Aspirin: Is it Damaging Your Teeth?
Aspirin is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. However, as with any medication, aspirin can cause side effects. Unbeknown to you, taking aspirin may be having a negative effect on your dental health. Below is a guide to the impact of taking aspirin on your teeth and a few steps you can take to minimise the potential damage.
Why and how aspirin impacts your teeth
Aspirin is acidic, and the acids contained within the compounds which make up the medicine may attack your teeth. This can cause your teeth to become sensitive and trigger further decay, though taking aspirin doesn't automatically lead to major dental damage. The way you take the aspirin can either increase or decrease the amount of acid your teeth are exposed to.
If you chew on your aspirin tablets or use soluble medication, you could be exposing your teeth to a high quantity of acid. If you are taking aspirin on a daily basis, the outer enamel layer of your teeth may be worn away. Soluble aspirin will often contain additional acids which are designed to help the tablet to break down and fizz when it comes into contact with water. If you take aspirin in this way on a daily basis, it is likely you will begin to experience problems with your dental health.
The best way to take aspirin is to swallow the capsule or tablet whole. If you do this, your teeth will not be exposed to acids in the same way.
How to minimise the effects of aspirin
Some people experience difficulty when trying to swallow capsules or tablets. If you are one of these people, you may have no other option than the use of chewable or soluble medication. If this is the case, there are some steps you can take to protect your teeth.
As soon as you have chewed the tablet or have drunk the soluble aspirin, you should rinse your mouth with water. Doing so will help to remove any acids from the surface of your teeth. You should also take your aspirin at meal times, as this will help to reduce the frequency of acid attacks on your mouth.
If you have any concerns about the impact of aspirin on your dental health, you should book an appointment with your dentist today. You should never stop taking aspirin if your doctor has prescribed it.