EVERY MEDICATION COMES with a list of potential side effects. Sometimes those side effects include a negative impact on oral health.
Certain medications and vitamins can be pretty hard on our teeth, even for the short time they’re in our mouths. As adults, we swallow most of our medicines in pill form, so we don’t have to worry about these problems, but it can be an issue for children. Medicine for kids often comes in the form of sweet syrup and multivitamins, and the sugars in them feeds oral bacteria and leads to tooth decay.
Another culprit is asthma inhalers, which can lead to oral thrush — white patches of fungus on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and other oral tissues. These can be irritating or painful. The best way to prevent this complication from inhaler use is for the patient to rinse with water after every use. Rinsing is a good idea for those sugary cough syrups and multivitamins too.
Just because a pill can’t hurt your mouth directly while you’re swallowing it doesn’t mean it won’t have side effects that impact your mouth later on.
It’s important to be aware of these side effects and to keep your doctor and your dentist in the loop if any of them occur. Prescriptions can sometimes be adjusted to minimize negative effects, but only if your health care professionals know what’s going on!
THE DENTIST IS YOUR BEST RESOURCE FOR ANY ORAL HEALTH CONCERNS YOU HAVE!
EVERY MEDICATION COMES with a list of potential side effects. Sometimes those side effects include a negative impact …
EVERY MEDICATION COMES with a list of potential side effects. Sometimes those side effects include a negative impact …
EVERY MEDICATION COMES with a list of potential side effects. Sometimes those side effects include a negative impact …