Watch out for pill induced 'dry mouth' and cavities

As a dentist I see a lot of patients that suffer from accelerated dental disease caused by their medications. Yet most people would never believe their blood pressure pills could cause tooth loss. Could you please discuss the issue of medication-induced xerostomia with your readers?
- Jeffrey Joy DDS

Like your patients I, too, was ignorant of how everyday medicines can make or break your dental health.
We all know sugar rots your teeth, but it may surprise many people to learn an estimated one in five cases of tooth loss is caused by medication-related xerostomia, or "dry mouth".
Why is a dry mouth such a bad thing? Simply put, without saliva you will lose your teeth in a matter of months.
Our bodies make a litre of the stuff every day for a reason. It flushes away food debris, kills bacteria on contact, and gives our teeth a constant supply of calcium for remineralisation.
Many medications interfere with saliva production, and accelerated tooth decay is the result. It's not uncommon for people who've never had a cavity to develop multiple cavities, and eventually tooth loss, after starting common medicines like beta-blockers.
Xerostomia can be caused by surgery, radiation, or salivary gland diseases, but the most common causes are medications like blood pressure pills, antidepressants, analgesics, and even some asthma medications. The list of offending medicines is extensive.
However, there are ways to prevent xerostomia. Some of the easiest are drinking water prior to taking your medicines to coat the mouth and tongue, staying well hydrated, avoiding coffee and alcohol, and avoiding taking medications right before sleep, when salivary flows are at their lowest.
Your doctor can also consider adjusting doses or changing you to medications that don't cause xerostomia. If you've noticed worsening tooth decay after starting a daily medication, discuss it with your doctor and dentist. There's no reason blood pressure control should cost you your pearly whites.
Gary Payinda MD is an emergency medicine consultant in Whangarei.
Have a science, health topic or question you'd like addressed? Email: drpayinda@gmail.com
(This column provides general information and is not a substitute for the medical advice of your personal doctor.)