How to make it easier for a young child to take a certain medicine, a task that often seems impossible to us? Making it in the form of syrup and adding sugar, to make it easier to swallow, give it a more pleasant taste that they accept without putting too many inconveniences (although these "tricks" are not always synonymous with effectiveness and we may have to make several attempts). And of course, if the child often takes a medicine with sugar, he will have a higher risk of tooth decay if he does not take proper oral hygiene (same as any food or sugary liquid).
Just a few days ago we talked about habits that can harm the child's oral health and not having proper hygiene was one of them. Also eat sweets daily, or sugary juices. And one of our readers left us an interesting comment about a certain medicine that, in patients with bronchial problems, causes tooth decay. And it is not the only one.
Pharmaceutical companies often use sweeteners such as sucrose to improve the taste and please small patients, but there is scientific evidence of the relationship between dental plaque, sucrose (or other fermentable carbohydrate), and tooth decay. Medications as common as many anti-inflammatories, expectorants, antibiotics ... contain sugar.
Of course, we can think that many medications are occasional and should not worry much. However, any medication in liquid formulation that contains sugar can increase the incidence of tooth decay. Therefore, after each medicine, it is better to brush your teeth. If we give it during meals, better, since the remains of medicine are not going to stay that long and we also make sure that they brush their teeth afterwards.
Sugar can also be found in liquid pharmaceutical preparations to treat some chronic diseases, which children will take continuously. This is the case of inhaled salbutamol, which increases drug caries in asthmatic patients.
Therefore, the authors who have studied the relationship between drug caries and sucrose, as well as dental and pediatric societies, point out that replacing sucrose with other non-acidogenic sweeteners is essential to prevent the cariogenic potential of pediatric medications.
According to the Spanish Society of Pediatric Dentistry, drug caries can be reduced by following these tips of those who must inform medical professionals to families:
- The importance of maintaining the integrity of the temporary dentition.
- The presence of sugar not only in food or beverages, but also in medicines.
- The usefulness of administering sugary medication at meal times instead of administering between meals or just before sleep.
- The importance of tooth brushing after meals and medications.
- The danger of self-medication.
Prescribers should prescribe non-cariogenic forms, such as tablets or capsules for swallowing, or if a cariogenic suspension formula (suspension, drops, chewable tablets, etc.) is prescribed, they should choose those sweetened with non-cariogenic sugars. Also, each sugary prescription should be accompanied by oral hygiene advice.
In short, either occasionally or chronically (but especially in this second case), you have to brush your teeth after taking medicines, as many favor the appearance of tooth decay. And remember to save medications after using them to avoid accidents.
