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    Call Today888-469-3982 Request an Appointment
    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
    Call Today888-469-3982 Request an Appointment
    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
    • Home
    • About Us
      • Meet the Doctors
        • Dr. Ronald L. Receveur
        • Dr. Bradley Frederick
      • See Dr. Ron On TV
      • Get Dr. Ron’s Book
    • Solutions We Offer
      • All-In-One-Place™
      • Do I Need Bone Grafting?
      • IV Sedation
      • The One Day Smile Solution
      • All-On-4 Zirconium Bridges
    • Patient Testimonials
      • Smile Gallery
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    Home > Blog > Are Your Medications Hurting Your Smile?

    Are Your Medications Hurting Your Smile?

    July 9, 2015

    We are glad to see you back here at the blog for New Albany Implants, where we use this convenient online forum to communicate ideas and information about oral health and dental care with the wonderful people of Southern Indiana.

    Our mission for this ongoing blog is to continue helping you keep your teeth and gums healthy when you are not in our office. It is easy to become complacent with your dental care, so we like to remind you that there is plenty you can be doing to protect and preserve your oral health between visits to our office in New Albany.

    Sometimes protecting your oral health is more about knowledge than behavior and habits. For example, taking medication is obviously something intended to improve your health, but often, unintended side effects can present some serious problems for your oral health. And while it’s never a good ideas to skip out on meds a doctor has determined you need, knowing the effects your medication will have on your teeth will allow you to combat them.

    Dry Mouth

    It is no exaggeration to say that saliva is your mouth’s number one defense against tooth decay and gum disease. Your saliva keeps your mouth clean and free of food particle and sugar left over from your food.

    But it doesn’t stop there. Saliva will neutralize the acid that eats away at your enamel, and more importantly, it has antibacterial properties that fight the dental caries, which are the root of all tooth decay.

    Unfortunately, dry mouth is a very common side effect to a number of medications. The condition is called xerostomia, and it means the medication is inhibiting your mouth’s production of saliva. As a result, your gums and soft tissue will become dry and irritated and even inflamed.

    This environment is perfect for dental caries and acid to thrive, and with no saliva to fight them, they will run rampant, causing tooth decay and gum disease.

    Antihistamines, antidepressants, a blood pressure meds are only a few the common medications that list dry mouth as a side effect. The good

    The good news, though, is that dry mouth is incredibly easy to combat. Simply drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist and reverse the effects of xerostomia. Chewing sugarless gum will also help keep your mouth moist when not drinking water.

    Tooth Discoloration

    The worse tooth stainer is tetracycline, commonly found in antibiotics. Tetracycline actually settles in calcium, and as a result, it will find its way to forming teeth and turn them yellow. This really only concerns children young enough to still be forming teeth, as well as women who are pregnant. If your teeth are already fully formed, you have nothing to worry about from tetracycline antibiotics.

    Several antibiotics, including amoxicillin, can leave brownish-yellow stains on the teeth, as does some acne medications.

    Change in Taste

    Sometimes the medications you take can result in dysgeusia, or a change in the way things taste, often leaving a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth. This is the result of a chemical change in your mouth, and it is most common among people who are taking multiple medications, like senior citizens and cancer patient.

    Thankfully, this condition is usually temporary and your sense of taste will return to normal once you stop taking the medication.

    Mouth Sores

    Ulcers are a break in the mucus membrane inside your mouth that creates a painfully annoying sore in your mouth or on your tongue. When that mucus membrane becomes inflamed it is known as mucositis. This happens as a result of the drugs’ chemical effect on your body. This condition can be very painful and makes it difficult to eat.

    Ulcers in your mouth, as well as mucositis, an inflammation of the mouth’s lining, are most commonly associated with chemotherapy and cancer drugs. However, other medication can cause mouth sores, as well, including aspirin and penicillin.

    Visit New Albany Implants

    As we mentioned above, you should always follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to medication, but you should also be aware of the effects the medication can have on your oral health. Discuss this with your doctor, as well as the staff at New Albany Implants, so that we can work together to minimize the oral side effects to your medications.

    Contact our office in Southern Indiana to schedule an appointment.

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    Went for consultation. Staff was so friendly and helpful. Dr. Receiver was so knowledgeable and helpful and only wants to do what is absolutely necessary, no up selling at all. I will be going back yo get all my work completed in a couple of visits. Highly recommend this office to anyone needing dental work. The best part is I will nap right through it all!

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    I HAD TOP DENTAL IMPLANT. THE SURGICAL EXPERIENCE AND PLACEMENT WAS FANTASTIC. DR RECEVEUR AND HIS STAFF ARE VERY CARING. MY ONE COMPLAINT IS THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COME IN FOR AN ANNUAL "EXAM" AND XRAYS TO MAINTAIN THE WARRANTY BUT THEY DO NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE. THEY DO NOT GIVE ANY DISCOUNTS THAT INSURANCE WOULD NORMALLY GIVE AS THEY ARE OUT OF NETWORK, SO END UP PAYING MUCH HIGHER RATES. OTHER THAN THIS ONE AREA OF CONFUSION I WOULD RATE THEIR OFFICE AS EXCEPTIONAL.

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    Staff at all levels were friendly and accommodating! Dr. Frederick and Janna listened to my wants and concerns at my consultation. By the time I was finished they had answered all of my questions and we had a plan to move forward. I am looking forward to my next visit.

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    If you are looking for a friendly, patient, understanding staff and want perfection, you are picking the best!!!!

    M. W. (Verified Patient) | Jan 27, 2021
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    Excellent Doctors, hygienists and staff.

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    Awesome place. Awesome people. A comfortable place to have that smile taken care of.

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    Love going here! Staff is extra friendly and kind. Of course it is difficult to...
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    Love going here! Staff is extra friendly and kind. Of course it is difficult to talk with your mouth being worked on, but the dental technician you see remembers the things you all talk about at the 6 month appointments, and is always so friendly as well. They also give you really practical and simple ways to improve your dental hygiene, and i have started brushing everyday now because of their guidance. Could not recommend them more!

    B. S. (Verified Patient) | Dec 14, 2020
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    Professional and personable staff. I truly felt like I was being cared for not "worked on". They seek to make my experience as comfortable as possible. Great job.

    K. B. (Verified Patient) | Dec 11, 2020
    5
    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather...
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    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather bad news to me, but it was done with courtesy and respect. I really appreciate that.

    K. B. (Verified Patient) | Dec 11, 2020
    5
    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather...
    Read More

    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather bad news to me, but it was done with courtesy and respect. I really appreciate that.

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    Call Today to Make an Appointment 888-469-3982 Request an Appointment
    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
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    Call Today to make an Appointment 888-469-3982 Request an Appointment

    Location

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    Office Hours

    • Monday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Tuesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Wednesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Thursday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
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    Latest Blog Articles

    Get Your New Teeth the Easy Way

    You need replacement teeth. You need teeth removed. You want dental implants and restorations that are strong and ...

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    Choose ‘Beautiful’ Replacement Teeth

    Brenda is open about the problems she was having with her teeth. She was in pain, and she avoided eating many foods as ...

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    Call Today to make an Appointment 888-469-3982 Request an Appointment

    Location

    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
    View Larger Map

    Office Hours

    • Monday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Tuesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Wednesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Thursday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Saturday Closed
    • Sunday Closed

    Latest Blog Articles

    Get Your New Teeth the Easy Way

    You need replacement teeth. You need teeth removed. You want dental implants and restorations that are strong and ...

    Read More
    Choose ‘Beautiful’ Replacement Teeth

    Brenda is open about the problems she was having with her teeth. She was in pain, and she avoided eating many foods as ...

    Read More
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