Which of the following groups of antimicrobials can be incorporated into bones and teeth and cause tooth discoloration as side effect?

Medications that can lead to tooth decay include some used to treat high blood pressure, depression, and Parkinson’s disease.

Which of the following groups of antimicrobials can be incorporated into bones and teeth and cause tooth discoloration as side effect?
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When you visit the dentist for a teeth cleaning, they often remind you to brush and floss your teeth regularly. They may also remind you that your diet and how well you take care of your teeth determine how likely it is you’ll develop tooth decay, including cavities. Cavities occur when there’s damage to the surface of your tooth (enamel). The cavity, a small hole on the tooth, can cause tooth pain and infection. In serious cases, you could even lose a tooth.

But sometimes, even the most diligent person may not be able to avoid tooth decay. This is especially possible if you take a medication known to cause tooth decay. Below, we will talk about medications that are known to cause oral health side effects.

How do medications cause tooth decay?

Medications can cause tooth decay in various ways. But first, let’s talk about how tooth decay happens in general.

The outer layer of your teeth (the enamel) has minerals that protect your teeth and keep them strong. The enamel can lose minerals and become damaged when it comes into contact with acid. Acid is created when bacteria in your mouth comes into contact with sugars and starches (from the food and drinks you consume). If your teeth encounter acid often, the enamel continues to lose its minerals. Over time, your teeth get progressively weaker and become damaged enough to form cavities.

Some medications create an environment that makes your mouth more acidic. One way this can happen is by causing dry mouth. When your mouth is dry, you have less saliva. Saliva is more important than most people realize, and the average person makes three pints of it a day. It has enzymes that break down starches in your mouth, and helps return minerals to your tooth enamel. The more saliva you have, the less acidic your mouth is. Without an adequate amount of saliva, tooth decay can happen.

Other medications, especially liquid forms, have sugar as an ingredient. Excess sugar in the mouth is also known to cause tooth decay. 

How can I spot signs of tooth decay?

When tooth decay begins, you might not have any symptoms. As tooth decay worsens, you might notice the following: 

  • Tooth pain 

  • Tooth sensitivity  

  • Stained teeth

  • An infection in the mouth that can cause pain, swelling, and fever

What medications cause tooth decay?

Various medications are known to cause tooth decay. Most commonly, medications can cause tooth decay by causing dry mouth.

Most recently, the FDA warned about dental problems with dissolvable forms of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction. These include the sublingual (placed under the tongue) and buccal forms (placed between your gum and cheek). While buprenorphine can cause dry mouth leading to tooth decay, its benefits clearly outweigh its risks for tooth decay.

And, buprenorphine is not the only medication that causes dry mouth. Hundreds of medications can cause dry mouth, including a broad group of medications called anticholinergics. Anticholinergic medications treat a wide range of medical conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, and nausea. These include (Levsin) and (Transderm Scop).

Below is a list of specific medication groups that can cause tooth decay due to dry mouth over time: 

Some medications are sweetened with sugar, which can also cause tooth decay. People who take these medications for a long time are at the greatest risk. Examples include:

  • Children’s syrup-based medications (e.g., Children’s Tylenol)

  • Chewable antacid tablets (e.g., Tums)

  • Some antifungal medications (e.g., nystatin liquid suspension)

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GoodRx Health information and resources is reviewed by our editorial staff with medical and healthcare policy and pricing experience. See our editorial policy for more detail. We also provide access to services offered by GoodRx and our partners when we think these services might be useful to our visitors. We may receive compensation when a user decides to leverage these services, but making them available does not influence the medical content our editorial staff provides.

Which medications cause other oral health side effects?

Medications can cause oral side effects other than tooth decay. For example, some medications can stain your teeth and cause tooth discoloration. These include: 

Gingival enlargement (overgrowth of gum tissue) is also a side effect of some medications. It can lead to difficulty eating, swelling, and inflammation. Some medications that may cause gingival enlargement include phenytoin (Dilantin), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), and amlodipine (Norvasc).

Other medications can cause bleeding, which raises the risk of bleeding from the gums. These include medications that lower your blood’s ability to form clots. This includes anticoagulants like warfarin (Coumadin) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and NSAIDs, like aspirin.

Some medications can also cause a rare side effect called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). This occurs when part of the jaw bone breaks down. Oral bisphosphonates (commonly prescribed for osteoporosis) and cancer treatments like chemotherapy can cause ONJ. Though bisphosphonates and chemotherapy are widely used, ONJ is not common — it affects fewer than 1 in 10,000 people.

How can I take care of my mouth if I have to take these medications?

There are general steps you can take to prevent tooth decay and maintain good oral health. This includes using a fluoride toothpaste, fluoride mouth rinse, or drinking tap water with fluoride in it. If you take medications that put you at higher risk for tooth decay, you . Make sure your dentist knows what medications you take.

Other general steps to maintain good oral health: 

  • Have regular appointments with your dentist

  • Brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly

  • Eat a balanced diet that is low in foods with excess sugars and starches

  • Quit tobacco products if you smoke or use smokeless tobacco

If you take medications known to cause tooth decay, talk to your healthcare provider if you notice signs of damage. Your provider may be able to prescribe another medication that doesn’t cause these side effects.

But, stopping your medication may not be an option, so there are some steps you can take to prevent tooth decay. If your medication causes dry mouth, . And avoid drinking acidic fruit juices. Your healthcare provider may recommend an artificial saliva product to keep your mouth from becoming dry.

The bottom line

Tooth decay and cavities can happen for multiple reasons. Unfortunately, some medications can cause tooth decay by causing a dry mouth or creating an acidic environment in the mouth. 

Practicing good dental hygiene such as brushing, flossing, and getting regular dental care is important. Always let your dentist know what medications you take so they can be aware if you are more likely to experience tooth decay. If you think you are having symptoms of tooth decay, contact your healthcare provider immediately. 

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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Which group of antibiotic agents can cause tooth discoloration?

Tetracycline antibiotics are broad-spectrum antibiotics in use since the 1940s. Older tetracycline-class antibiotics have been linked to cosmetic staining of permanent teeth when used in children before the age of 8 years.

Which antibiotics damage teeth?

However, research has found that antibiotics, in particular amoxicillin, may affect tooth enamel. Kids who took amoxicillin were more likely to have fluorosis, a condition where teeth are exposed to an excess of fluoride. This can cause stains or pitting on the teeth.

Which drug family is associated with tooth discolorations?

Intrinsic, permanent tooth discolouration is well known to occur with the use of tetracycline antibiotics if taken during tooth development (ie, the last half of pregnancy, infancy and in childhood up eight years of age)1.

Can antibiotics cause teeth discoloration?

The severity of the stains on your teeth is due to how much of the antibiotic you took and for how long. It's also influenced by how much of it was taken within a specific period of time. If your treatment was very long, it could have dramatically influenced the level of staining that occurred.