Medications Can Affect Your Oral Heath
Medication, prescribed or over-the-counter, can have a negative effect on your oral health. Many medications, including herbal remedies, cause varying and different side effects, with which you should be familiar.
Once you’ve learned about these effects on your oral health, make sure to prepare a list of medications you are taking for your next dental visit.
The Different Effects of Medications on Your Oral Health
If you are taking aspirin daily, it acts as an anticoagulant, similar to Heparin or Wararafin. These medications are taken as preventative measures against stroke, heart disease or blood clots. Thes can be a problem if you are expecting to have surgery of any kind, including dental surgery, as excessive bleeding can occur.
Taste altering medications such as cardiovascular agents, central nervous system stimulants, asthma inhalation products, smoking-cessation products and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can cause a metallic taste or affect your ability to taste anything.
Medications prescribed for blood pressure control, chemotherapeutic agents, hormonal drugs and immunosuppressive meds can cause inflammation or discoloration of the soft tissue of the mouth, and possibly mouth sores.
The gum tissue can become enlarged from meds used to treat seizures, as well as calcium channel blockers prescribed for heart patients.
Dry mouth is a common symptom of antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants and more. Visit https://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_51.pdf for a complete list from the American Dental Association.
How You Can Help the Side Effects of Medications on Your Oral Health
Your best choice is to visit your Ocean County dentist, Dr. Ron Rotem, with a complete list of medications you are presently taking or have taken from which you have experienced uncomfortable side effects.
Dr. Rotem will be able to give you an oral hygiene regimen that may alleviate most of your symptoms and make you more aware of other ways to combat the oral health effects of prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
If you have experienced any problems as a result of medications, call Dr. Rotem today for a complete and thorough exam and consultation.
Medications may be a necessity in your daily routine to preserve your quality of life, but getting help from your dentist may relieve some of the side effects these medications have had your oral health.
