A new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark just published in the American Journal of Medicine revealed that nearly one in four patients given a new medication by their doctor did not fill the prescription.1 This presents its own set of serious health concerns that should be addressed by the medical community and public at-large.
For the remaining majority of prescriptions that do get filled, it's no secret that some prescription drugs can have undesirable side effects. What you might not know is that one of the most common side effects – dry mouth – can lead to oral health problems.
Dr. Andrew Greenberger, a periodontist and participating Delta Dental dentist who is our spokesperson for our senior oral health public service announcement, frequently educates his patients about how to guard against this condition.
More than 400 medications – including those for common conditions such as hay fever, high blood pressure (hypertension), and depression – are known to have dry mouth as a side effect.2 But dry mouth is more than irritating and mildly uncomfortable. It can increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections.
When there isn't enough saliva to lubricate your mouth, it's harder to speak, chew, and swallow. But saliva also has another important function. It helps control the bacteria that cause tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections. Besides being far more susceptible to developing tooth decay, people with dry mouth often have other oral infections, hoarseness, sore throats, taste changes, and bad breath. It can severely affect your quality of life.
If you do experience dry mouth, these strategies can help:
- Sip water or suck on ice chips frequently.
- Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free candy to stimulate saliva.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco products, which can further dehydrate you.
Occasional dry mouth is normal. If your dry mouth is persistent and you are taking medications, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to determine if those medications are causing your dry mouth and adjust accordingly.This message is courtesy of the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation. For more information, visit www.deltadentalnj.com, our Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation Facebook page or contact me at (973) 944-4555 or firstname.lastname@example.org