Certain Medications That May Be Affecting Your Oral Health

Don't second guess yourself on medication - be aware.

Side effects are commonplace for many different medications, over the counter or prescription. However, sometimes we are unaware of what the side effects are. This is because we’re completely focused on treating the ailment we received the medication for in the first place.

Aspirin

A lot of us take aspirin. How many of your actually chew your aspirin? Probably not many – we hope. But, if you do then we advise you to stop this habit as it has been linked to causing erosion to the surface of your teeth. This causes tooth decay. If you’re going to take aspirin then make sure to swallow it.

Antihistamines + Decongestants

Both of these medications will dry the mouth out and even the body as a whole. This translates into much less saliva production and saliva is a crucial part in managing the host of bacteria found within our mouth. Simply put: less saliva, more chance of decay. Make sure you stay hydrated with water to make up for this.

High Blood Pressure Pills

Many of the name brand pills used to treat high blood pressure have a small chance of developing sores and inflammation inside the mouth. There’s not much that can be done to prevent this other than to find alternatives ways of lowering blood pressure or lowering your dosage. This should be discussed with your doctor or primary care physician.

Acne Medication

Specifically tetracycline has a high chance of causing permanent stains on the teeth as they are developing. This puts younger people at risk since they are the group who are most likely to take acne medication.

There are thousands of different medications on the market. If you ever feel as if one of them is impeding on your oral health, then consult with your doctor – who may point you back to your dentist.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you notice a problem, try and take care of it as soon as you can before something more serious arises. And always, always make sure to brush and floss your teeth daily and nightly – especially when you’re on medication of any sort.