Medications And Oral Health
Patients are often surprised to learn that, many times, there is a link between your oral and overall health. This is one of the reasons we request that patients update us on their medical history each time they visit the office. There are many conditions and medications that can affect your oral health and lead to complications in the future. The more we know about your overall health, the more we can prepare for the way we care for your oral health. For example, patients with certain heart conditions will need to take an antibiotic before treatment. Other medications may increase your likelihood of developing decay and other issues.
Medication Side Effects and Your Oral Health
While you expect medications you take to be helping your overall health, there are some that have certain side effects that can be causing long-term damage to your oral health. The more you know about your medications, the more precautions you can take to avoid issues. We recommend being mindful of side effects such as:
Dry Mouth
You would be surprised to learn the number of medications that can lead to issues with dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when there is a lack of saliva. Over time, this can lead to recurring issues with tooth decay.
Abnormal Bleeding
Blood thinners and other medications can cause an increase in bleeding, especially when brushing and flossing your teeth. We also need to be notified if you are taking blood thinners before any treatment.
Prolonged Treatment
Certain treatments that happen over a longer period of time, such as cancer treatments, can cause severe problems with your oral health. Before starting these treatments, it is important to visit our office so we can see the state of your oral health. We can continue to monitor your teeth and mouth during treatment to be aware of any changes as soon as possible.
Be sure to mention any changes in medical history or medications during your next visit to our office. The next time you are prescribed medication, don’t hesitate to ask how it can affect your oral health. If your doctor or pharmacist can’t answer your questions, call our office located in Spotswood, NJ. We are happy to help!
