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The Tavares Dental Connection
with Dr. Chuck Reinertsen

In This Issue
Medications and Your Mouth
Dietary Supplements - Are They Safe?
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Greetings!   

 

  This month's newsletter focuses on the effects of medications and your mouth as well as the safety of dietary supplements. We hope you find this information helpful. 

 

P.S. All of us here at Tavares Dental Excellence want to wish the Moms in our TDE family a Happy Mother's Day! And, a Big Thanks goes out to our Veterans! Have a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend.            

                 

"Medications and Your Mouth"    

 Dr. Chuck Tavares Dentist

   Can't figure out why your teeth are breaking, your mouth is dry, your food tastes different, your gums are swelling, or you keep getting new cavities? Maybe it's your Prescription Medicines! The fine print that accompanies your medication may be difficult to read, but it contains some very important information you should know.

   

  If you are taking just ONE medication, there is a 50/50 chance you will have some type of adverse reaction to it. It could be hives, itching, upset stomach, swelling, etc. If you are taking TWO medications, there is a 90% chance you will have an adverse reaction between the interaction of those two medications and your body's reaction. If you take THREE or MORE medications, it's practically guaranteed you will have an adverse reaction.

    

   You can't stop taking the medicine, so what do you do? If you have a dry mouth, which is a common side effect of over 400 medications, try to keep your mouth moist. A dry mouth gets cavities much faster. Over the counter products like Biotene help. Sipping on water and keeping it convenient throughout the day helps.

 

   The biggest help you can do at home is keep your teeth and gums as clean as humanly possible. That will cut down on cavities, help your breath, and keep your mouth feeling much fresher. Not to mention, save you many trips for dental care.

    

   So read the labels of your medications, look out for the interactions between them, and keep your mouth super clean. These simple steps can make your life much more enjoyable, especially eating! (And you know I like to eat!)

 

   In the Interest of Your Better Dental Health,

   

                     Dr. Chuck        

 

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Dietary Supplements - Are They Safe?
Vitamins
  
   Americans spend over $28 billion dollars every year on supplements including vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies such as St. John's wort and ginkgo biloba, to name a couple. If it says natural it must be good, right?

   Many people are unaware of the risks that are posed when supplements are taken along with medications. Did you know that aspirin, ginkgo biloba, vitamin E and garlic, taken together or separately, can thin your blood? So if you are already taking prescription medication, like Coumadin, and you start taking a supplement, this can increase your risk of bleeding. This is just one example of potential complications with mixing prescriptions and over-the-counter supplements.  

 

   The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for quality standards for dietary supplements but they don't apply the same rules as they do for medications. Manufacturers are responsible for the safety of their supplements. The FDA steps in if there's trouble reported. So how do you know if you are safe or at risk?  

 

     The best place to start is with your healthcare professionals. Make a list of the supplements you take, the dosage, how often you take them and the reason you are taking them. Share the list with your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or other caregivers. By partnering with your healthcare team, you can find the right balance for you. A diet rich in a variety of foods is the best way to get the nutrition you need daily. But if there's a deficiency in your diet, supplements may help to provide essential nutrients you need to stay healthy.  

 

   If you are interested in finding out more about supplements, here are some helpful sites:

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DrugHerbIndex

 

http://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx

    

www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements