Not that researchers ever seem to have much in the way of wits about them!

Today, I just finished a 'round' or 'bout' with the dentist...again. 3 cavities and a crown, added to the 6 cavities last month. Last 5 years I've averaged 3 cavities per year. Less before that. Can anyone clue me in? Is it the meds for the PN or the IVIG or the cancer meds I started a few months ago? There were 4 cavities of the #s above 'hatching' at cancer diagnosis time last year so it isn't exclusively the cancer meds....The dentist [I've been going to for ages] flat out stated: I refuse to look for any more rite now...I'm afraid of what I mite find!

Really, can anti-epliptic meds do THIS much damage? It's seeming to me, that the dental field, neuro field, and med manufacturing field aren't talking to each other...Almost sounds like a '60's 'evil, subversive, plot' for profit.

Yep, guess you could say I'm a bit testy rite now? Thanks! - j

From what I have read either the medicine or the PN could be reducing the amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva protects the teeth. There are substitutes to saliva, or aides to saliva out there, but I dont know any names. One problem or treatment can often snowball into other problems, which is something we need like a hole in the head.

Can I be testy with ya? Misery loves company.

I just finished replacing my crowns two years ago--all but 4 in my mouth. Eight root canals...yippee....

The meds I'm on dry out my mouth. It's not Sicca Complex. My teeth are decaying under my crowns. I lost a crown three weeks ago while at Mayo-- adding insult to injury...

Enter one dental surgery appointment with all of the Mayo appointments, but schedule it far enough away from the ESI so the anesthesia and steroids don't offset, oh, and the Lazer won't affect either one......

Yupper, guess you could say I'm a bit testy right now too.....

Ain't life grand?
Jan

The meds are very drying. I suffer from this anyway and medicine is adding insult to injury. There are saliva substitutes in various brands. The one I use after trying everything to keep from choking at night is Biotene. I use the Biotene Gel at night. I use about a 1/2 an inch of the gel and rub it all over top and bottom teeth with my tongue. Then I swallow a similar amount to moisturize my throat. It works for me. If I have to get up, I repeat. I've got severe Sjogrens and by doing this, I've been cavity free, dental problem free for three years. There are other brands available, I'm just giving you my opinion. Burning is a problem for me and other brands may be fine for you.

Billye

My laser dentist told me to use Trident White, helps with my dry mouth and cavities that it causes. Two years and no new cavitites for me and I carry a water bottle everywhere I go.

I know that Endep [ Amitriptline ] dries out my mouth, i just use sugarless chewing gum to compensate during the day.

is very hard on the teeth. Did you have chemo? I don't recall, sorry.

Drugs not only can cause dry mouth, they can change the pH of the saliva,
as well.

Your gums too can suffer, and some nutritional support can help this too.
They recede and expose the unprotected parts of the teeth, and that is where they decay so rapidly. So keeping nutrients up to prevent this gum issue, helps alot.

Some dentists recommend strong fluoride toothpastes, when gums recede.
There are also RX rinses. (Prevident and GelKam).

Vit C, CoQ-10, zinc, vit A, selenium are major players for gum health.