The elderly man’s tooth decay, a large black hole on one of his front teeth, was a sight that the dentist did not expect to see. 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. These tablets ate away at his tooth, creating that big hole. You will gain a deeper understanding about sedation dentistry by checking out that resource.
According to oral medicine experts, medicines such as vitamin C tablets and blood pressure pills may have serious bearing on dental problems of Americans. Patients don’t know these side effects because their doctors don’t tell them, and this might be because their doctors don’t know also, the specialists say.
A dentist and pharmacologist at the University of Buffalo said they urged dentists to question patients about their general health and medications. He said they have to look very carefully at the medicines their patients take and think very carefully about the side effects.
The following information was presented by oral medicine specialists who taught classes at this week’s ADA meeting. Gum swelling is apparently suffered by 20% of patients who take calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and heart disease. Inflammation opens gums so that they are susceptible to bacterial infection, thus developing swelling and gum disease. Included in this list of medicines are the widely sold drugs. This site teaches you about pain free dentist.
Amphetamines and anti epilepsy drugs create similar swelling side effects as well. A more serious type of overgrowth of the gums is a side effect of cyclosporin, a drug used to prevent organ rejection. The appearance of leukemia caused gum inflammation is almost the same as cyclosporin caused inflammation.
A lot of drugs are responsible for causing dry mouth, which is also caused by radiation treatment. Since not enough saliva can pose as a dental problem for people, those who suffer from lack of it may need topical fluoride treatment. Because of the problems calcium channel blockers bring, the dentist would often resort to asking doctors for a switch in the patient’s prescription.
If not, they need very strict plaque control and to see the dentist every two months, he said. Indeed, gum side effects could be prevented by a clean mouth, said another dentist, who showed a photograph of a Procardia patient whose teeth and gums were so damaged the patient needed surgery. If the mouth is plaque free, he said, then there’s no problem that I see.
The only visible part of the front teeth of the Dilantin patient in the photo he showed was the tips because of swollen gums. Treatment of the gum pockets within 10 days is recommended by him for patients going on Dilantin to minimize the condition. The problem is not just confined to prescription drugs. Over the counter lozenges, cough drops and antacids are full of sugar.
In one woman’s case, cavities were always showing all throughout her mouth. She did not eat sweets so much and brushed her teeth regularly, and this made dentists wonder. She later on admitted that she sucked on three packs of antacid a day. Titles ============================= Medication, Possible Cause of Gum Swelling