While your oral health may often feel separate from your whole body health, many conditions that affect other parts of your body can also affect your teeth or oral soft tissues. One of the changes that can most significantly alter your oral health is a new medication regimen.
Your dentist needs to know about certain medications you may be taking in order to tailor your oral health care accordingly. If you've started or changed the dosage of the following five types of medication, let your dentist know during your next appointment.
1. Blood Pressure Medication
Heart conditions and the medication that keeps these conditions under control can have a large impact on oral health. For example, high blood pressure medication often has a negative effect on the soft tissues of the mouth.
Without a dental check up while on high blood pressure medication, your gums could overgrow or swell enough to become painful or to inhibit normal chewing.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is hard on the entire body, and the mouth is no different. Chemotherapy can contribute to the formation of canker sores and oral ulcers, as well as cause mucositis.
Mucositis is a condition where the inside of the mouth becomes irritated and painfully inflamed. This condition is the primary reason that some chemotherapy patients have difficulty swallowing.
3. Inhaled Corticosteroids
Inhalers, like those used to control asthma and other respiratory conditions, spray a fine mist of medication into the mouth. While most of this solution is inhaled, some can linger in the mouth, especially on the tongue.
Residual corticosteroids can contribute to yeast infections and other oral fungi development.
4. Insulin
While insulin itself does not necessarily impact your oral health, diabetes does. If you receive a diabetes diagnosis, especially if you begin taking insulin, notify your dentist.
Patients with diabetes are at higher risk of tooth decay, abscesses, and oral infection.
5. Mental Health Medications
Many mental health medications come with side effects that could negatively impact your oral health. For example, many mental health medications cause dry mouth which in turn increases the risk of tooth decay.
Let your dentist know if you start taking an antipsychotic, antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication.
In addition to notifying your dentist about the medications listed above, always answer specific questions your dentist asks about your health as accurately and truthfully as possible. This information allows your dentist to provide you with your best possible oral health care.
