{"id":68,"date":"2026-07-08T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.windermeresmiles.com\/blog\/?p=68"},"modified":"2026-08-14T12:15:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T16:15:37","slug":"four-medications-that-can-cause-tooth-decay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.windermeresmiles.com\/blog\/four-medications-that-can-cause-tooth-decay\/","title":{"rendered":"Risky Mouth Medicine: 4 Medications That Can Cause Tooth Decay"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Based on what you heard growing up, bad hygiene and junk food can seem like the only causes of cavities<\/a>. Plenty of authority figures \u2013 parents, doctors, and more \u2013 only emphasize those two factors. Even so, there are actually some medications that can cause tooth decay as well. You’d do well to consider such medicines if you want to protect your smile well. With that said, discover four of the decay-causing medications below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some Medications Can Decay Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the fact isn\u2019t often discussed, some medications really can (and sometimes do) decay teeth. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain Medicines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Truthfully, some NSAIDS (i.e., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and opioid medications cause tooth decay. The reason is that they lower your supply of saliva, increasing your risk of dry mouth. As the latter condition lets harmful bacteria multiply on your teeth, it makes cavities likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antibiotics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even as antibiotics kill \u201cproblematic\u201d bacteria, they can slowly erode your enamel as well. A key example would be the drug amoxicillin. Because this liquid drug contains sugar, taking too much of it can decay a child\u2019s teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antihistamines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Antihistamines treat allergy symptoms, and they work incredibly well on that front. Still, their main effect \u2013 the blocking of histamine receptors \u2013 can do more than ease sneezing or sniffling. It reduces the amount of saliva in your mouth, giving harmful bacteria a chance to spread around your smile. That means an antihistamine can potentially increase your risk of cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy Drugs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You know how chemotherapy drugs are just supposed to kill cancer cells? Well, this killing process tends to restrain your immune system. Such restraint often changes your mouth\u2019s lining and salivary glands, upsetting the healthy balance of bacteria. The long-term result is thus a higher chance of cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing Medication-Related Tooth Decay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To prevent the above medicines from decaying your teeth, adopt the following habits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n