Drugs
(They can affect your periodontal health)
Many people take various medications to help treat health problems. Sometimes these medications can have different side effects on the patient´s oral health. Some of the most common oral side effects associated to medications include:
Dry Mouth (xerostomia) - a condition that leaves the mouth without enough saliva to wash down food and neutralize plaque, leaving the patient susceptible to dental caries and periodontal diseases. Besides, dry mouth can cause sore throat, difficulty swallowing and raspy throat.The medications associated to dry mouth include:
- allergy medications like antihistaminics
- blood pressure medications or diuretics
- analgesics
- high blood pressure medications
- antidepressives
Talk to your dental professional if you suffer from dry mouth for there are remedies.
Gum tissue over-growth - a condition in which gums get swollen and grow over the teeth. "Grown" gums make plaque accumulation and the attack to teeth support structures easier, which can lead to severe periodontal infection. The medications associated to gum over-growth include:
- anticonvulsivants (eg. phenytoin - used to treat epilepsy)
- inmunosupressives (eg. cyclosporine - used after organ transplants)
- High blood pressure medications (eg. niphedipine, calcium channel blockers)
Gum decoloration - a condition en which gum tissues look dark between black and blue and on ocassion they might look transparent. The medications associated to gum decoloration include:
- Acne medications (eg. minocyicline)
- Arthritis medications
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) - ONJ is a condition in which the bone of the jaw does not heal after surgery, be it minor or major, causing bone exposure. This exposure can eventually lead to infection or a fracture that will need long term antibiotics or surgery to remove the bone tissue that has died. The medications associated to ONJ include:
- Intravenous bisphosphonates (commonly used in chemotherapy patients)
- Oral bisphosphonates
Todays health and beauty consumers look for treatments and medications to proactively protect their body and appearence with few or no side effects. Patients can help achieve this goal informing their health-care professional of any change in overall health and prescription or OTC medications they are taking.
