Medication Side Effects & Your Oral Health

Medication Side EffectsSee Dr. Carol Jin, DDS for the best advice about medication side effects and your oral health in San Ramon, CA. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications affect your teeth, from specialized chemotherapy treatments to common painkillers. Even vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements can lead to dental problems. Because the side effects are so common, it’s essential to keep your dentist updated on what medicines you’re taking so she can help you maintain your oral health.

Side Effects To Look For

Here are some of the side effects of medications that can threaten your teeth, gums, and mouth. Check the labels and patient information for your medicine to see which ones apply to you.

  • Dry Mouth
  • Tooth Decay
  • Altered Taste
  • Tooth Discoloration
  • Overgrown Gums
  • Swollen Tongue
  • Sores Inside Your Mouth
  • Abnormal Bleeding
  • Mouth Infection

Potential Oral Health Issues

Many medications (particularly children’s medications) contain sugar, a known culprit of tooth damage. Dry mouth — a side effect of numerous medications — can lead to a range of tooth and gum problems. When saliva isn’t there to keep food and plaque off your teeth, the teeth will start to decay, and your gums can swell. Swollen gums increase your risk of developing gum disease.

Special Concerns Of Chemotherapy Drugs

Chemotherapy drugs can also cause a variety of oral health issues. They can be as mild as altering your sense of taste to as painful as your tongue or inner lining of your mouth swelling. In rare cases, some medications can lead to serious jaw problems since they weaken bones. If you’re going to start cancer treatment, let your dentist know as soon as possible, so she can perform any necessary dental work before your chemotherapy makes the procedures more complicated.

Regular Check-Ups Reduce Problems

Good oral hygiene can prevent these problems before they develop, and regular check-ups with a dentist are part of that. When the dentist knows what medicines you’re taking, she knows what signs to watch for and can treat these problems early. She can even give you tips about what to do at home to minimize your risk of potential side effects.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Want to learn more about how medication side effects could be affecting your mouth? Contact Dr. Carol Jin, DDS in San Ramon today for a quality consultation. Make sure to bring an up-to-date record of all of the medicines you’re taking so she can give you the best advice for your situation.

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