What You Should Know About Medication and Your Teeth

You probably know that there are a number of things you should do to protect your teeth. The health of your mouth can actually affect the health of your entire body. For this reason, we recommend being conscientious of the medications you take and telling our dentist about any medications you take.

There are more than 400 medications that can cause dry mouth, which greatly reduces the amount of saliva you have in your mouth. While this may not seem overly serious, if you don’t have enough saliva, bacteria and food particles can stay on your teeth, causing decay, infection, and irritation.

Certain inhaler medications, typically used for asthma or bronchitis, can cause a yeast infection known as candidiasis. However, please note that you may be able to slow this problem by rinsing your mouth out with water after each use. Other medications can cause a buildup of gum tissue. Your gums could become swollen, tender, and even start to grow over your teeth.

Other medications can also lead to a number of serious issues. Some of these medications include high blood pressure and heart medications, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications. Even over-the-counter pain medications can cause issues with your oral health.

Do you have more questions about the medications you take? Are you interested in learning more about how you can prevent the negative effects of these medications? Were you simply hoping to schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Matthew Scaffa? If so, we invite you to contact practice_name] by calling us at (718) 313-4343. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and concerns you may have.