Are Your Medications Affecting Your Oral Health?
At Northridge Dental Group, we are passionate about our patients’ oral and overall health. You may be surprised to learn that your overall health has a direct effect on your oral health. This is one of the reasons we regularly ask about any changes to your medical history during each visit to our office. Patients are surprised to learn that many medications, prescription and over-the-counter alike, can cause lasting problems with your teeth and mouth that can affect their oral health for years to come. We want to share some of the common side effects and tips to help your oral health:
Be Honest with Us
When we ask about any changes, be sure to tell us anything that may have changed since we last saw you. This includes dosage increases and decreases for any medications you may take regularly. Certain medical conditions require us to prescribe you medication before treatment, and some medications may need to be stopped before we can treat you.
Dry Mouth
This is a very common side effect among a number of medications. Dry mouth occurs when your mouth does not produce enough saliva, which you need to wash away food from your mouth and help prevent harmful decay from building up on your teeth. Prolonged dry mouth can lead to recurring dental decay and gum disease. To help combat dry mouth, we recommend increasing your water intake.
Abnormal Bleeding
Typically, bleeding gums can be an indication that you may be suffering from a common condition known as gum disease. However, there are many medications, such as blood thinners, that can also cause the gums to bleed. If you regularly take a medication that causes bleeding gums, we don’t want you to be alarmed if you notice regular bleeding, especially after brushing and flossing your teeth or after a routine dental cleaning.
Be sure to let us know about any changes in your medical history or medications during your next visit to our office. The next time you are prescribed a medication, ask how it can affect your oral health. If your doctor or pharmacist can’t answer your questions, don’t hesitate to call our office, which is located in Northridge, CA. We are happy to help!
