Medicines help you feel better, but they can also bring problems to your mouth. Read to know the impact of medications on oral health.
Many drugs, whether you swallow them or get them through a shot, can cause issues in your oral health. Medications for conditions like cancer, high blood pressure, pain, depression, allergies, or even a cold might not be great for your teeth. That’s why it’s essential to know the impact of medications on oral health.
Here are some common mouth problems due to the impact of medications on oral health:
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
Dry mouth is an impact of medications on oral health. When you don’t have enough saliva, it can make your mouth feel uncomfortable and sore. This can also increase the chances of infections, cavities, and gum problems.
Over 400 drugs can cause dry mouth, and some cancer medicines can do it too. While dry mouth can be annoying, the medicine’s benefits often outweigh this issue. You can try drinking more water, chewing sugarless gum, or using saliva substitutes to help with the dry feeling in your mouth.
Fungal Infection
Certain inhaler medicines for asthma might give you a yeast infection in your mouth called oral candidiasis. To prevent the impact of medications on oral health, rinse your mouth with water after using the inhaler.
Gum Swelling (Gingival Overgrowth) Some drugs can make your gums grow too much, called “gingival overgrowth.” When your gums get swollen and cover your teeth, it can lead to gum disease. Swollen gums make it easy for harmful bacteria to damage your teeth and gums.
Mucositis
Mucositis is when the soft, wet lining in your mouth and digestive system gets swollen and painful. It often happens after chemotherapy, especially with certain drugs like methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. These drugs cause changes in your body that hurt the cells in the mucous membrane. Mucositis makes your mouth and tongue swell up, bleed, and get painful sores. It can be challenging to eat with this condition.
You’re more likely to get mucositis after chemotherapy if you drink alcohol, smoke, don’t take good care of your teeth and gums, are not drinking enough water, or have conditions like diabetes, HIV, or kidney problems.
Mouth Sores (Ulcers)
Ulcers are the impact of medications on oral health. A mouth sore is like an open, painful spot inside or on your tongue. It’s often described as looking like a “crater” because it has a little hole in the middle. This hole is a break in the wet tissue that lines your mouth. People also call these mouth sores “canker sores.”
Taste Changes
The impact of medications on oral health can mess with how things taste. This is called “dysgeusia.” Some drugs can make your food taste weird, like metal, salt, or bitterness in your mouth. This is more common in older folks who take lots of medications.
Usually, these taste changes are temporary and go away when you stop taking the medicine. Chemotherapy drugs like methotrexate and doxorubicin often cause these taste changes.
Tooth Decay
Taking sweetened medicines for a long time can cause cavities in your teeth. Some medicines have added sugar, like vitamins, cough drops, antacids, and syrupy medicines. After using these products, it’s a good idea to rinse your mouth or check with your doctor or pharmacist if there’s a sugar-free option available.
Tooth Discoloration
In the 1950s, doctors found that when pregnant women took tetracycline antibiotics, it made their kids’ teeth turn brown. The reason is that some medicine gets into the calcium used to build teeth. When the teeth grew in, they were yellow, then brown when they saw sunlight.
Teeth discoloration is also an impact of medications on oral health. But tetracycline only changes tooth color if you take it before all your teeth grow. So, nowadays, doctors don’t recommend using tetracycline and similar drugs during pregnancy or for young kids whose teeth are still forming.
Conclusion
The blog guides you on the impact of medications on oral health. Always tell your dentist about the medicines you use before getting any treatment.
Contact Dentalsway for more details on how you can maintain your oral health.
