If
you're taking medications for certain health conditions, it may not
have crossed your mind that they can also impact your oral health. After
all, medications are supposed to bring equilibrium back to your system,
not stir things up, right? Truth is a variety of prescribed medications
can affect your teeth.
Antihistamines may cause
dry mouth syndrome, which can lead to sore gums, making the mouth more
prone to infection. Contraceptives and blood pressure medications may
cause mouth sores, gum inflammation and discoloration. Blood thinners
can interfere with your ability to form blood clots or cause heavy
bleeding after a tooth extraction. Anti-seizure medications can cause an
overgrowth of gum tissue (gingival hyperplasia) and make it difficult
to practice good oral hygiene.
When you're taking
medications and start taking other medications — whether prescribed,
over-the-counter or illegal - it can change the effects of both the
original and the new medications. Simply put, when certain drugs
interact, they may increase or decrease the effects or produce another,
unintended effect. This is why it's so important to keep your dentist
informed about all the medications you take; any teeth medications you
are prescribed will take this into consideration.
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