The busy city of Oshawa is known for having a focus on healthcare, but one area related to overall health care that is often neglected is the effect that medications can have on your oral health. The medications used to treat a variety of health conditions may have adverse effects on the mouth and teeth, ranging from minor inconveniences to significant dental problems as practiced in an Oshawa dentist office. Residents need to understand these effects so that they can care for their oral health to manage their ongoing medical needs effectively.
Mechanism of Action
One of the most common side effects is dry mouth (xerostomia) which several medications can cause this decrease oral health. These drugs can either decrease saliva production or change its composition it, resulting in a dry mouth. Saliva is necessary for several aspects of oral health aside from simply keeping tissues moist including aiding in digestion to neutralizing acids produced by oral bacteria (to prevent tooth decay).
Medications & Oral Health Implications
1. Antidepressants and Antipsychotics:
Consequences:
These drugs commonly cause dry mouth, which can lead to cavities and gum disease and promote the growth of oral infections.
Management:
Hydration, saliva substitutes, sugar-free gum, meticulous oral hygiene
2. Antihistamines:
Ramifications:
Also leads to dry mouth; may be bothersome and increases the risk of dental caries.
Management:
In this case please select sugar-free formulations and discuss having other choices with your healthcare provider to help mitigate this problem.
3. Blood Pressure Medications (Antihypertensives)
Side effects:
Certain medications have been shown to produce gingival overgrowth (gingival hyperplasia) that would then create a need for more meticulous oral care, thereby increasing the potential risk of periodontal disease.
Treatment:
Regular dental check-ups, good oral hygiene practices, and dose adjustments of medications in consultation with healthcare providers are the key components.
4. Chemotherapy Drugs:
Effect:
Many Chemotherapies cause inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, oral infections, etc.
Prevention:
The patient should be given a dental consult; oral prophylaxis with removal of diseased teeth will prevent further patient infection.
Tips to Keep the Oral Hygiene
Dental Health in Oshawa:
Regular visits to a dentist in Oshawa are necessary to detect oral conditions aggravated by medications early on. Individuals with orthodontics work hard to avoid setting yourself up for disaster, I can offer personalized advice and treatments.
Talking to Health Care Providers
Before seeing your doctor, tell him or her that you are scheduled to have oral surgery so he or she can check whether any part of your treatment might affect the choice of anesthetic. With this collaboration, a more complete approach to the care of medical conditions and the problems of oral health are guaranteed.
Perfect Dental Hygiene Tips:
Daily routines such as brushing teeth at least 2 times a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and using mouthwash can help reduce plaque build-up.
Hydration and Saliva Production:
Hydrating throughout the day is crucial to keep dry mouth at bay. Chewing on sugar-free candies or gums can help in the generation of saliva which can in turn help with keeping the mouth wet and neutralizing acids.
Topical Fluoride:
A dentist may apply fluoride in a treatment or prescribe it in a fluoride toothpaste as another step in the protection of tooth enamel against decay.
Drug Adjustment:
If medication side effects are greatly affecting the oral cavity, prescriptions may be changed to help mitigate their side effects or to find other means to treat the patient.
To conclude, it is not that medications and drugs used to treat so many diseases are bad but the consequences on oral health if not identified compromised. There are several things that residents in Oshawa can do to protect their oral health including knowing the impact medications may have on their dental care, keeping up with regular dental appointments, and practicing good oral hygiene. People who make both medical and dental care a priority will likely suffer fewer oral health issues and enjoy the benefits of better health. Whether by action or by talk, more should be done within Oshawa to build an oral health and comprehensive healthcare community commitment.