When visiting Danville Family Dentistry, we ask all of our Hendricks County patients for their medical histories, including a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications they’re taking. You may wonder why we want to know what medications you’re on. Well, many medications you may be taking can have a negative effect on your oral health.
Below are some common medication side effects that can impact your teeth and gums. Additionally, we provide the reasons why you need to let Dr. Jon Erickson and his Hendricks County staff know that you’re taking these medications.
- Abnormal bleeding – Aspirin and anticoagulants, like heparin or warfarin, can cause bleeding issues during oral surgery or when you’re being treated for periodontal diseases. Dr. Erickson needs to know about these drugs, so he can be aware of potential bleeding problems when treating you.
- Altered taste – Some medications, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cardiovascular medicines, central nervous system stimulants, respiratory inhalants, and smoking-cessation products, can cause a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth. They can also affect your ability to taste. If you’re experiencing any taste problems, contact your medical doctor to see if he/she can prescribe another medication.
- Soft-tissue reactions – Some medications, such as those for blood pressure control, immunosuppressive agents, oral contraceptives, and chemotherapeutic drugs, may cause oral sores, inflammation, or discoloration of the soft tissues in your mouth. If you’re having soft-tissue reactions, let Dr. Erickson know. He may recommend a special oral hygiene regimen to reduce any discomfort you may be experiencing.
- Enlarged gum tissue – Also known as “gingival overgrowth,” enlarged or overgrown gum tissues can be caused by anti-seizure medications, immunosuppressant drugs, and calcium channel blockers. If you have this condition, you’ll need take special care of your teeth and gums to manage it.
- Dry mouth – Several medications can cause dry mouth, which is due to a decrease in salvia production. Some dry-mouth-inducing medications include antihistamines, decongestants, painkillers, high blood pressure medications, muscle relaxants, urinary incontinence drugs, Parkinson’s disease medications, and antidepressants. If you’re experiencing dry mouth, Dr. Erickson can prescribe an oral rinse to help restore moisture in your mouth.
- Oral candidiasis – Oral inhalers for asthma can cause you to develop oral candidiasis, which is an oral fungal infection. Make sure to rinse your mouth with water after using your inhaler to help prevent this condition.
At Danville Family Dentistry, we want to provide you with the best dental care possible. Therefore, as you can see, it’s important that we know what medications you’re taking. When you visit our Hendricks County office, please provide us with a list of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re on. In the meantime, if you’re experiencing a problem with your oral health and you wonder if your medications may be causing it, give us a call at 317-745-4400. We’ll be happy to talk to you about it.
(317) 745-4400
