6 Types of drugs that can damage teeth if taken too often

You may not realize that many certain drugs on the market or those that come from a doctor's prescription can cause tooth decay, especially if you frequently take this medicine. More than 400 drugs in fact have been clinically proven to cause dry mouth, or in medical terms xerotomia.

In fact, dry mouth is one of the most commonly seen side effects of taking drugs, but many people don't realize it. In fact, dry mouth is the main cause of a person experiencing oral disorders such as gum infections and tooth decay. Here are some drugs that can cause tooth decay:

1. Antacids

If you frequently take antacids, drugs used to neutralize stomach acid, you are prone to tooth decay. Antacids not only cause dry mouth, but often contain a lot of sugar.

You can reduce your use of antacid drugs by choosing a sugar-free version of the antacid. In addition, you can also do dental care such as flossing to help prevent further tooth decay.

2. Pain relievers

Frequently taking pain relievers such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) has also been shown to cause tooth decay as a result of dry mouth. If you are accustomed to taking pain medication for a long time, then you will be prone to more serious dental problems that even lead to chronic pain.

To overcome this, you can drink lots of water, brush your teeth regularly, and use a moisturizing mouth spray.

3. Antihistamines and decongestants

Antihistamines are allergy medications that can block histamine receptors in preventing various allergies in the body. But in fact there are side effects that can be caused to other parts of the body, such as the mouth and tongue. The reason is, antihistamines inhibit saliva production so that it makes the mouth dry. Meanwhile, taking decongestants (cold and flu medicine) in the form of syrup will cause erosion of the teeth because there is a very high acid content.

You can use fluoride toothpaste after consuming cough syrup to help prevent tooth erosion.

4. High blood pressure medication

Beta blockers are drugs that inhibit beta-adrenergic receptors in modulating heart function, respiration, dilation of blood vessels which has the side effect of causing dry mouth, which can increase the risk of tooth decay.

However, there are several other drug options for high blood pressure such as Lisinopril which have shown fewer oral side effects. So if you notice any tooth decay such as cavities since taking your high blood pressure medication, ask your doctor for a replacement.

5. Antidepressants

A 2016 study conducted at the University of Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine looked at the association between antidepressant drug use and dental implant failure. Although this new information needs to be confirmed by conducting larger studies, the use of antidepressants has been associated with loss of bone metabolism for more than a decade. Thus, this can increase the likelihood of a person experiencing rampant tooth decay such as bad breath, gum disease, oral yeast infection, and other oral health problems.

6. Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are used to treat various ailments such as asthma, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, long-term use of corticosteroids will lead to calcification of the dental pulp. This pulp stone disease can cause pain, oral infections, tooth abscesses, and hardening of the pulp tissue which are so severe that root canal treatment is required.

Reducing corticosteroid drugs for patients with certain diseases is very difficult, therefore it is important for you to have an open dialogue with your doctor and dentist.

Conclusion

It will be a difficult choice when you are required to take drugs to treat certain diseases, but these drugs actually have side effects that can cause tooth decay. Therefore, you should regularly consult a doctor to ensure that taking certain drugs does not cause tooth decay. In addition, regularly brushing your teeth with the right technique and drinking lots of water can prevent further damage.