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 our Manassas, Reston, and Gainesville dental offices, 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.
These tips, along with open communication, can keep you calm and suppress a potential asthma attack.
Everyone at our dental offices in Manassas, Reston, and Gainesville 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 Manassas, Reston, Gainesville, Northern Virginia.