Think again!
You may have gone many years without any new cavities forming, but as adults get older, they enter another stage of their lives when they are more susceptible to dental decay. A common cause of cavities in older adults is dry mouth.
While dry mouth itself is not a symptom of old age, it is a side effect of over 500 different medications! These common medications treat such conditions as allergies, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects such as dry mouth are just one of the many reasons why it’s very important to keep us updated on your current medications.
If you should suffer from medication-related dry mouth, we can discuss some recommendations for relieving your dry mouth and decreasing your risk of cavities. Some suggestions may include talking with your medical doctor about changing your medications, using over-the-counter salivary replacements or lubricants, increasing your water intake, and using sugar-free gum or lozenges to stimulate salivary flow.
