For a beautiful smile and a healthy mouth, you’ll need good oral hygiene, fewer sweets in your diet, and regular trips to the dentist. However, some medications can be harmful to your teeth, even if they help you otherwise. If you take any of the following medicines, make sure you keep up with your dental health.

What Medicines Can Cause Dental Decay?

1. Antidepressants 

Drugs for treating depression can affect teeth in two ways. First, they can make the mouth dry, which can expedite the progression of tooth decay and gum disease. Treatment for this condition includes more frequent dental care, drinking extra water, and brushing with prescribed fluoride toothpaste to keep the mouth moist.

Antidepressants can also lower blood pressure, which can reduce the safety of dental anesthesia. Make sure to inform your dentist that you’re taking this type of medicine. They’ll perform additional safety measures to accommodate the side effects.

2. Antihistamines & Decongestants

These two medications are often sold over the counter to prevent allergic reactions and symptoms associated with the common cold, such as sneezing, coughing, and congestion. However, both drugs reduce the production of saliva, which prevents your mouth from drying out and helps remove food particles.

When your mouth is too dry, gum disease and tooth decay can quickly set in because of the trapped food particles. Decongestants in the form of cough syrups can also cause problems for your teeth because of their acidic nature; acidic foods and beverages can discolor teeth and cause decay.

3. Pain Medications

Taking an occasional over-the-counter pain medication like aspirin won’t likely affect your dental health. However, for those who take aspirin for chronic pain management, tooth decay is a significant problem.

The drug is often chewed instead of swallowed whole, which can erode tooth enamel. It can also create severe erosion of the lower molars and premolars. Ask your oral health professional about possible methods to reduce this deterioration.

If you’re taking any of these medications, you’ll need the help of a dentist to maintain your oral health. The experienced team at The Montana Center for Laser Dentistry PLLC, in Whitefish, MT, provides a wide array of dental services in a comfortable, relaxing environment. With another office in Kalispell, they offer everything from modern laser dentistry to teeth whitening services. To schedule an appointment with a dentist, call (406) 862-1010 for the Whitefish location or (406) 730-1010 for Kalispell. Visit them online today for more information.