This blog is on a subject that has touched my family. Both of my grandparents were dentists
and I have never met anyone with better oral hygiene than my father. So it was a shock for me to learn that
my father has had 6 permanent teeth pulled in the last few years and now needs
implants. What is the sudden cause
in the decline of his oral health? It took changing dentists and meeting a knowledgeable
hygienist who worked in a clinic with me to figure out that the root of the
problem was dry mouth due to his prescription medications.
Saliva is essential for tasting and properly digesting food.
It also helps prevent erosion of your teeth. Several prescription drugs are known to cause dry mouth, such
as anticholinergic, sympathomimetic, or diuretics. Chemotherapy and radiation are also common causes. Signs of dry mouth include difficulty
swallowing, speaking, or with controlling dentures. If left untreated, complications can include increased
incidence of dental caries, halitosis (bad breath), candidosis, or ascending
sialadentitis (pain and swelling of salivary glands).
If a patient is suffering from dry mouth there are a few
recommendations you can make. As a
physician, you could try to alter the medications being prescribed. Additionally, recommend the patient
drinks lots of water and tries to keep their mouth as hydrated as possible. Artificial saliva products are currently
available. Tell them to AVOID alcohol-containing mouthwashes. (This was the
major mistake my father was making.) Of course, patients should also continue to improve upon
their normal oral hygiene- brush and floss regularly, avoid sugary foods, use
fluoride toothpaste, don’t wear dentures at night, etc.
Losing one’s teeth is a terrible thing, especially for
patients who have taken excellent care of them their whole lives. Dentures are no picnic and dental
implants are extremely expensive (the cost of replacing a single tooth ranges
from $1000-$5000). As future
physicians, PA’s and dentists, it is important that we all understand this
connection and learn to recognize the signs and treatments.
For further reading check out this paper: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v199/n7/full/4812740a.html
For further reading check out this paper: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v199/n7/full/4812740a.html
what do you think about retainers at night? My siblings and I all had braces and we still have to wear plastic retainers at night! my brother has to wear the plastic ones, that cover all his teeth. Would those have the same affect as dentures? or not because they are just covering the teeth? Also, I don't think orthodontists are very concerned with changing or replacing them very frequently...I would not think that is very good for ones teeth?
ReplyDeleteI guess it's no secret that I'm very interested in autoimmune diseases because of the effect they have had on my family. As I have said before, my mom has Sjögren's syndrome, which is an autoimmune disease that dries out the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. My mom hasn't had many issues with her dental health...yet. This throws a wrench in things though. So, I just looked up and found that many Sjögren's syndrome patients no longer produce sufficient quantities of protective saliva. And, like you said, this leads to tooth damage and more oral infections. The post states some preventative methods such as brushing and flossing regularly, chewing sugar-free gum or candy, and staying hydrated throughout the day. I'm happy that I read this post. This is incredibly interesting and very applicable to my families situation. Thanks Jess!
ReplyDeleteReferences:
http://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-sjogrens-syndrome/living-with-sjogrens/dry-mouth-tips
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