subject: Mouthful Of Medicines, A Mouthful Of Tooth Decay [print this page] The elderly man's tooth decay, a large black hole on one of his front teeth, was a sight that the dentist did not expect to see.
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. These tablets ate away at his tooth, creating that big hole.
Hundreds of medicines that Americans take every day, from the country's most popular blood pressure pills to chewable vitamin C tablets, can cause serious tooth decay and gum disease, oral medicine experts told the American Dental Association.
It's possible that doctors have no idea that the medicines may damage teeth, but it's also possible they know but aren't saying, the oral experts pointed out.
One piece of advice a dentist and pharmacologist gives to co oral specialists is that they should ask their patients about their medications.
He advises dentists to make careful observations of the medicines and to consider the side effects they may have.
The following information was presented by oral medicine specialists who taught classes at this week's ADA meeting.
Up to 20 percent of patients taking calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and heart disease suffer gum swelling.
Gum disease and swelling are caused by the invasion of bacteria through the open pockets in gums brought by inflammation. These medicines are some of the biggest selling drugs around.
Anti epilepsy drugs and amphetamines are the source of other swellings as well. Used to prevent organ rejection, cyclosporin is capable of causing a bigger type of swelling.
The inflammation of the gums has the same appearance as the inflammation caused by leukemia.
Hundreds of drug cause dry mouth, which is also a side effect of radiation treatment. Since saliva is important for a healthy mouth, lack of it would lead to many different kinds of dental infections.
The problems caused by calcium channel blockers can be so serious that the dentist would call the doctor and ask him to change the prescription.
If not, then regular trips to the dentist are in order, as well as strict plaque control. Another dentist said the gum side effects could be avoided provided the mouth is kept clean.
As long as there's no plaque, there's nothing to worry about, he said.
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.
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.
There are other things to be concerned about aside from prescription drugs. Lozenges, cough drops, and antacids contain a lot of sugar.
Cavities kept on showing up inside the mouth of one woman. Dentists couldn't understand why she had this condition when she brushed regularly and did not eat so many sweets.
When the receptionist saw her taking pills, the woman said that she consumed three packs of antacid every day.
