LEGAL DRUGS
*Antihistamines (the older types like Benedryl)
*Antidepressants (old style types like Elavil, Flexaryl etc)
*Anticholinergics (often used as decongestants as well as surgical drying agents like atropine and scopolamine )
*Anorexiants (diet pills)
*Antihypertensives (blood pressure meds),
*Antipsychotics (psychiatric drugs)
*Anti-Parkinson agents
*Diuretics (“water pills”)
*Sedatives (sleeping pills)
ILLEGAL DRUGS
Illegal drugs have the added liability of lifestyle issues which interact with the dry mouth and make the bad breath much worse. Addicts and other recreational users often neglect their oral hygiene and use huge amounts of sugar leading to massive tooth decay. In addition, poor oral hygiene combined with poor nutrition causes gum disease. Both of these conditions are major causes of bad breath.
The drugs most likely to cause problems in this category are the metabolic stimulants: Cocaine, Crack, Ecstasy and Methamphetamines.
Heroine and Marijuana are not metabolic stimulants, however they predispose users to high sugar use and thus are associated with bad breath due to tooth decay.
Jodhpur Dental College
Jodhpur National University
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