Medications/impact and your oral health!

Did you know that so many medications that are routine for many can have a lasting and profound impact on your oral health!

In this blog we will discuss the impact that some of those routine medications can have on your mouth, teeth and gums!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact any of the team at Paste! We are more than happy to give advice and liase with your GP to optimise your health on all fronts!

Some common over-the-counter and prescription medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Decongestants, antacids and antihistamines are well know for reducing salivary flow! This in turn increases the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath! Dry mouth can also make some dental procedures difficult such as taking impressions!

Several medications know as calcium channel blockers, used to treat high blood pressure can cause a condition known as gingival hypertrophy. In this condition, excess gum tissues can literally grow up around your teeth, often becoming inflamed and bleeding, this condition is both unsightly and difficult to manage, with severe cases requiring surgical removal of excess gum tissue!

Medication such as blood thinners, can increase your bleeding risk after routine surgical dental procedures, thus a dentist may have to modify their  dental treatment plan, creating a bespoke solution in tandem with your GP, to ensure safe, effective care. 

Antibiotics, while super effective in treatment systemic infections, can also disrupt the natural balance in the oral microbiome, leading to oral health issues such as thrush or antibiotic-resistant infections. 

Chemotherapy medications are used to kill cancer cells, but they can also have a damaging effect on normal cells in the mouth. Patients often experience burning, peeling of tissues or painful mouth sores that make eating difficult. These drugs can also increase your risk for tooth decay. Children who are under chemotherapy treatment may experience malformations of the teeth or teeth falling out.

Another family of medications (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)- with common members being ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac, have also been shown to have an impact on the healing process post dental surgical treatments and indeed during the period following the placement of a medical grade titanium dental implant. While academic literature on this area is in it’s infancy, existing studies indicate that there is a negative effect of healing, but wish for further more robust human studies for clear evidence. 

As a cosmetic and restorative dentist in Belfast, it is vital that our patient’s inform us of any medications they routinely take, as well as any underlying health conditions as it just might be vital information that we need, to provide safe dental care!