Medicines Can Cause Dental Problems

It was large black hole, it was on the elderly man’s front tooth, and it was definitely something the dentist didn’t expect to see. The man was taking nitroglycerine tablets which he stuck under his upper lip instead of putting it under his tongue. The tablets were the ones that ate through his tooth and created that big hole.

The oral medicine specialists have stated that hundreds of commonly taken pills and tablets are direct causes of tooth decay and gum disease. Patients suffer tooth decay and gum disease because their doctors either don’t tell them these are the side effects of the medication or the doctors themselves have no clue. You will find info on sedation dentistry sydney by visiting that site.

Dentists should ask patients to tell them about what medicines they take and for what medical conditions, a dentist and pharmacologist said. He said they have to look very carefully at the medicines their patients take and think very carefully about the side effects.

These facts are presented by oral medicine specialists who handled classes at this week’s ADA meeting. Statistics show that about 20% of patients who take calcium channel blockers develop gum swelling. Gum swelling and disease come about through the infiltation of bacteria in the gums through pockets caused by inflammation. These medicines include some of the nation’s biggest selling drugs.

Amphetamines and anti epilepsy drugs create similar swelling side effects as well. Greater gum swelling is caused by a drug used for organ transplant patients, which is called cyclosporin. Inflammation caused by leukemia is similar in appearance. You will find that further information on painless dentistry is on that site.

Cancer patients experience dry mouth from radiation treatment, and dry mouth is a side effect of more than 400 drugs. Dental problems result from lack of saliva, and those who don’t have enough may need topical fluoride treatment. The dentist would usually tell the patient’s doctor that if possible, he should change the calcium channel blockers prescription and switch it with another heart medicine.

If this cannot be done, then plaque buildup must be constantly controlled and trips should be scheduled every two months. Another oral specialist points out that as long as the mouth is kept clean, then there’s no worry about gum side effects. If no plaque can be found in the mouth, then there’s nothing to worry about, he said.

The only clearly visible part of the front teeth of the Dilantin patient with swollen gums in the photograph he showed was the tips. A patient who is on Dilantin is recommended to see a dentist in 10 days so that the condition can be minimized through treatment, he said. Dental problem sources include prescription drugs, but there are still more to be aware of. Sugar can be found in cough drops and lozenges.

A woman had a problem, which was the repeated presence of cavities. She rarely ate sweets and always brushed her teeth, so dentists were a bit confused. Large amounts of antacid were consumed by the woman every day, it was later found out.