Medication And The Effect On Oral Health
At Parker & Pennington Dentistry, we know we have a number of patients who take medication daily as a way to treat and prevent health problems. You may be surprised to learn that many medications that help your overall health can cause problems with your oral health. We want to share some of the common side effects and tips to help your oral health:
Be Honest With Us About Your Health
- It is extremely important that you share your medical history and any medications you take before we start any treatment. Certain medical conditions require prescription medication before we can start any dental work. Other medications may need to be stopped prior to treatment. It is also important to notify us of any changes to medication doses that happen between appointments. We want to help you maintain your oral health and also be sure not to compromise your overall health.
Dry Mouth
- You may be surprised to learn the number of prescription and over-the-counter medications that list dry mouth as one of the main side effects. Dry mouth occurs when there is not enough saliva present in your mouth. You need saliva to help remove harmful bacteria and food from your mouth. When there is not enough saliva, it can lead to issues such as decay and gum disease. One way to help prevent dry mouth is to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Abnormal Bleeding
- There are some medications that are known to cause abnormal bleeding when brushing and flossing your teeth. While it is not usually cause for immediate concern, it is a reminder to be gentle when cleaning your teeth. Because certain medications, such as blood thinners, cause abnormal bleeding, we need to be notified so we can adjust the way we clean and treat your teeth.
The next time you are prescribed medication, remember to ask how it can affect your oral health. If your doctor or pharmacist can’t answer your questions, don’t hesitate to call our office located in St. Marys, GA. We are happy to help!
