Dry Mouth and Antidepressants
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Over the last twenty years, the increase in the number of people using antidepressants has reached an all time high. According to one study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association the percentage of Americans being treated for depression more than doubled from the late 80's to the late 90's.  Due to a higher awareness of symptoms and treatments, researchers found patients were almost five times more likely to be treated with antidepressants in 1997 as they were back in 1987. Undoubtedly, that number is even higher in 2004.

Regardless of what your views on the widespread use of antidepressants are, it is important to know what the primary side effects can be. Granted, not everyone will experience all the side effects, but it is good to know what happens to your body when medication is introduced.

Some of the most common and best-known side effects are weight gain, headaches and lower sex drive. Another common side effect is dry mouth and bad breath. Often, it is the dry mouth that causes the bad breath. Beyond bad breath, what many people don't know is what dry mouth can do to your teeth and your dental health. 

As a dental health professional I have seen a marked increase in the number of patients that are being prescribed antidepressants. In order to always offer the best care possible it is my responsibility to educate people about what is occurring in their mouth and what can be done to gain and maintain optimum oral health.

According to one report on prescription medications, 7 out of the top 10 medications used in the US in the late nineties had "dry mouth, bad breath, or taste disorders" as a side effect. For the sake of this article, I am going to focus on how antidepressants contribute to dry mouth and what you can do about it.  

The official name for dry mouth is xerostomia.  Basically, dry mouth is the condition of not having enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. Many people do not realize that having an appropriate amount of saliva is essential to controlling many problems in your mouth. Saliva does more than prevent dry mouth; it actually combats infection and controls bacteria and fungi in the mouth.

Common symptoms are a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth; having trouble chewing, tasting or speaking; a dry feeling in the throat; cracked lips; mouth sores and a dry tongue. If left untreated, dry mouth becomes a perfect environment for development of tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections, and other problems.

Most people will get dry mouth at some point. It is when it is persistent that it can cause serious dental problems. Dry mouth can increase your chance of developing dental decay and other infections in the mouth. Again, when you are taking antidepressants your chances of experiencing dry mouth will increase.

Developing an effective preventive care treatment program will help you to avoid many of these problems. The treatment of dry mouth will depend on what is causing the problem. If you are troubled with dry mouth meet with your dentist or physician to determine the best treatment options available.

You can also implement some of the following solutions in the treatment of dry mouth. 

Drink plenty of water. Unfortunately, most people know they should drink a minimum number of glasses a day; few actually do drink the appropriate amount.  Take frequent sips of water throughout day. 

Drink juice and eat fruits that are juicy such as oranges.

Chlorophyll can help. You can get it either in liquid form or in capsule form. Many health food stores carry a good chlorophyll product and can make recommendations. 

Peppermint essential oil can also help as can lemon juice is good to offset bad breath caused by dry mouth. 

You can also use sugarless gum and candy to relieve dry mouth. 

Suck on sugarless hard candy. This will stimulate saliva flow. 

Avoid drinks with caffeine as caffeine can dry out the mouth. 
Tobacco tends to dry out the mouth even more.
Avoid spicy or salty food whenever possible.

Not everyone will have to take the solutions to the extreme. Again, what you do depends on the severity of your dry mouth. The first step to deciding is in the knowing.  

In addition to taking whatever steps are necessary to help with dry mouth, do what you can to keep your teeth healthy through good oral hygiene practices.

• Brush at least twice a day  

• Floss daily  

• Avoid highly sugar-laden foods  

• Use a good toothpaste with fluoride  

• Utilize the services of a reputable dental professional  

• See your dentist twice a year
  
  

It is not advised to discontinue or change antidepressants without consulting your physician. He or she will know what the best approach should be.

Dr. Kiser has been providing cutting-edge cosmetic and general dentistry in Utah since 1984. Smiles Dentistry, Dr. Kiser’s general dentistry practice in Salt Lake City, emphasizes cosmetic dentistry and extraordinary patient care using the most up to date equipment and techniques available. Dr. Kiser is the recipient of the Consumer Research Council of America Top Cosmetic Dentist of Utah 2003 - 2004. 

Dr. Kiser has used only mercury-free substances in his treatments since the mid 90's and concentrates his practice in the areas of sedation dentistry and complete smile makeovers. Visit www.greatsmilesutah.com  to sign up for a FREE monthly online newsletter or for more information on Dr. Kiser and all of his services.