Can Asthma Affect Your Oral Health?

Asthma is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease that causes airways to narrow and makes breathing really difficult. While there is no cure for asthma, there are several treatments available to help re-open airways and make breathing a bit easier. However, at my Charlottesville dental office, we also know these medications, and asthma itself, can lead to some major oral health concerns.

The Connection

Asthma sufferers tend to also be mouth breathers, and mouth breathers tend to suffer from dry mouth. Dry mouth results when not enough saliva is produced to moisten the mouth and rinse away bad bacteria that may lead to decay. Common asthma treatments may also cause dry mouth, increasing the likelihood of cavities even more. But that’s not all. There’s evidence to support a possible correlation between asthma and gum disease too. In fact, according to one study, those studied who had gum disease were five times more likely to also have asthma.

What to Do

There are several ways you can protect your smile against the adverse effects of asthma and common treatments for it.

• Fight Off Anxiety. If you suffer from asthma and have a history of dental anxiety, it’s crucial you let your dental team know. Research proves that the best way to overcome dental fear is to communicate with your dentist, so talk to them about it. There are also things you can do on your own to help ease anxiety.

• • Don’t have caffeine before your appointment
  • Practice concentrated, slow breathing
  • Eat something high in protein
  • Pick your appointment time for when you won’t feel rushed

These tips, along with open communication, can keep you calm and suppress a potential asthma attack.

• Water. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day, everyday, can keep your mouth moist, hydrated, and ready to fight off unwanted germs and bacteria.

• More Water. Following using an asthma treatment like an inhaler, rinse your mouth with water or a fluoride mouthrinse. Since we know asthma medications containing drying ingredients, the sooner we can wash them out of the mouth, the better.

Everyone at my dental office in Charlottesville is here to keep you healthy. If there’s anything we can do to help make you more relaxed at your visits, let us know. Likewise, if there are any concerns you have about your asthma treatment, or any medication that may influence your oral health, we encourage you to talk to us about it. There are several things we can do to help combat any unwanted side effects for a happy mouth, and a happy body.

Welcoming patients from Charlottesville, Earlysville, and Ruckersville.

About The Author

Dr. Jack T. Kayton

Dr. Jack T. Kayton has served families in Charlottesville and surrounding areas since 1994 through his general and family dentistry private practice. Believing that everyone deserves quality dental care, he donates his time to worthy causes. He volunteers at the Donated Dental Service and the Charlottesville Free Clinic. His professional affiliations include the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry, among others.

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