Dry Mouth Medication Side Effects | Loveable Smiles Dentistry

Jan 19

How is heart disease related to your mouth?

This blog post is part of a series of Total Health Dental Care articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host of other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

Gum Disease – The Silent Epidemic

The number one cause of death is inflammation.

The number one cause of inflammation is gum disease.

The startling news is that 80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

So, how is heart disease related to your mouth?

Several studies exist to explain the link between gum disease and heart disease.

Oral bacteria can affect the heart via the blood stream and then attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation.
As the body fights the inflammation caused by periodontal (gum) disease, swelling of the arteries can occur which contributes to their deterioration.

Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease.

Medications for Heart Disease and Dry Mouth

If you take any medication for dry mouth including blood pressure medications and diuretics, you have probably experienced a common side effect of these popular medications: Dry Mouth.

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increase dry-mouth effects.

Dry mouth is a growing problem in dentistry. On a daily basis, Dr. Korenman and his staff see patients who suffer from dry mouth and the issues associated with dry mouth including tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

The Good News for Heart Patients

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you overcome it and then to keep it under control.

Additionally, if you suffer from Dry Mouth, Dr. Korenman provides the following tips for treating this dangerous condition:

He highly recommends Effervess Oral Care products, which can help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth caused by medications. (Available at Loveable Smiles and Amazon.) The line includes toothpaste and a whitening gel.
Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
Chew sugarless gum.
Patients with dry mouth should have regular dental checkups with Dr. Korenman and his staff for evaluation and treatment. Please bring up-to-date medication list with you to your appointment at Loveable Smiles.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

Aug 17

Attention Dallas Baby Boomers! Get to the dentist!

Attention all Baby Boomers who want to look good and enjoy their health, please get to the dentist!

You overall health depends on it!

Links Between Oral/Overall Health
The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease increases with age. Research has proven that these diseases often manifest themselves in the mouth.

Your Dentist Is Your Key Health Care Partner

Since your dentist is the only medical professional to check you from the neck up, these connections allow dentists to be a key player in helping you to become aware of any possible systemic imbalances. Loveable Smiles prides itself on being a leader in health for your future. We often refer patients to other medical professionals as we treat people not just teeth.

If you have been avoiding going to the dentist, usually due to unknown fear, your dental appointment needs to be a priority. Don’t worry, if it’s been a while since you’ve been to the dentist, we will never scold you. We will be thrilled to see you. Call our office for that much needed dental appointment. 972-231-0585

Now is the time to get your wellness check to make sure you are as healthy as you can be.

Your mouth is the gateway to your health.

Jun 21

Complete Health Dentistry in Dallas, TX

There are different phases in dentistry throughout history.

Post WWII – Dentists were able to insert filings and learned how to save a tooth rather than extract it.

70s – Dentists began to understand that a patient’s gums are the foundation of our mouths and the importance of having healthy gums.

Age of Technology – Computers and technology entered the dental office giving dentists the ability to do same day crowns as well as use lasers to help tissues to heal faster and painlessly.

90s – Era of cosmetic dentistry. Veneers and bonding could help transform someone’s smile.

Today – Complete Health Dentistry – There is now enough research to confirm that your mouth talks to your body.

We no longer concentrate on your 28-32 teeth.

We now know there is a very strong communication between your mouth and your body.

Inflammation in your mouth leads to inflammation in your body.

Gum Disease and Heart Disease

We know that active gum disease dumps bacteria and inflammation by-products into your bloodstream and has a detrimental effect on your heart and blood vessels.

You can’t just focus on either your gum disease or your cardio vascular disease. You have to treat them both because your gum disease is making your heart disease worse and vice versa.

Gum Disease and Diabetes

It’s very clear that Diabetes has a very strong relationship to gum disease.

If you have gum disease and your gums bleed, you are sending bacterial and inflammation by-products through your blood vessels damaging those blood vessels and exacerbating your Diabetic condition.

Research has found significant levels of bacteria from the oral cavities embedded in blood vessels all over the body in patients who have active gum disease.

Complete Health Dentistry

This knowledge puts a greater importance on dentistry than ever before.

We are fortunate to be able to be in an industry that is at the forefront of preventative healthcare.

Seeing Loveable Smiles twice a year, ideally, so that we can use our incredible screening aids to check you for gum disease will help you have a happier and healthier life.

We are proud to call ourselves a leader in health for your future.

Please call our office for your Total Health Dental appointment. 972-231-0585

Loveable Smiles, Richardson, TX – visit our website here!

Apr 26

Healthy Mother’s Day Gift Ideas at Loveable Smiles in Richardson

If you want your mom to have a healthy body, her mouth needs to be healthy; because you can’t have one without the other.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including migraines, Alzheimer’s disease and even some types of Cancer.
Since oral health directly impacts the health of the rest of the body, these gift ideas will help mom’s overall well-being. All of them are available at Loveable Smiles in Richardson, TX. 972-231-0585

Effervess Natural Oral Care Products – If your mom takes any medication for heart conditions, cholesterol, diabetes or depression, chances are she suffers from a common side effect: Dry Mouth. Dry Mouth can lead to extensive tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

Here at Loveable Smiles, we carry the Effervess natural oral care line specifically created to combat the effects of dry mouth with the soothing properties of aloe vera and cavity fighting properties of xylitol.

Sonicare AirFloss – Quickly cleans the entire mouth in just 60 seconds. Watch the Sonicare AirFloss in action in this video.

Sonicare Toothbrush – Philips Sonicare toothbrushes can help remove plaque, whiten teeth and improve gum health, giving you a clean you can feel. Loveable Smiles has Sonicare products cheaper than Walmart, PLUS you get professional instruction on how to get the best results!

Invisalign – The alternative to metal braces
Properly aligned teeth are not only attractive – but also healthier! Straightened teeth contribute directly to your overall health. Teeth that are properly aligned create a more balanced bite, and they are easier to keep clean, leading to healthier teeth and gums. Invisalign straightens your teeth with a series of clear, virtually invisible, customized aligners.

And finally, teeth whitening is a simple process that delivers brilliant results for your mom’s smile. After a simple consultation with Dr. Korenman of Loveable Smiles, he will help your mom determine which teeth whitening system is right for her. We are able to provide gift certificates in any amount.

The best way to help your Mom is to arrange for her to have a comprehensive examination to determine the status of the health of her mouth and to allow us to provide her with a plan to attain what we like to call Optimum Oral Health for her lifetime.

Please stop by Loveable Smiles in Richardson or call us at 972-231-0585.

Apr 12

The Dangers Of Dry Mouth

Dr. Korenman of Loveable Smiles Explains Dry Mouth: Causes, Associated Problems, and Treatment
Dry mouth is a growing problem in dentistry. On a daily basis, Dr. Korenman and his staff see patients who suffer from dry mouth and the issues associated with dry mouth including tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.
Dry mouth—also called xerostomia—results from an inadequate flow of saliva.
It is not a disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder and/or most commonly, a side effect of popular medications including:
• Blood pressure medications
• Anti-depression/Anti-Anxiety
• Diuretics
• Pain killers
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Even neurological medications for treatment of anti-anxiety and ADHD.

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increase dry-mouth effects.

With regular saliva production, your teeth are constantly bathed in a mineral-rich solution that helps keep your teeth strong and resistant to decay.
Dry mouth can lead to extensive tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

Signs You May Have Dry Mouth
• Extreme thirst.
• Waking up in the night needing water.
• Teeth feel rough like sand.
• Cheeks stick to your teeth.
• Lips feel dry.

Other Issues Associated with Dry Mouth
Other health issues can also arise if dry mouth is left untreated.

Common problems linked to dry mouth include:
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty chewing
• Fungal infections in mouth
• Hoarseness
• Sore gums/throat
• Problems with swallowing food
• Burning sensation in mouth
• Dry nasal passages
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• Overly dry lips

Treating Dry Mouth
While there isn’t any cure for dry mouth, the sooner it gets diagnosed the less damage it does to your teeth. Here are some tips for treating your dry mouth.
• Dr. Korenman highly recommends Effervess Oral Care products, which can help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth caused by medications. (Available at Loveable Smiles and Amazon.) The line includes toothpaste and a whitening gel.
• Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
• Chew sugarless gum.
• Patients with dry mouth should have regular dental checkups with Dr. Korenman and his staff for evaluation and treatment. Please bring up-to-date medication list with you to your appointment at Loveable Smiles.

If you are experiencing a dry mouth as a side effect of your medication, please call Loveable Smiles at 972-231-0585

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All Posts in Category: Dry Mouth Medication Side Effects

The best way to help your Mom is to arrange for her to have a comprehensive examination to determine the status of the health of her mouth and to allow us to provide her with a plan to attain what we like to call Optimum Oral Health for her lifetime.

Please stop by Loveable Smiles in Richardson or call us at 972-231-0585.