Teeth Care For Drug-Induced Gum Overgrowth
If you take medications to manage seizures, you may develop serious side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, and gastrointestinal problems. In addition to these side effects, you may develop oral side effects as well. For example, your gums may become inflamed and grow out of control. Known as gum overgrowth, you need to maintain a strict teeth care routine to reduce your risk of oral infections, cavities, and gingivitis. Here are some oral health strategies that will help minimize the risk of complications related to drug-induced gum overgrowth.
Use Antimicrobial Mouthwash
Drug-induced gum overgrowth causes your gums to grow over your teeth. This makes brushing and flossing difficult, as you may be unable to effectively remove plaque and food particles. Also, people with severe gum overgrowth are often reluctant to brush and floss properly because the gums can bleed very easily.
While you should not forego your daily routine of brushing and flossing, augment it with an antimicrobial mouthwash. Rinsing your mouth out a few times a day will help get rid of plaque and reduce the accumulation of infection-causing oral bacteria. Antimicrobial mouthwashes can be purchased at any grocery store or pharmacy; however, your dentist may recommend that you use a prescription oral rinse, which may be more effective in reducing gingival inflammation.
Periodontal Consultation
If your gum overgrowth is extensive, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist, a dental professional who specializes in gum diseases and their treatments. The periodontist can offer you some effective treatment options such as flap surgery.
During flap surgery, your periodontist will gently separate your gum tissue from your teeth. This will allow the specialist to remove the gum tissue that is diseased or inflamed while removing tartar and plaque. Electrosurgery may also be used by your periodontist to remove overgrown gum tissue by using electrical currents. After your periodontist has performed the necessary treatment and after you have completed your follow-up treatment, you will be referred back to your regular dentist for routine teeth care.
Antibiotics
In severe cases of gum overgrowth, strict oral hygiene practices may be insufficient to prevent oral infections. Because of this, your dentist may recommend that you take a course of antibiotics. This will help decrease infection-causing inflammation, prevent severe bleeding episodes, and reduce the risk for gum destruction. While antibiotics will help treat bacterial infections of the mouth, they may raise your risk for oral fungal or yeast infections such as Candida albicans.
While taking antibiotics, your dentist may recommend that you eat yogurt containing live cultures to help repopulate your gastrointestinal system with "good bacteria." Antibiotics can kill the healthy bacteria in your colon, which may lead to abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
If you do not enjoy yogurt, your dentist may advise you to take an over-the-counter probiotic. If you develop white patches or plaques on your tongue as a result of antibiotic use, make an appointment with your dentist. Oral fungal infections cause white patches that often bleed and that can be easily scraped off. The patches may also irritate your tongue, making eating and drinking difficult.
If you develop a fungal or yeast infection inside your mouth, your dentist will prescribe an antifungal medication. It is important that oral fungal infections be treated as soon as possible because they can exacerbate the symptoms of drug-induced gum overgrowth.
If you take medications to control your seizures and develop gum overgrowth, see your dentist as soon as possible. When recognized and treated early on, gum overgrowth can be well-managed. If you still have gum problems despite the above interventions, talk to your physician about lowering the dose of your anti-seizure medications. Larger doses of anti-seizure medications may be more likely to cause gum overgrowth than lower doses.