Gastrointestinal issues

How will a peptic ulcer affect your dental treatment?

Peptic ulcers usually do not affect your mouth. There are even some peptic ulcer drugs that have side effects related to your mouth. They will include dry mouth, black hairy tongue, and changes in the way you taste food and drinks.

Aspirin, aspirin-like drugs, and steroid mar worsen your condition so make sure that you inform your dentist if you have peptic ulcers. You must make sure that your dentist also knows any medications you are taking including its dosage. If you are taking antacids then they may decrease the production of stomach acids. With the decrease in stomach acids, some of the antibiotics may not work as effectively or may even not work properly.

If you have active peptic ulcer disease and if you need dental treatment then you must talk to your doctor and your dentist. You may have to go through some blood tests to determine whether you are fit for dental treatment or not.

How will gastroesophageal reflux disease affect your dental treatment?

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD then your mouth could be affected. You could notice a bad taste in your mouth or you may become aware of burning sensations in your mouth. When stomach acids enter your mouth, it may wear away the enamel on your teeth. If you are using antacids or bismuth a lot then you may get a condition called black hairy tongue.

Your dentist will prescribe an oral rinse, some fluoride rinses, and fluoride toothpaste so that your teeth will become stronger. You should let your dentist know about the medications you are taking and their respective doses. It will help your dentist avoid any complications, side effects, and drug interactions. For instance, if you take antacids then there may be some drugs that won't work due to the low acid levels in the stomach.

If your mouth feels like it is burning then you should tell your dentist about it. It may even be a symptom of another disease like yeast infections or maybe even diabetes.

How can inflammatory bowel disease affect your dental treatment?

Inflammatory bowel disease comprises Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Sores in your mouth characterize either of them. Your gum tissues and your inner cheeks could look swollen and bigger than normal. There are also some medicines that lead to fungal infections in the mouth. An example is thrush.

If you have bloody stools or diarrhoea then you should bring your latest blood tests. Your dentist must review them before any dental treatment is performed on you. If you have been taking steroids for more than two weeks then you may even need more of it before complex or stressful dental visits. If you are taking a lot of steroids then your body may not respond to stress as well as it does and it may even cause complications. A complication that may occur is a sudden drop of blood pressure while you receive dental treatment. You should let your dentist know about long-term steroids that you use and the respective dosages. Drugs that suppress the immune system will also increase the risk of infection so you should let your dentist know all the drugs or medications that you take and their corresponding dosages.

How can head and neck cancer affect your dental treatment?

Head and neck cancers usually develop in the nose, mouth, throat, brain, and the sinuses. These kinds of cancers are treated with a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. These treatments can affect your oral health.

Anyone with head or neck cancer must visit a dentist before cancer treatment starts. Your dentist should repair and remove seriously damaged and infected teeth that could become sources of infection during cancer treatment. When you are being treated for your cancer, you should see your dentist every two to three months. During these visits, your dentist will clean your teeth and monitor your mouth if any new problems develop. Your dentists will show you how to use fluoride products that will help strengthen your teeth and fight decay. Keeping your mouth clean and free from decay is important if you are going through radiation therapy.

How will radiation affect your dental treatment?

Radiation is designed to destroy cancer cells although it also affects cells that are perfectly healthy. The effects of radiation therapy on your oral health include

permanent destruction of your salivary gland tissues. Radiation therapy causes your salivary glands to work less or may even cause your salivary glands to completely stop working. Radiation therapy near your lower jaw can destroy the largest salivary glands in your body. These are called the parotid glands. Salivary glands do not recover from radiation therapy normally. Your dentist can prescribe medicines that increase the flow of your saliva. You may also want to use saliva substitutes from your local pharmacy or grocery. Your natural saliva could end up thicker and stickier after several radiation sessions. Since saliva helps in cleaning your mouth and preventing tooth decay, loss in the flow of saliva will increase the risks of decay and yeast infections in your mouth. If you have periodontal gum disease then it may even get worse. You should now know why it is very important to see your dentist regularly so that your salivary glands can be monitored
having oral sores and muscle stiffness. Radiation could cause sores in your mouth and the stiffening of the muscles in your face and in your jaw. The muscle stiffness will make it harder to open your mouth, clean your teeth, and to eat your food. Muscle stiffness is also known as fibrosis
permanent decrease in the blood flow. Radiation will decrease the flow of blood in your body. This means that it will take longer to heal from wounds and it also means that you are at a greater risk of getting infections. If you need a tooth extraction right after radiation therapy then you may receive higher levels of oxygen before and after the procedure. This higher dose of oxygen will prevent cells from dying during the procedure. Antibiotics may also be given to you in order to reduce the chances of infection. The problem of decreased blood flow is one of the reasons that will urge you to have tooth extractions before the start of radiation treatment
inflammation of tissues. If you have neck cancer then the radiation will cause sores in your throat. This will make it hard for you to swallow

How will chemotherapy affect your dental treatment?

Taking cancer drugs will affect your whole body although the effects are usually impermanent. Some of the oral effects of chemotherapy are

new outbreaks of herpes infections
sores that can be found in your mouth
dry mouth or xerostomia
change in your taste
increase in the risk of infections
increase in the risk of excessive bleeding
a loss of your appetite
pain when you eat

Since cancer drugs do not affect your blood flow permanently, your dentist may be a lot more conservative with which teeth have to be extracted prior to chemotherapy. The dryness of your mouth will depend on factors like

the drugs that you receive
other drugs that you are taking
the efficiency of your salivary glands before cancer treatment

When you stop chemotherapy, the flow of saliva will start to increase gradually.

How will surgery affect your dental treatment?

Surgery in the head and in the neck will usually involve the removal of bones. Your surgeon may reconstruct the area using bones from all over your body. It is a long-term process and can take several months or even years. For instance, rebuilding your jaw may take more than a year.

Depending on the type and the location of the cancer, some of your salivary glands may have to be removed. People with tongue cancer will have trouble speaking and eating after the surgery. The surgical graft of muscle tissue to the site of the cancer may help alleviate this kind of problem.