected by medications as well. For example, people with asthma often use inhalers. Inhaling the medication through your mouth can cause a fungal infection called oral candidiasis. Sometimes called thrush, this infection appears as white spots in your mouth and can be painful. Rinsing your mouth after using your inhaler may prevent this infection.
Cancer treatments also can affect oral health. If possible, see your dentist before beginning treatment. He or she can ensure that your mouth is healthy and, if necessary, can prescribe treatments to help you maintain good oral health.
Your dentist also is interested in the medications you are taking because many can affect your dental treatments. For example, blood thinners that are taken to prevent blood clots can cause prolonged bleeding after some procedures, like teeth cleaning, gum surgery or tooth extractions. Your dentist may want to speak with your physician when planning your treatment.
Serious complications also can occur after tooth extractions or oral surgery in people who've received bone strengthening drugs to treat cancer and, to a lesser extent, osteoporosis.
These are only a few examples of how medications can affect your oral health. It is important that your dentist knows about the medications you are taking so that he or she can provide the best dental care for you.
Maintaining Good Oral health
Tell your dentist about your medication use and your overall health, especially if you have had any recent illnesses or have any chronic conditions. Provide a health history including both prescription and over-the-counter products. Always let your dentist know when there are changes in your health or medication use.
At home, practice good oral hygiene:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.
• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. |
