Why Are Dental Cleanings So Important For People With Asthma?

Dental cleaning appointments are valuable preventative appointments since your dentist can remove cavity-causing plaque, perform oral cancer screenings, take x-rays, and measure periodontal pockets. Some patients, like asthmatics, may require more frequent dental cleanings because their asthma can negatively affect the oral cavity. Take a look at how asthma can affect oral hygiene and how to mitigate these challenges.

How Does Asthma Affect Oral Health?

A clinical review found that different medications used to treat asthma could promote a higher risk of cavities, enamel erosion, gum disease, and oral thrush. This doesn't mean that you should stop your asthma medications; again, it just means that you need to stay up to date with your dental cleanings.

A lot of asthmatics are more likely to breathe through their mouths, which in turn, can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth is a condition where saliva flow is decreased. When there is less saliva in the mouth, bacteria can more easily thrive and cause cavities and bad breath.

Lastly, people with asthma are more likely to develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause stomach acid to rise back up into the oral cavity and can change the pH of saliva. Stomach acid can dry out the mouth and prematurely wear down enamel.  

How Can You Alleviate Asthma's Impact on Your Dental Health?

Although asthma symptoms and medications present specific challenges, there are steps you can take to improve your oral health. Be sure to maintain your dental cleaning appointments and ask your dentist if more frequent appointments would be beneficial.

Some patients with asthma may have dental anxiety because they worry about having an asthma attack while in the office chair. Share these concerns with your dentist; they may recommend sedation therapies to relieve your anxiety. Sedation dentistry services, such as conscious sedation with benzodiazepine, can be used. Nitrous oxide may be contraindicated for severe asthma, but it can be helpful for mild to moderate asthma.

Attaching a spacing device to your inhaler's mouthpiece can be helpful. This action will help more medication go directly to the lungs and reduce the amount of medication that stays in the mouth. Some people may want to brush their teeth after inhaler usage, or at the very least, gargle water after doses.

If your asthma triggers GERD, reach out to your doctor about dietary changes, medication changes, etc. You can reduce dry mouth and restore saliva flow by staying properly hydrated and/or chewing sugar-free gum.

Reach out to a dentist today for more information on dental cleanings and other ways to improve your oral hygiene.