Medications That Can Cause Painful Gums

Dentist Blog

If you wear dental bridges, then it is important that your gums stay healthy. Gum tissue that is weak, inflamed, or painful, may lead to discomfort or tissue damage when wearing your bridges. Here are some medications that can cause painful gums and what you can do about keeping your gingival tissue healthy while wearing your dental bridges.

Anti-Hypertension Drugs

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, then your physician may have prescribed anti-hypertension drugs. One class of anti-hypertension drugs are known as beta blockers and include a medication known as propranolol. While propranolol is effective in lowering blood pressure, it can lead to significant side effects, including those affecting your mouth. For example, beta blockers can lead to diminished salivary flow, and because of this, cause a dry mouth and sore gums.

If you take beta blockers and experience oral dryness or gum pain, make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. Also, make sure to visit your dentist on a regular basis, because beta blocker side effects can lead to gum irritation when you wear your dental bridges.

Your dentist will remove your bridge and examine your gum tissue for evidence of skin breakdown, irritation, excessive redness, and bleeding. If abnormalities are noticed, your dentist may refer you back to your family physician who may lower the dosage of your beta blockers or prescribe a different anti-hypertension drug that is less likely to cause oral problems.

Medications To Control Seizures

Anti-seizure medications may also cause pain underneath your dental bridges. These prescription drugs can heighten your risk for gingival hyperplasia, a gum condition that causes severe inflammation and overgrowth of your gums. In some cases, gingival hyperplasia can change the shape of your gums so that wearing dental appliances such as bridges and partials is not possible.

If you suffer from this condition as a result of your anti-seizure medication, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist, a dentist specializing in diseases of the gum tissue. Your dental professional may recommend that you avoid wearing your bridges until your gums are completely healed so that you do not develop sores or infections.

If you take medications to control high blood pressure or seizures, see your dentist on a regular basis at the first sign of gum irritation. Your dentist will monitor the condition of your gums to determine whether or not they are healthy enough to withstand dental appliance use, and if problems are detected, an effective treatment plan will be quickly implemented.

For more information, contact a dental office like Pembroke  Pines Dental today. 

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20 January 2019

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