How Medications Can Affect Your Oral Health
Most people don’t realize how drugs meant to help one part of the body can impact their teeth and gums. Medications—both prescription and over‑the‑counter—can change your oral environment in ways that increase risk for decay, gum issues, and discomfort.
One of the most common side effects is dry mouth, or xerostomia. The ADA notes that “many medications … affect your oral health” and highlights that reduced saliva flow is a major issue, since saliva helps neutralize acids and wash away food particles (ADA / MouthHealthy). Without enough saliva, acids linger, raising your risk of cavities and gum problems.
Some medications also affect your gums directly. Drugs like certain calcium channel blockers or anticonvulsants have been linked to gingival overgrowth, where gum tissue enlarges around teeth, making cleaning harder and increasing disease risk. Others can change taste, cause soft‑tissue reactions like sores, or even trigger abnormal bleeding. Cancer therapies and bisphosphonates carry more severe risks, including jawbone issues in rare cases (medication‑related osteonecrosis of the jaw) when invasive dental work is needed.
Because of these possibilities, it’s important that your dentist knows every medication you take. That way, we can anticipate challenges and tailor your care. For example, we might recommend extra fluoride treatments, saliva substitutes, or gentler cleaning methods to protect sensitive tissues. We’ll also coordinate care with your physician, especially when planning deeper procedures.
If you’re taking any drug—daily or occasionally—don’t assume your dentist won’t need to know. The smarter your team knows your full medical picture, the better we can protect your smile.
Sources
American Dental Association / MouthHealthy, Medications and Oral Health
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/medications-and-oral-health
JADA / ADA, How medications can affect your oral health
https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177%2814%2963009-9/fulltext
PubMed / Ciancio, Medications’ impact on oral health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15551986/
