I Have To Be on Antibiotics For a While. Will That Affect My Dental Health?
Posted on 7/15/2024 by Sola Smile Co
Antibiotics are some of the most important medications that humans have ever discovered. Before antibiotics, people regularly died of ear infections, pneumonia, strep throat, and tuberculosis - all of which can be cured with antibiotics. While these medications are life-saving, being on antibiotics for a long time may cause issues with your teeth.
What Are Antibiotics?
Antibiotics work to kill bacteria in your body by destroying their protective coating, which allows your immune system to target and kill them. You can find antibiotics in liquid form for children, injections, and pills.
Dental Health and Antibiotic Use
Some diseases require long-term antibiotic use. For example, many people with lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), chronic bronchitis, and asthma, sometimes require antibiotic use for long periods to keep their lungs clear.
If you are on antibiotics long-term, it may affect your dental health. Long-term use of antibiotics can cause changes in the mineral composition of your teeth. For example, some people who have to take a tetracycline class of antibiotics may notice their teeth change color if they have to use them for a long time.
Over time, long-term antibiotic use weakens your tooth enamel, which allows stains and pigments to sink more deeply into them. Teeth can become yellowed or have a bluish cast because of the antibiotics you are taking and the kind of food you eat.
What Should I Do?
If you know that you will have to take antibiotics for a while due to a chronic illness or infection, here are some tips you should keep in mind. Brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking foods with high pigment, such as wine or coffee. Also, look for a toothpaste that helps your teeth remineralize so that your enamel can be as strong as possible. While you are at it, make an appointment as soon as possible to visit our dentist to talk about your teeth and antibiotic use.
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Antibiotics are some of the most important medications that humans have ever discovered. Before antibiotics, people regularly died of ear infections, pneumonia, strep throat, and tuberculosis - all of which can be cured with antibiotics. While these medications are life-saving, being on antibiotics for a long time may cause issues with your teeth.