Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
It is important to tell your dentist about ALL the medicines you're taking.
See below for problems that medications can cause.
Bleeding more easily:
Some medicines can make you bleed a lot during dental appointments or when you're getting treated for gum disease.
Dry mouth:
Many medicines can make your mouth feel dry. This includes allergy medicines, cold medicines, pain relievers, blood pressure pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for bladder problems, Parkinson's disease, and depression.
A dry mouth can make your gums and other soft parts of your mouth sore and more likely to get infected. Also, without spit to wash away food bits, you're more likely to get cavities and other mouth problems.
Fungal infections:
If you use an inhaler for asthma, you might get a fungal infection in your mouth called oral candidiasis (or thrush).
It's good to rinse your mouth with water after using your inhaler.
Mouth sores:
Some medicines can cause sores or ulcers in your mouth.
This includes medicines for blood pressure, medicines that weaken your immune system, birth control pills, and some cancer treatments.
Changes in taste:
Medicines can make your food taste different. This can happen because of what's in the medicine or because the medicine changes how your body works. More than 350 medicines can change your taste.
Here are some tips if your taste changes:
- Chew gum.
- Rinse your mouth to get rid of bad tastes.
- Add seasoning to your food.
- Chew your food really well.
- Switch between all foods on your plate while eating.
If your sense of smell or taste changes and makes it hard to take your medicine, don't stop taking it on your own. Talk to your doctor. They might be able to give you a different medicine or suggest ways to make your taste or smell better.
Stained teeth:
Medicines can make your teeth change color, both on the outside and inside. Stains on the outside can be removed by a cleaning at the dental office. Some medicines stain the tooth from the inside if they are taken as a tooth is developing in the jawbone.
Gum problems:
Sometimes, medicines can make your gums grow too big or become swollen. This is called "gingival overgrowth." When your gums are swollen, it's hard to clean plaque from your teeth and gums. You can help prevent this by cleaning your teeth and gums to keep plaque away.
Bone problems:
The bone in your lower jaw can be at risk for a problem called osteonecrosis, where the bone shows through your gums.
Medicines for weak bones (osteoporosis) and cancer are the most common ones that cause bone problems. If you're getting I.V. medicine for osteoporosis or certain cancer medicines, you should avoid dental surgery.
Pain pills (opioids):
These pain medicines have many of the same side effects listed above.
Opioids can also hide tooth pain, which can make people put off or avoid going to the dentist for problems like cavities or infections. This can make the problems worse over time.
Studies show that using opioids can lead to tooth loss, gum disease, and cavities. People who used to be addicted to opioids are more likely to have cavities.
Where can you find a dentist?
Visit our Find a dentist page for a list of low-cost dental clinics near you.
You can also find a dentist that accepts Medicaid at https://medicaid.utah.gov.
Or call 1-866-608-9422 to talk to a Medicaid health program representative.
Click the links below to download flyers containing this information.
Visit the websites below for supplemental materials.
Utah's Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP)
Opioids are prescription medications used to treat pain. They can be highly addictive. To learn more about opioids, recognizing an overdose, and how to reverse an overdose using naloxone, visit the Department of Health and Human Services Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) website.