If you are on a daily regimen of prescription medications, you know how imperative they are to your health. But when you take your pills every morning, you are most likely thinking about how they are necessary for your health condition, not about the effect they could have on your oral health.
While prescription medications work to ward off potentially life-threatening diseases and impede the side effects from other conditions from worsening, there are other areas of your health that are compromised when prescription medications are a significant part of your healthcare routine. Unfortunately, because of their role in sustaining your health, these medications are required in order to ensure that you don’t succumb to the side effects of your diagnosis.
Because you are at the mercy of these medications, the pills you take are not up for negotiation. Instead, it is important that you communicate the medications you are on to your dentist so that they can predict what side effects you are more susceptible to and personalize your treatment plan accordingly. Below are the most common oral side effects of medications:
Dry Mouth
It is very likely that one or more of the medications you have been prescribed will reduce the amount of saliva you produce. Not only is this physically uncomfortable, it can deteriorate tooth and gum health. The soft tissue in your mouth needs saliva or else it will become dry and inflamed, eventually cracking, which makes your mouth vulnerable to infection. Also, not many individuals realize that saliva acts as a cleaning agent inside your mouth. Without it, your teeth will gradually begin to decay.
Gum Overgrowth
Some pills are known for causing gum overgrowth, which means that gums swell so substantially that they begin to grow overtop of teeth. Whenever gums swell, it becomes a suitable environment for bacteria to spread, making it more likely for bacteria to find its way into your bloodstream.
Ulcers
If you have ever had an ulcer before, you know how painful they can be, making eating, drinking, brushing your teeth, and even talking dreadful experiences. Certain medications increase your risk of developing multiple ulcers, or “craters” as they are often referred to. These holes are actually breaks in the tissue.
As we get older, it becomes more likely that we will be prescribed certain medications. On top of that, oral hygiene also becomes more pressing because older adults are more liable to oral health problems, which is why it is important they find a dentist who will work with them every step of the way. Onsite Dentists Of Texas brings comprehensive care to elderly patients both in nursing homes and other assisted living facilities!