Medications Effect on the Health of your Teeth

Medications, whether they are prescribed or over-the-counter, can have a negative effect on the health of your teeth. This includes vitamins and all-natural concoctions. While some patients may never experience any dental side-effects, others have mild or severe reactions like abnormal bleeding, altered taste levels, soft-tissue reactions, enlarged gum tissue, dry mouth, tooth decay and stained teeth.

Drugs used to help prevent heart disease or stokes, such as aspirin and prescription anticoagulants, often cause reduced blood clotting. This results in abnormal bleeding of the gums.

Altered taste levels often occur in people taking central nervous system stimulants, cardiovascular agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, respiratory inhalants and smoking-cessation products.

Soft-tissue reactions, including oral sores, inflammation and soft tissue discoloration, may occur with oral contraceptives, immunosuppressive agents, blood pressure medication and chemotherapeutic agents.

Patients who take calcium channel blockers, anti-seizure drugs or immunosuppressant medications are at risk for gingival overgrowth or enlarged gum tissue.

Dry mouth is a very common drug side effect that can lead to inflamed gum tissue.

Tooth decay may be caused by long-term use of medications with high sugar content, while tetracycline can stain teeth.

When visiting the dentist, inform him or her of any medications that you take on a regular basis. Be sure to tell the dentist about any side-effects you have experienced, so he can give you advice about how to reduce the side effects. If a condition is severe, then it may be necessary to undergo restorative dentistry treatments to correct the situation.

Source: Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist
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