Tooth Problems From Medications
July 26th, 2010A large black hole on a front tooth of an elderly man’s mouth was what the dentist saw, and it was the most unusual looking tooth decay ever seen. It turns out the man gagged on his heart medicine when he stuck the nitroglycerine tablets under his tongue where they’re supposed to go so instead he stuck them under his top lip. And they ate the 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. The oral experts state that it’s possible that doctors are ignorant of the side effects or they know about them but don’t tell the patients.
A dentist and pharmacologist advises patients to know more about the medicines and the general health conditions of their patients. As you look through each medicine, think about how they can affect the patient’s dental health, he tells dentists.
Teachers at this week’s ADA meeting, oral medicine specialists reveal what are said to be the top problems. Calcium channel blockers, which are prescribed for high blood pressure, has gum swelling as a side effect, which affects 20% of the patients who take them. Because of inflammation, the gums have openings for bacteria to cause swelling and gum disease. Many of these medicines are widely sold all over the country.
Drugs for epilepsy and drugs for child hyperactivity may also cause similar swellings. Cyclosporin is a drug used to prevent organ rejection and this can cause massive gum overgrowth. Its appearance also can resemble the gum inflammation caused by leukemia, he warned.
A lot of drugs are responsible for causing dry mouth, which is also caused by radiation treatment. Dental problems result from lack of saliva, and those who don’t have enough may need topical fluoride treatment. The dentist would often contact the doctor of the patient and request that calcium channel blockers be replaced with another heart medicine because of the gravity of the problem.
There has to be strict plaque control and frequent trips to the dentist otherwise. Another dentist said the gum side effects could be avoided provided the mouth is kept clean. There will be no problem if there is no plaque, he said.
The only visible part of the front teeth of the Dilantin patient in the photo he showed was the tips because of swollen gums. He stated that a patient who is taking Dilantin is recommended to consult the dentist in 10 days so that the gum pockets where bacteria lurks could be treated. Dentists don’t just point to prescription drugs as a problem. Sugar is an ingredient found in lozenges and cough drops, as well as antacids.
He mentioned a woman who always showed up with new cavities. She said she brushed regularly and avoided sweets, leaving the dentists so perplexed. Later on, it was discovered by the receptionist that the woman was popping three packs of antacids into her mouth every day.