Hard to swallow

At one time or another most of us will take some kind of medication – whether it's prescription, complementary or supplementary. The older we get, the more common it becomes, with many older people following complex medication regimes.

Obviously, these medications are – for the most part –taken for good reason. But what are the ‘quiet’ side effects? Not the concerning side effects the doctor talks to you about, but the unexpected, underlying ones that can impact on your general quality of life, without you realising it?

Oral health is often an overlooked aspect of your general health. Taking medications of any type or form can, and often does, impact negatively on your oral health. That is why it is really important to tell your oral health professional about all the medications you are taking when you attend your regular oral health assessments, for example, your dental check-up.

Which medications affect your oral health?

Complementary medications like ginger, garlic and glucosamine can impact on your blood clotting and will affect the type of cleaning you get from your oral health professional^1.

Common medications like antihistamines, anticoagulants, antihypertensive and antidepressants (Notice a common theme here?) along with many others can significantly compromise your saliva flow^2.

Other medications may impact on your general oral health in other ways, so make sure you let your oral health professional know what you’re taking at every visit.

MORE: 7 signs it's time to see a dentist

Dry mouth? Medications can affect your saliva flow

Do you ever find that when you eat some foods your mouth is too dry and it feels almost impossible to swallow? Or worse, you find it hard to speak because your mouth is so dry?^2,3

These could be signs of serious problems with your saliva flow. Saliva is an essential part of the digestive system. It’s full of good things – proteins and enzymes – that help to break down food and kick off the digestive process.

If you’re taking medications that compromise the production of saliva, this could seriously affect what types of foods you can eat, and increase the risk of choking!^4,5

Some experiences of dry mouth - like waking up in the morning and feeling like your mouth is all dried out - are within a normal range. This is called ‘xerostomia’. ⁶

Not drinking enough water, or general dehydration due to work, air-conditioning or exercise can be responsible for xerostomia. Drinking too much coffee, alcohol or soft drinks can also impact negatively on adequate saliva flow.⁶

However, some saliva flow issues can be more serious and are connected to underlying medical conditions. This is known as salivary gland hypofunction.

MORE: How to stay hydrated

Managing the oral health effects of medications

If you feel like your mouth is dry at times, for any reason, it is really important to let your oral health professional know so they can help identify what the problem is and arrange a referral for further investigation if necessary.^6,7 Don’t take it for granted and ignore it. Get it checked out. Saliva is the friend of good oral health and if it’s not flowing well, your mouth can really suffer.

Remember – your mouth is connected to your body and your oral health can be affected by anything you put into your system.

If you’re going to take or are prescribed any medications or supplements, ask or investigate what effects they will have on your saliva.

Drink water – it’s free and healthy in Australia - to ensure your saliva stays plentiful and protective.

And remember to tell your oral health professional what you’re taking so you can get the best, personalised advice to meet all your oral health needs.