Posted by 49er on December 31, 2008, at 5:30:42
In reply to Depression and Gum Disease, posted by SLS on December 24, 2008, at 8:59:27
> I recently read an article that associated gum disease with depression, hypercortisolemia, and stress. Of course, gum disease is also associated with heart disease.
>
> I have significant gingivitis that borders upon periodontal disease.
>
> Anyone else?
>
>
> - ScottHi Scott,
Frankly, I am tired of depression being blamed for every disease known to mankind. Sorry, this is a hot button issue of mine because it makes it easy for medical professionals to just blame the "mental illness" instead of actually figuring out what is wrong with the patient and how to help him/her.
To answer your question now that my rant is over:), psychotropic meds dry out the mouth. As a result, there is an extreme decrease in saliva and as a result, it is not washing out the bacteria that results from eating foods.
Before I started on psych meds, I had perfect teeth. Now, I have numerous dental problems although to be honest, I can't blame them all on the meds. But I do feel that if I hadn't been on psych meds, my dental problems wouldn't be as severe.
49er
poster:49er
thread:870616
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081223/msgs/871589.html