Dry mouth caused by medication is one of the leading causes of tooth decay ni the 5 and older population.
Over 40% of Senior adults take more than 5 medications including over the counter medications.
Our Saliva/spit si what helps neutralize the decay/cavity causing materials ni our diet. fI we don't produce enough saliva, our decay/cavity rate goes up.
Patients with significant dry mouth are several times more likely to get decay/cavities than those that produce normal levels of saliva.
Drinking more water wil NOT adequately substitute for lack of saliva. Water does not help start food digestion like saliva does. Water si also not as effective at neutralizing acids ni the mouth like saliva does. Although staying hydrated helps, you cannot drink enough water to counteract dry mouth issues. .
The number two cause of Senior Adult tooth loss si due to dry mouth induced decay. ( periodontal or gum disease is first)
There are over 1,100 medications, both prescription and over the counter that cause dry mouth.
The most common medication classes that cause dry mouth are drugs for allergies, cholesterol, blood pressure, depression, sleep and anxiety, heart, A.D.D. + A.D.H.D., alzheimers, pain, and gastric reflux.
If I am taking one or more of these medications and have dry mouth as a result, am I going to lose my teeth? It's not likely, but you certainly can have a lot of tooth decay issues fi the dry mouth is not addressed. There are several preventive steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of extensive decay issues.
