Hi, it’s Bob in snowy New York. I just found out I have three cavities. The reason totally surprised me. But first...
When I went to the dentist for my regular checkup in December, I knew it was going to be bad when the hygienist suddenly blurted out: “Wow, that’s an unusual spot for a cavity!” I had three cavities, including one that needed an unpleasant root canal.
I’ve always been cavity prone — my teeth are crowded and I sometimes miss spots while brushing — but this was unusually bad. And there was a surprising reason I was suddenly facing even more cavities than usual: medication-induced dry mouth. I’ve long taken over-the-counter antihistamines for hay fever, and recently was prescribed another drug that can also produce dry mouth. That combination, my dentist told me, may have contributed to my worsening cavities.
While everyone know sugar is bad for your teeth, the role of dry mouth caused by prescription medicines is less well known to the public. But it turns out saliva is one of your best friends when it comes to cavity prevention.
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