Did You Know That Asthma Can Affect the Health of Your Teeth? Find Out How to Protect Them
Are you surprised to learn that one in twelve people in the United States has asthma? Whether that surprises you or not, it likely surprises you to learn that having asthma can actually increase the risk of cavities, oral sores, and even gum disease. While this may be alarming for people at risk, the good news is that there are preventative measures your dentist can help you with. Read on to learn more and then contact California Dental Group to set up your appointment.
The dental issues asthma can exacerbate
First of all, keep an eye on the back roof of your mouth if you use an inhaler. Why? Because if you’re using your inhaler on a regular basis, this area of your mouth can end up with a lesion on it. If that’s the case, and it gets worse, it can lead to an infection.
Next, consider that dry mouth is more common amongst asthma sufferers. Many people assume this is nothing more than an annoyance, but the truth is that dry mouth means that you have less saliva. This is an issue because saliva works hard in your mouth to wash away bacteria. If you don’t have saliva to do its job, then the plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth can multiply much more quickly. This can increase the chances that you’ll need a cavity filling at some point, as well as your chances of bad breath and gum disease.
Steps that can help you reduce these risks
As we mentioned above, the good news is that there are some steps you can take to prevent these issues. First, make sure that you rinse your mouth out with water very time you use your inhaler. In a perfect world, you’d actually brush your teeth after using it, but we know that’s not always possible. in a pinch, rinsing your mouth out with water will help.
Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water all day so that you stay hydrated and can help prevent dry mouth. Reducing the amount of sugar you eat will also further lower your chances for getting a cavity. For example, skip soda pop and instead drink fluoridated tap water.
Some inhalers are more likely to case issues than others. Some even have sugar to make them taste better. If you’re prone to cavities or have oral health issues, then you may want to talk to your physician to see if there’s a medication they can prescribe that doesn’t come with these increased risks.
Make sure your dentist knows about your asthma
As is true with any medical professional, your dentist can better treat you if they have a full picture of your current and past health status. Make sure you let them know that you have asthma, tell them what type of inhaler you use, and be clear about how often you use it.
At California Dental Group, we are well versed on the issues that can come with asthma. Feel free to give us a call at (800) 407-0161 to set up your appointment.
