Dentist Traces Dental Problems to Medicines

The elderly man had tooth decay like the dentist had never seen before

, a large black hole on the outside of one of his two front teeth. The man had heart medicine which he put under his upper lip because he had a bad experience when he put it under his tongue. They were the reason for why he had a hole in his tooth.

Tooth decay and gum diseases are formed from the intake of medicines that the common American takes, say oral medicine experts. Many doctors either don't know about these dental side effects or don't warn patients, the specialists said.

A dentist and pharmacologist advises patients to know more about the medicines and the general health conditions of their patients. He said you need to scrutinize each medicine and think about how it can affect their dental health.

These facts are presented by oral medicine specialists who handled classes at this week's ADA meeting. Gum swelling is apparently suffered by 20% of patients who take calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and heart disease. Because of inflammation, the gums have openings for bacteria to cause swelling and gum disease. Most Americans take a lot of the medicines included in the list.

Anti epilepsy drugs and amphetamines are the source of other swellings as well. Cyclosporin is a medication that organ transplant recipients take, and its side effects include massive gum overgrowth. The gum inflammation of leukemia looks just like it, the dentist stated.

Dry mouth, an apparent side effect of 400 drugs, is also a side effect of radiation treatment for cancer. Essential to a healthy, saliva keeps cavities and plaque from forming, so lack of saliva may be a serious dental problem. Because of the problems calcium channel blockers bring, the dentist would often resort to asking doctors for a switch in the patient's prescription.

If it is impossible, the patients must see the dentist frequently and their plaque buildup must be monitored. Keep the mouth clean, and there will be no need to worry about gum side effects, another dentist advised. According to him, the absence of plaque would mean that there's no problem.

A photograph he showed is that of a Dilantin patient with gums so swollen that only the tips of the front teeth could be seen. He recommends that within 10 days, patients on Dilantin visit the dentist for treatment to minimize the condition. Dental problem sources include prescription drugs, but there are still more to be aware of. Sugar is found in over the counter lozenges, cough drops, and antacids.

In one woman's case, cavities were always showing all throughout her mouth. Dentists couldn't understand why she had this condition when she brushed regularly and did not eat so many sweets. The receptionist found out later on that this woman was actually taking antacid in huge amounts every day.

Dentist Traces Dental Problems to Medicines

By: Vance Key

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