The most common and effective ways to lower your risk for dental cavities include maintaining a meticulous regimen of brushing and flossing, and visiting your dentist on a regular basis. For some people, however, brushing, flossing, and keeping regular dental appointments may not be enough to reduce their risks for carious teeth. If you take certain medications, you may be at a heightened risk for gum disease and cavities. Here are some medications that can put you at risk for developing cavities in your teeth and what you can do about them.

Blood Pressure Medications

If you have hypertension, your doctor has probably prescribed blood pressure medications. In addition to reducing your blood pressure, anti-hypertension drugs can lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. These medications can cause side effects including fatigue, dizziness, muscle pain, and even dry mouth.

When you develop a dry mouth as a result of your blood pressure medications, infection-causing germs can build up inside your mouth. When this happens, you may be at high risk for developing gum disease and cavities. While tooth fillings can save your carious teeth, dentists recommend that you take steps to reduce your risk for cavities so that you do not need multiple procedures.

If you take medications that make your mouth dry, drink plenty of water during the day to help keep oral bacteria at bay. If water fails to improve the symptoms of dry mouth, try sucking on sugar-free hard candies and talk to your dentist about recommending a a lubricating mouthwash, which will mimic the effects of normal salivary flow. 

Aspirin

While taking an aspirin for an occasional headache or painful injury will probably not raise your risk for developing dental cavities, taking aspirin every day might. If your physician believes you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, he or she may recommend that you take a daily aspirin to help promote optimal blood flow.

Because aspirin is a highly acidic drug, it can cause acid erosion. This dental condition is also known as enamel erosion, and it causes thinning, weakness, or destruction of your tooth enamel. When this happens, cavity-causing bacteria can infiltrate your teeth easier, raising your risk for dental caries.

If you take aspirin to prevent a heart attack, do not stop taking it without checking with your physician first. Doing so may raise your risk for a blood clot, heart attack, or cerebral vascular accident. Also, be sure to see your dentist regularly so that he or she can evaluate the condition of your tooth enamel and implement treatment at the first sign of acid erosion.

If you take medications to manage your blood pressure or take aspirin on a regular basis, visit your dentist on a regular basis. When your dentist closely monitors the condition of your teeth, you will be less likely to develop multiple cavities, enamel damage, oral infections, and tooth sensitivity.

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