We can all become victims of tooth decay, which can strike anyone at any time, and aside from having a good oral hygiene regime, there are certain products that contain a lot of sugar. Cough syrup, for example, is a medication that can contain high levels of sugar, which is used to mask the unpleasant taste of the medication. This especially true with cough medicine that is designed for children, which can promote tooth decay if used frequently.

Badly Decayed Teeth

If a person has very bad dental decay, one solution could be all on 4 dental implants, in which all the teeth are removed and a set of titanium pins are inserted into the jawbone, which will provide the anchor points for a full bridge of prosthetic teeth. This is also a popular alternative to dentures, and many elderly people choose to have a full set of upper and lower dental implants fitted, which offers a permanent solution to missing teeth. If you would like to know more about dental implants, make an appointment with your local dentist, who would be happy to give you a free initial consultation.

Steps to Reduce the Risk of Tooth Decay When Taking Cough Syrup

In the event you wish to reduce the risk of tooth decay while taking cough medicine, there are some steps you can take.

• Brush your teeth 30 minutes after taking the cough syrup – If you wait 30 minutes after taking the cough medicine, then brush your teeth with a fluoride-based toothpaste. This will remove most of the sugar.
• Use cough medication in pill form – It is possible to get cough medicine in pill form, and this would not contain the sugar that is commonly found in the syrup. Many parents have already made the switch to safer cough medications, by replacing cough syrup with medication that comes in pill format.
• Sugars, alcohol & citric acids – Some cough syrup contains these substances, which can be very harmful to your tooth enamel. Alcohol, for example, tends to reduce the amount of saliva that the body naturally produces, and less saliva can result in more sugar clinging to the tooth enamel. There is also an informative article that examines the connection between cough syrup and cavities, which highlights the presence of substances that are harmful to tooth enamel.
• Avoid taking cough syrup prior to sleeping – The best way to take cough syrup is prior to eating, as the extra saliva that eating produces can help remove the extra sugar, and if you take cough syrup before going to bed, this allows the sugar many hours to work on your tooth enamel.

If you would like to reduce the risks of your children becoming the victim of tooth decay, implement some of the above tips, which will significantly reduce the risk of teeth cavities forming. Once you are aware of what cough syrup brings, you can take appropriate measures to ensure that your children are not exposed to high levels of sugar that are found in some medications.
[…]
7 Strategies to Teach Your Kids How to Take Care of Their Teeth
Looking For a Dentist-What To Look For
Why Is Keeping Up With Your Dentistry Important?