If the appearance of cavities is undoubtedly the result of poor dental hygiene, taking many drugs promotes their appearance, according to an article published in the journal Prescrire.
“Don’t eat too much candy, it’s bad for your teeth!” Many of us have been reprimanded by our parents for our gluttony during our childhood. But parents should also be concerned about medication. Indeed, a large number of them promote the appearance of dental caries. An article published in the last issue of the journal Prescribe indicates which ones.
Dry mouth
The list of treatments too high in sugar is long: throat lozenges, cough syrups, homeopathy granules. Sugar dries up the mouth, thus negating the protective role of saliva for the teeth. The authors of the article therefore recommend drinking a glass of water and brushing your teeth before each intake of this type of medication.
Antidepressants and antiobiotics
But lozenges and syrups aren’t the only ones responsible for dry mouth. Antidepressants, amphetamines, and cancer treatments also cause this phenomenon. The antibiotics of the cyclin group also present an increased risk of caries by demineralization as well as irreversible yellow discoloration. Prescribe reminds that these antibiotics, with side effects known for a long time, should not be administered to children under 8 years of age or to women who are more than three months pregnant.
Cannabis and cocaine
The article also warns about the risks represented by certain drugs, in particular cannabis, whose drying effect is known, and cocaine, which can be responsible for dental erosion. Even more frightening, the synthetic drug methamphetamine can reach all over a tooth, until it turns black and falls out.
The article ends up recalling the usual recommendations: brush your teeth several times a day and go to the dentist regularly. According to a survey carried out in July 2014 by the Gfk France institute, 1 in 10 French people believe they have suffered from one or more cavities during their lifetime.
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