| Dry mouth, a common side
effect of some medications, can cause serious tooth decay. Drugs used
for treating depression, anxiety and hypertension are the most common
sources of drug induced xerostomia (dry mouth). In the absence of
saliva, which has potent antibacterial properties, bacteria in the mouth
can run rampant, causing decay. Users of medications causing dry mouth
have ten times the bacteria in their mouths as non-medicated people. More than five hundred drugs list dry mouth as a potential side effect. The biggest culprits are psychiatric drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax, and Valium; and blood-pressure medicines, such as Lopressor and Vasotec. Antihistamines, the new stop-smoking drug Zyban, and even some acne medications can also cause dry mouth. The effect of these drugs on the sensitive salivary glands, is to block the body's signal to produce saliva. A study by Dr. Pappas, a professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, presented at the International Association of Dental Research, reported that 170 patients on certain medications had nearly three times the rate of tooth decay as the control group. Patients who were taking psychiatric medicines such as antidepressants and antianxiety drugs had almost four times the rate of decay. Dry mouth seems to have a higher prevalence among the aging populations. A University of Toronto study found dry mouth in twenty percent of the elderly patients it surveyed. Another study of 600 elderly Floridians found thirty-nine percent complaining of dry mouth. Dry mouth sufferers can get relief from water, ice chips, or sugarless gum or one of several new therapeutic gums, such as Arm & Hammer and Trident Advantage. Foods that are sour or bitter can also stimulate saliva flow. Sufferers should avoid sugar, especially in the form of chewing gum and candies that are sucked on or sticky, as this exposes the teeth to bacterial attack for extended time periods. Also to be avoided are irritants such as tobacco and alcohol. More serious dry mouth can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription saliva substitutes. A saliva-inducing drug called Saligen may be prescribed, but it has its own side effects, including excessive sweating. The most important advice for anyone taking a medication that lists dry mouth as a side effect is to make more frequent visits to the dentist. A fluoride tooth paste and fluoride rinses are also helpful to ward off the effects of bacteria causing tooth decay.
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| The American diet over
the last two decades has increased in the consumption of sugar by almost
30 percent. The average American now consumes more than 20 teaspoons of
added sugars a day. This is twice the amount recommended by health
experts. This is not only bad news for one's teeth but also for overall
well-being. By squeezing out more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products that can help to prevent disease, a high-sugar diet may be making an important contribution to health problems like osteoporosis, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. The association between high-sugar diets and tooth decay is a well-documented fact. In recent years sugar has become a pervasive added ingredient to many processed foods. Sodas are the largest single source of added sugars at 33 percent of the total. One 12-ounce can of soda supplies 160 sweet calories, or 40 grams of sugar. Nearly a tenth of the calories consumed by American teenagers come from nutritionally empty soda. Soda has taken the place of milk and fruit juices, substituting empty calories for calcium and vitamins, which are necessary for maximum bone growth and general overall health. A nutritionally sound diet should derive no more than 10 percent of its calories from added sugar. The average teenager derives 19 percent of calories from added sugar. Adolescents between the ages of 6 to 11 get 18 percent of their calories from added sugars. Sugars that are naturally present in foods come along with many essential ingredients for a healthy diet. The added sugars come with nothing but empty calories. If enough added sugar calories are present, there is less room for the nutrient-rich foods that can help prevent serious chronic diseases. Two recent Harvard studies have linked diets high in sugars and refined starches to an increased risk of developing diabetes. One should limit the amount of added sugar consumed in the diet and substitute foods that have naturally occurring ingredients with essential nutrients such as calcium, protein, and vitamins. One should not be fooled by claims of "all natural" sweeteners. Added ingredients such as brown sugar, raw sugar, fruit sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup are treated no differently from table sugar by the body.
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| Despite the dramatic
decline in dental caries following the widespread use of fluoridation,
tooth decay remains a major public health problem. By the age of 17, 84%
of US adolescents have experienced tooth decay in their permanent teeth.
About 25% of children account for 80% of all decayed teeth.
Disadvantaged children and adults have a higher rate of cavities than
their wealthier counterparts. The results of a recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that environmental lead exposure may explain the disproportionately high rate of decay among the disadvantaged. High Blood levels of lead are often found in people living in buildings with chipping and peeling paint, older outdated plumbing, and in areas of industrial pollution. Three different mechanisms can be hypothesized concerning lead exposure and dental caries:
This implication of this study shows the need to broaden the focus of health intervention for dental caries beyond modifying dietary habits, improving personal oral hygiene behavior, and increasing fluoride exposure to include environmental exposures to lead and possibly other factors as well |