During the fall months, asthma is easily triggered. You may not realize that asthma affects your oral health. Treatments for asthma such as corticosteroids inhalers can cause oral conditions such as dry mouth and oral thrush. These conditions may cause additional oral problems such as increased plaque, gingivitis, cavities, TMJ disorder, and poor smelling breath. Contact our dental office in St. Clair Shores, MI if you’d like to schedule an exam to address any oral health conditions related to asthma treatments.

Asthma suffers are often forced to breathe through their mouths, which causes dry mouth. Furthermore, dry mouth is also a side effect from the use of asthma inhalers. Dry mouth can significantly increase your risk of developing tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. While dry mouth is present, less saliva is produced. Saliva is essential for keeping your mouth clean. If you notice a drier than usual mouth, please contact our St. Clair Shores dentist. Doing so will help prevent additional oral problems in the future.

Oral thrush occurs when the use of an inhaler causes an increased growth of yeast (thrush) in your throat and mouth. Thrush produces white patches on the tongue and throughout the mouth. Rinsing  with fluoride mouthwash or water after using an inhaler for asthma treatment, will greatly decrease the growth of thrush. The use of inhalers can also irritate your mouth and cause lesions, which can be treated by the dentist in St. Clair Shores.

If you suffer from asthma, we recommend paying close attention to your daily oral hygiene habits, as you may be more prone to oral inflammation and disease. Although asthma sufferers are at a higher risk for developing dental conditions, routine oral care at home and high quality dental care from the dentist in St. Clair Shores can greatly reduce these risks.

Contact us to schedule an appointment today!