Cure for one illness and cause of the other drugs you take damage your teeth.
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Health Fitness -> subcategory Beauty.
Cure for One Illness and Cause of Another: How Medications Affect Your Teeth
Summary:
Dr. Gene Watson of the University of Rochester Medical Center warns that many commonly used medications can irreversibly damage our teeth. He highlights the process of this damage and urges healthcare professionals to consider the impact on dental health when prescribing these drugs.
Article Body:
Many of us are unfamiliar with the complexities of medicine, trusting our doctors' advice without hesitation. We seldom explore how medications work, and even if we did, the information could be overwhelming. However, recent findings suggest that this is a topic worth understanding.
Research on salivary dysfunction reveals that over 600 common medications contribute to tooth decay by reducing saliva production. Saliva is crucial for protecting our teeth against acid produced by bacteria when we consume sugar. This acid can erode the enamel, but saliva helps replenish the lost minerals with calcium and phosphate.
Medications like atropine, propranolol, and clonidine are particularly harmful to dental health. They either reduce saliva production or alter its composition. Studies on rats demonstrate that atropine and similar drugs, including certain antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) and some antidepressants (e.g., Elavil, Aventyl), significantly decrease saliva secretion. Propranolol alters the composition of saliva, leading to tooth decay. Clonidine, on the other hand, reduces neurotransmitters that stimulate salivary glands, further decreasing saliva production.
This is concerning, especially since these medications are commonly used by the elderly and those with heart conditions or hypertension. Clonidine is also prescribed for children with attention deficit disorders.
Dr. Watson urges medical professionals to reassess the use of these drugs or, at the very least, consider lowering the dosage to minimize dental harm. While it may not solve all related disorders, such as Sjogren's syndrome or damage from radiation therapy, it is a step towards integrating dental care into overall health treatments.
For more insights, visit [dental care and hygiene](http://healthcare.st/category/dental-health/).
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Cure for one illness and cause of the other drugs you take damage your teeth..
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.