Can Prescribed Medications Lead To Gum Disease?

Some prescription medicines may cause gum disease to develop. That is why you need to tell us about any medications you are taking or any underlying diseases you may have, such as diabetes, that can affect your gum health.

Why Some Medicines Cause the Development of Gum Disease

While gum disease normally results from dental neglect, it can also result from taking some medications. Why does this happen? A medicine may cause a condition called xerostomia, or dry mouth to develop. When you have this type of medicinal side effect, your saliva stops flowing like it should. Because saliva balances out the good and bad bacteria in the mouth, a lack of the substance can negatively impact your dental health. A too-dry mouth attracts the bad bacteria that leads to halitosis and gum disease. Therefore, it may be necessary, sometimes, to make an adjustment in a prescription medicine. Before you pop any pill, you may want to consider how it may adversely affect your oral health or your dental hygiene routine at home.

What Medicines Cause Dry Mouth?

Around 400 medicines cause dry mouth, or xerostomia. Therefore, sometimes the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh having dry mouth and any related conditions. If you do have this condition, it is important to drink water daily to keep your mouth hydrated and reduce any associated problems with decay and infections. Besides certain chemotherapy medicines, other medicines that can lead to dry mouth and gum disease include antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotic medications, and medications for Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. People who take blood pressure medicines and heart medications may experience dry mouth as can people who use lung inhalers. Even some acne medications, such as Isotretinoin, can reduce your saliva flow, along with some narcotic pain relievers or anti-anxiety drugs. In addition, medications used for motion sickness and nausea can include compounds that limit the production of saliva.

Would you like to know more about dry mouth and how it affects the gums? If so, give us a call now. Set up an appointment for a comprehensive periodontal exam.