While medication can help treat illness and improve health, we may not always consider the unintended effects it can have elsewhere in the body.

Did you know that some common prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can negatively impact your dental health? As it turns out, the mouth is highly susceptible to systemic influences.

In this article, we’ll explore several risks medications pose to your teeth and discuss steps you can take to minimize harm.

1.    Tooth Decay

According to TorHoerman Law, a common medication used to treat opioid addiction called Suboxone consists of two active ingredients – buprenorphine and naloxone. It is available in both dissolvable strips placed under the tongue (known as sublingual films) as well as tablets.

The sublingual film version has proven to be quite effective and easy for patients to use. Buprenorphine helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings by acting as a partial opioid agonist, while naloxone counters the effects of opioids by serving as an antagonist.

However, this medication has been found to significantly increase the risk of severe dental issues due to its acidic properties. In early 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning regarding dental problems reported by those using buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction or manage pain.

In response, the manufacturer added a label on their medications cautioning about potential tooth decay.

Some patients have since come forward with lawsuits such as the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit, claiming the company failed to properly disclose this side effect to both medical providers and consumers of the drug.  The victims claim that this has resulted in serious dental injuries from taking the medication as prescribed.

However, there are certain steps you can try to prevent tooth decay while you are on Suboxone. For optimal absorption and to reduce acid exposure, it’s best to place all Suboxone tablets or films under your tongue at once rather than splitting the dose. Make sure to keep them separated until fully dissolved.

Once dissolved, rinse your mouth with a generous sip of water, swishing it around to clear any residue and neutralize acid levels. Avoid brushing immediately afterward, as excess acid can weaken tooth enamel.

Wait at least an hour after taking Suboxone before brushing to minimize the risk of tooth decay. Keep your dentist informed about your Suboxone use to address any oral health concerns effectively.

Regular dental checkups and cleanings are essential, and if you notice any new tooth issues like cavities or sensitivity, contact your doctor promptly. By collaborating closely with both your physician and dentist, you can effectively monitor the impact of Suboxone on your oral health.

2.    Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, can be caused by several common medications that decrease saliva production. When saliva levels are too low, the delicate tissues inside the mouth do not receive their usual moisture and may become irritated and inflamed.

This lack of protection raises the risk of infections developing, as well as tooth decay and gum disease. Over 400 prescription and over-the-counter drugs are recognized to potentially induce dry mouth as a side effect. Chemotherapy treatments can also leave patients feeling persistently parched.

Dry mouth can be a potential adverse reaction to various classes of medications. These include antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and drugs for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, inhaled lung medicines, certain blood pressure and heart medications, seizure drugs, isotretinoin for acne, and anti-anxiety tablets may also cause dry mouth.

While dry mouth can be an uncomfortable and inconvenient symptom, in many cases, the medical benefits of continuing the prescribed treatment outweigh the drawbacks.

Simple actions like drinking extra water throughout the day or chewing sugar-free gum may help alleviate the sensation of dryness temporarily.

Saliva substitutes that are sprayed directly into the mouth are also available and may provide relief for those struggling with medication-induced dry mouth. Maintaining good oral hygiene also aids in preventing related dental issues.

3.    Oral Thrush

Inhaled corticosteroids are useful for managing respiratory symptoms as they reduce airway inflammation and suppress the immune response. However, this can have the unintended effect of weakening immunity in the throat and mouth.

Normally, the mouth hosts a balance of various microbes like bacteria and yeasts. A weakened immune system may disrupt this equilibrium, allowing an overgrowth of the Candida fungus. This can lead to oral thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, which is a fungal infection of the mouth and throat.

Candida is commonly present in small amounts on mucous membranes throughout the body.

An overabundance of Candida can develop when the typical balance of microorganisms in the mouth is thrown off. Doctors may prescribe antifungal medications like clotrimazole, nystatin, or miconazole for mild cases. The patient would apply these topically inside the mouth daily for 7-14 days.

More severe infections are usually treated with fluconazole, which a doctor may administer as a pill or intravenously.

4.    Mucositis

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can damage the rapidly dividing epithelial cells that line the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. This leaves the underlying mucosal tissues vulnerable to injury and infection.

Mucosa, also called the mucous membrane, coats all passages open to the external environment in the respiratory and digestive systems. It secretes mucus to shield and lubricate these surfaces.

The oral mucosa lining the mouth is particularly sensitive. It is commonly impacted by chemotherapy and radiation, making the mouth a prevalent site of mucositis.

Mucositis occurs when cancer therapies erode the protective epithelial cell layer, exposing the raw mucosal lining. This induces several problems for patients, including pain, nutritional deficiencies from eating difficulties, and higher infection risk from open sores.

It seriously diminishes the quality of life and may necessitate lowered future chemotherapy doses. Individuals with oral mucositis and low white blood cell counts also face over four times the risk of septicemia. This is in comparison to those with just low white blood cell counts.

While mucositis itself cannot always be prevented, certain steps before radiation or chemotherapy can help minimize its effects and symptoms. It is advisable to consult an oncologist-recommended dentist in advance.

Proper denture fitting is important if they are worn. Any needed dental work, like extractions or denture adjustments, should be finished at least one month prior to therapy to allow full healing and avoid further mouth damage. Seeking early dental care can better protect oral health during cancer treatment.

FAQs

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of oral medications?

A: Oral medications are commonly chosen for their convenience, safety, and affordability, making them the preferred route of administration. However, they have limitations due to the typical movement of drugs through the digestive tract. Absorption of orally administered drugs may initiate in the mouth and stomach.

2. Which medications can cause mouth ulcers?

A: Mouth ulcers may be triggered by certain medications or treatments. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, nicorandil used for angina, and beta-blockers prescribed for conditions such as high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms.

3. What are the risks of neglecting oral infections?

A: Ignoring oral infections can result in severe damage to teeth, gums, and jawbone and may even lead to life-threatening sepsis. Historically, tooth decay-related infections were a leading cause of death. Notably, an oral infection may not always manifest with pain.

In summary, while medications serve important purposes, it’s crucial we consider their total impacts on health and well-being.

By keeping open lines of communication between doctors and dentists, we can better monitor oral effects, take preventative measures, and address any issues promptly. Overall, health relies on treating both medical and dental concerns in an integrated manner.

Companies unavoidably need to go through digital transformations from time to time. Choosing the right digital transformation technology partner is critical for optimizing outcomes of these projects.

A well-thought out strategy can help to keep things on track and geared toward your ultimate business goals. But where do you start?

1. Technology

Companies that are able to continuously deliver improved customer outcomes through technology will become increasingly competitive. The ability to measure and quantify progress toward these outcomes will also be crucial.

The menu of technological options can be a daunting task for businesses looking to digitally transform, especially in the context of limited budgets. You should choose a partner who is able to understand your existing software and systems – from daily operations right down to core company ethos.

The partners you choose should have extensive experience implementing solutions using cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and robotic process automation. This helps ensure that the solutions they propose will work with your existing processes without disrupting them. They should also be able to recognize when a solution wasn’t successful and quickly adjust it.

2. People

Digital transformation trends rise and fall in popularity over time, and keeping up with these changes is crucial to ensuring that your digital transformation Website initiatives remain competitive. Many of the hottest digital transformation trends currently involve technology that works alongside humans to accomplish tasks such as improving communication, automating repetitive work, and offering personalized user experiences.

Successful digital transformations can help you save money by streamlining processes, reducing operational costs, and eliminating manual errors. They can also improve productivity by increasing efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

Be sure to consider the skills and capabilities your workforce will need to successfully implement and utilize your chosen technologies. The best digital transformation tools empower employees with in-app guided onboarding, reinforcement training, and on-demand support to ensure a smooth adoption process.

3. Processes

Digital transformations can help streamline internal processes and create a more efficient workflow. For example, moving data to the cloud allows teams to access it more easily and eliminates manual steps that carry a high risk for human error like typing numbers into a spreadsheet or misplacing a paper document.

Additionally, a digital transformation can help businesses increase agility. With increased agility, companies can react faster to new opportunities or threats. For example, when Ikea launched e-commerce, they had to alter their traditional store model and turn them into fulfillment centers.

Choosing the right technology for your digital transformation depends on your business’s goals and needs. Choose a partner that understands the existing systems at play in your organization and can help align tech adoption with your overall company culture.

4. Culture

The company culture is the one aspect that can make or break your digital transformation project. This is because it can create resistance towards change and prevent your employees from embracing new technology.

A digital transformation needs a culture that supports open communication between the team members, allows for new freedom to experiment and innovate and encourages the use of data analysis. Companies with such a culture thrive in the digital age because they prioritize customer experience and streamline internal processes.

It’s important to prepare the employees for a massive change in the organizational structure, so they can take on the challenge with confidence. This can be done through effective communication, training sessions and providing regular updates. This will ensure that they can feel confident in the changes and can also avoid any confusion.

5. Strategy

In order for a digital transformation to be effective, it must be focused on solving business problems. This requires a clear understanding of which processes and operations can be improved to make workflows smoother, easier and more efficient.

Once you understand what problems need to be solved, you can begin the process of drafting an effective strategy that will improve your company’s digital presence. This is where extensive research comes into play, as it will help you to identify the latest technology advancements and how they might impact your business.

It’s also important to communicate with your teams about the changes that will be taking place, especially if they may have concerns. Putting trusted change leaders in charge of communicating with their teams and regularly asking for feedback can help to generate enthusiasm for the changes and keep progress moving forward.

When it comes to health and wellness, there’s a lot of conflicting information. Even qualified experts often seem to have opposing opinions.

Switching out harmful trans fats for healthy oils (such as vegetable, canola or olive) is a great start. Also, eat more fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids and may help reduce your risk for heart disease and depression.

1. Eat a Balanced Diet

A balanced diet includes a variety of foods from each of the main groups to provide your body with all the nutrients it needs. It should be low in saturated fat and added sugars, and contain moderate amounts of healthy protein, fibre and healthy oils.

Eat more fruits and vegetables – aim for ‘5-a-day’ (fresh, frozen or canned). Choose unsaturated fats (rapeseed, olive or sunflower oil, and spreads made from them) instead of butter, and cut down on red meat and processed meat.

Reduce ’empty calories’ by choosing baked, grilled or steamed dishes and eating smaller portion sizes. Avoid takeaway food, cakes, biscuits and soft drinks.

2. Get Enough Sleep

Many adults don’t get enough sleep, which can have a negative impact on their health. Getting enough quality sleep can help you feel more alert and energetic throughout the day. It can also improve your productivity and memory. If you find that it takes you a long time to fall asleep or you’re often awake in the night, it may be a sign of a sleep disorder such as insomnia or sleep apnea. To optimize your sleep, try to keep a regular bedtime routine and avoid large meals and caffeine before bed. You should also try to eliminate distractions like TV and computers in the bedroom and exercise regularly.

3. Exercise Regularly

When it comes to natural health, regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do. It boosts your mood, helps you sleep better and live longer. It also improves your overall health, including strengthening bones and muscles.

But you don’t have to spend hours in a gym or run monotonous miles on the treadmill to reap the benefits of exercise. According to federal guidelines, adults should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.

Start slow and add a little bit more each day. Soon, it will be a habit and you’ll feel better for it.

4. Drink Water

The advice to drink six to eight glasses of water a day is fairly standard. However, the precise amount of fluid a person needs depends on health, age and outside temperatures. Water quenches thirst, helps control appetite, promotes healthy skin and keeps the gastrointestinal tract functioning properly by preventing constipation. It also supports the body’s natural detoxification systems and helps regulate the temperature of the brain, bones and joints.

In addition to drinking water, a person can get adequate amounts of fluid through foods with high water content, such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid beverages with added sugar, salt or caffeine, which can add extra calories.

5. Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet can help you manage your weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and feel your best. However, it can be difficult to navigate the vast amount of nutrition and health advice available.

Instead of listening to the latest fad or buzzworthy ingredient, focus on making healthy choices part of your overall eating pattern. This means choosing foods and drinks that provide a mix of nutrients, and limiting those high in added sugars, salt, and saturated and trans fats. Choose lean meats and fish, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Limit sugary beverages, and choose water or low-fat milk. Use oils for cooking (vegetable, olive, canola), and choose salad dressings and spreads that are low-fat or nonfat.

6. Take Supplements

Supplements can help you maintain a balanced diet, but they shouldn’t replace it. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you have an existing health condition or are taking medication. Additionally, make sure to read labels carefully and avoid supplements with extravagant claims. For example, vitamin A in excess of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDA) may increase the risk of osteoporosis, while folic acid taken in high doses increases your risk of certain tumors.

While there is a place for modern medicine, making healthy lifestyle choices and incorporating natural health practices into your routine are essential for treatment and prevention of illness.