Good Dental Habits Begin Early

The Negative Effects of Opioids on the Teeth

Modern painkillers do wonders for mild or severe pain. Once they are prescribed and taken, life is good again. However, the possible side effects to any opioid we use are not always considered. Look up any opioid description and you will see the side effects listed in tiny font towards the bottom. Maybe we are afraid to know what these possible side effects are, but the fact of the matter is the more we know about how drugs affect us, the better off we are. South Charlotte Dentistry wants you to be aware of the effects opioids have on your teeth. When it comes to opioids, there are specific things we can do in order to counteract one very dangerous side effect: dry mouth.  

Painkillers Known as Opioids

Narcotic pain relievers can only be prescribed by a medical professional. These are called opioids, and there is a good reason they cannot be purchased right over the counter. They can be extremely addictive, and if gone unmonitored they can cause other very serious side effects. Most of us know them better by their particular names such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and codeine, but each of these opioids carries with it a dangerous condition of dry mouth. This horrible side effect can come on whether the opioid is being used short or long term, which makes it even more devious. Like it or not, most painkillers tend to do direct damage to the teeth. What happens when we use opioids for short or long periods of time is the saliva deteriorates from the mouth. We need the bacteria in saliva to be continually present in order to fight off infection, tooth decay, and a host of other possible issues. Dry mouth can be the source of many other serious side effects.

Not to say any of these side effects should scare us off from using opioids. It’s good to view them as a successful pain relievers, just as long as we find ways to counter the dangerous side effects. Unfortunately, these side effect can be extremely hazardous to the teeth if specific measures are not taken. Here are several of the symptoms that can become present after opioid use:

• Dry mouth and throat – this can cause discomfort when talking or trying to swallow. It can keep you from sleeping, even keep you from eating.

• Viscous saliva – this is when the little saliva you have left in your mouth becomes thick or mucus-like. This can interfere with speech, eating, and drinking. It can also create bad breath.

• Tender throat – we all know how terrible it is to have a sore throat. It’s difficult to sleep and swallow. It can even be painful to speak at times.

• Increased development – more plaque means higher chances for cavities and rotted teeth. Gum infection can also occur.

• Bad breath – there are different types of bad breath: one caused from the foods or drinks we intake and another from dry mouth. The former can be dealt with by brushing, chewing gum, or taking mints. The latter is minimally effected by these things, and continuously gets worse with the more opioids we take.

• Sores in the Mouth – these painful infections seem to irritate to no end, and without enough saliva in the mouth, they take longer to go away.

• Loss of taste – dry mouth can even cause our taste buds to suffer. Foods begin to taste dull, flat, or completely void of flavor altogether.

Remedies for Dry Mouth

These side effects sound bad, and that’s because they are. Thankfully there are remedies, and by taking the time to make a few changes in your day, the side effects to opioid use can be minimalized, and in some cases alleviated completely.

Routine exams at South Charlotte Dentistry are extremely important. Once you are here, we can have a close look at your teeth and mouth to see what the best options are for you. Different people have different reactions. Once dry mouth sets in, it is really dependent upon how healthy your teeth are to see when and how they will be affected by the drug. At South Charlotte Dentistry, we can even discuss possible side effects specific to your teeth. No matter how long you plan to be using opioids, there are a few things to start doing in order to counteract the many possible negative outcomes.

For starters, you can purchase artificial saliva spray. This can help to moisten the mouth and increase the flow of saliva, but this does not work for everyone. If your dry mouth continues, you may want to contact your physician in order to be prescribed Pilocarpine. This helps stimulate salivary glands to create saliva. Before trying either of these things, start by drinking extra water to see if it does the trick.

There are also some home remedies that have proven to help many suffering from the results of dry mouth. It never hurts to try these first.

·         Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Also floss once every day.

·         Drink plenty of water or unsweetened fluids with meals.

·         Use only sugar-free mints or gum to stimulate saliva flow.

·         Try to breathe primarily out of the nose rather than your mouth.  

Saliva is so important because it helps us digest our food. Not only that, saliva helps prevent against viruses, fungi, and tooth decay from taking place inside the mouth. Even if you are taking measures to control your dry mouth, it is essential that you still come into South Charlotte Dentistry regularly for cleanings and checkups. Viruses, fungi, and tooth decay are not always apparent at first, which is why you want a professional who can detect and deal with them right away.

Here are a few more things to consider:

• Brush your teeth with soft bristles. If soft bristles still cause pain or irritation, try soaking the bristles in warm water prior to use.

• Avoid flossing around bleeding or sore gums, as this can cause more serious problems. If your gums do not seem to be getting better, make an appointment with Carolina’s Dental Choice right away.

• Use a mouthwash that contains fluoride and that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol in mouthwash can actually encourage dry mouth.

• As much as possible, refrain from sticky, sugary foods and drinks. Any time you do consume these, be sure to brush your teeth right afterward.

• Drink a lot of water throughout the day. This almost goes without saying, but it really can help keep the mouth from remaining dry.

• Run a humidifier in your room while you sleep. This will make sure the air you are breathing in is not too dry.

• Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks tend to quickly dry out the mouth. If you partake of either make sure you drink plenty of water before and after. Brushing your teeth after these can help as well.

Let Us Help You

Here at South Charlotte Dentistry, we make our living based off of how well we help you. If you have been prescribed opioids, and have found that your mouth feels a little dryer than usual, come see us. Any or all of the preventative measures listed here can help, but allowing one of our trained professionals to look at your mouth can help pinpoint the best way for you to keep from extreme dry mouth.

By: Andrae Bergeron

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