Asthmatic Kids Are At Higher Dental Risks

Asthmatic Kids Are At Higher Dental Risks

Asthma is one of the most common problems affecting people of all ages. It is a disease of the airways characterized by obstruction in breathing and bronchospasm. Asthmatics may experience shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness and wheezing. Many people don’t realize however that asthma can have an adverse effect on the overall oral health of a person.
In order to trace the connection of asthma to producing other oral anxiety, a study was conducted comparing asthma patients aging 3 to 24 years old of the same age group who are not asthma sufferers. Results showed that people with asthma had more cavities as compared to their healthy counterparts.
This is so because since most asthma patients have the tendency to use their mouth to breathe rather than their nose, it results to a dry mouth condition. Observations also indicated that asthmatic people would likely prefer drinking sugary beverages more often. With this, accompanied by the dry mouth condition which is the cause of bad breath due to the absence of saliva, tendency for oral bacterial action is a lot higher for these people. Hence, the development of more caries for the people under the group classified to have asthma.
It is also noteworthy to mention that studies have been conducted according to age groups and the results led to the same conclusion. People with bronchial problems have more cavities as compared to the non-asthmatic group. This further solidified the campaigns for appropriate treatments for asthma that won’t endanger the overall oral health of children. Today, many drug manufacturers are doubling their efforts to ensure that medications for asthma and other respiratory ailments are not going to pose harm on the teeth, gums and other parts of the mouth. On the other hand, would-be parents are highly encouraged to ensure good respiratory health and conditions of their children.
Aside from dental caries, it was noted in similar studies that there is high prevalence of dental problems like such as teeth l erosion, oral candidiasis and periodontal disease. These were among the distinguishing characteristics of people who had serious asthma conditions during childhood and even up to early teens. Because of this, people with asthma need special dental care to prevent from developing cavities and other oral health problems. They should brush and floss regularly or as often as possible because they are at high risk of developing oral health problems. Also, instead of eating sugary foods, they need to change their diet into high protein rich foods. This food group tends to produce a calming effect on asthma patients.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it will do you more good to let your dentist know of your condition and tell him about your medication also. There are asthma medicines that can dramatically decrease saliva flow thus resulting to a dry mouth condition. Make sure to rinse your mouth after using the inhaler. Water or fluoride mouthwash can do. If you have asthma or one member of your family does, just be vigilant in safeguarding yourself to reduce the risk of developing oral health problems. Don’t be afraid to consult a dentist and be honest with him in order to receive proper guidance.