The medicine you take for one physical disorder may literally rot your teeth. This is one of many reasons we need to know your medical history and current treatment.
For instance…
Chewable vitamin C supplements are a good idea for a lot of people, but check your brand for sugar content. For children especially, a liquid form does less damage to tooth enamel, and natural sources of the vitamin—oranges, green vegetables—are even better.
Calcium channel blockers (Procardia, Cardizem, Adalat) cause swelling of the gums in at least 20% of patients with high blood pressure or heart disease. This can be very dangerous, as bacteria invade gums and may reach the heart itself.
Over-the-counter preparations of all sorts—lozenges, cough drops, antacids —are sugar-laden. Tums has calcium, yes, and enough sugar for a family of four.
About Yuri Kaneda, DDS
Dr. Yuri Kaneda was born in Japan and immigrated to the US when she was 4 years old with her family. She lived in Ohio, Nebraska, and Illinois before finally settling in the San Diego area. A graduate of Bonita Vista High School, she went on to the University of California Berkeley where she obtained her Bachelors in Microbiology and Immunology. After working for 2 years in growth plate research at University of California San Diego, she went to the University of California San Francisco Dental School for her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Upon graduation, she returned to San Diego where she worked as an associate in the practice of Drs. Morimoto and Yaryan, her childhood dentist. She then started her own practice in 1995 and has been at her present location since 1999 which happens to be across the street from her high school!
