Medications in Relation to Dental Health

MEDICATIONS IN RELATION TO DENTAL HEALTH

 

Tetracycline stained teeth

People take medications every day. Did you know that some medications influence your dental health, for example tetracycline was once a commonly used antibiotic until it was discovered to cause severe, irreversible staining in permanent  teeth.   

There are also other drugs that contribute to the risk of oral tissue problems and tooth decay.  In some cases it is not the drug itself that causes the damage, but its side effect, such as dry mouth.  Saliva is necessary to wash away food particles, fight bacterial growth and reduce high levels of acid in the mouth.  Dry mouth can lead to tooth decay. There are over six hundred medications that cause dry mouth including many cold and allergy drugs.  People often reach for sugary and/or highly acidic drinks to quench thirst which furthermore increases the occurrence of tooth decay.

It is important to drink a lot of water to counter the effects of dryness.  Some common medications that contribute to dryness of the mouth are: 

A.  Recreational drugs, i.e. “Meth mouth”

B.  Asthma medications and inhalers are highly acidic and over time can damage the teeth enamel.

Asthma Inhalers can cause tooth decay

C.  Cold and allergy medications can cause severe dryness of the mouth

D.  Medications that come in syrup form can be very high in sugar

E.  High blood pressure medications, especially diuretics can cause the dryness of the mouth

F.   Aspirin, especially chewable aspirin is acidic

G.  Chemotherapy, can cause dry mouth and gum problems

H.  Oral contraceptives increase the risk of gum problems

 

Many of these medications are necessary, but please discuss the side effects of them with your physician. 

If there is a loss of moisture in the mouth, plaque (from the foods we are eating) adheres much easier to the teeth. If the plaque is not removed daily by brushing and plenty of water intake, it can cause bacterial growth affecting the teeth and surrounding tissues like gums and mucous membrane (lining of the mouth). 

The above topic is widely open to discussion with doctors of all specialties.

We appreciate any comments or questions and we hope this has been informative.