It’s often bad enough that you have to take medicine in the first place, but it’s even worse when they have uncomfortable side effects. Many medications affect your oral health, with one of the most common negative side effects being a dry mouth. It’s important to be aware of what medicines might dry your mouth out, and ways to relieve that symptom if it develops.
What medicines can cause dry mouth?
There are over 400 medicines that have been known to cause dry mouth. The most common types of medicines that promote this side effect are:
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• High blood pressure medicines
• Antidepressants
• Sedatives
• Pain relievers
• Parkinson’s disease medicines
• Antacids
Can dry mouth hurt my teeth?
Having a consistently dry mouth can negatively affect your oral health. Saliva washes away food particles and bacteria in your mouth. If you don’t have enough saliva to help clean your mouth, you’ll be more likely to develop tooth decay and gum infections.
What can I do to relieve my symptoms?
The first thing you should do is ask your doctor if there are medication alternatives that would treat your medical problem but not promote dry mouth. It that isn’t possible, here are some ideas about how to relieve your symptoms of dry mouth:
• Sip water or another sugarless drink often during the day.
• Reduce or cut out caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and tobacco since each of these contributes to dry mouth.
• Drink water or sugar-free drink while eating to aid chewing and swallowing.
• Suck on sugarless candy or gum, which encourages saliva production.
• Avoid spicy and salty foods, because they can cause pain in a dry mouth.
• Use a humidifier while sleeping.
• Ask your doctor or dentist about artificial saliva products.
