Originally Posted by MCH

Just to add something else to the mix, here.

If you or someone you know is taking an anti-depressant (Paxil, Zolof, etc.) for whatever reason, know that you (or they) must drink copious amounts of water. The drug drastically reduces the amount of saliva your salivary glands produce. Issue being, therefore, that your teeth aren't being "rinsed" frequently enough by saliva, making them vulnerable to cavities and other problems.

My dental hygenist told me that she always reminds her patients who take anti-depressants or other drugs that have the side effect of "dry mouth" to keep a bottle of water within arm's reach all day every day, empty it and to refill it frequently. Sodas (even sugarless ones)don't count, nor do juices, etc. Plain water is the antidote of choice.

My SIL took Paxil for a few years...and when she went to the dentist after she quit taking it, her teeth and gums were a mess. She's had to have teeth pulled, a bridge put in, gum surgery, and numerous cavities filled in addition to having a root canal or two. The only thing different in her life was her taking Paxil. She told me that no one ever mentioned to her about the decreased saliva side effect.

My Mother, who had dentures, took Zolof for a few years...and her doctor reminded her to chew sugarless gum as that would stimulate the salivary glands to help rinse both her dentures and her gums. She didn't have any gum problems the entire time she took the anti-depressant.

The irony for my SIL was that once she quit taking Paxil, she was really depressed about all the necessary dental work.

Be very careful when taking any drug for an extended period of time. Who would think an anti-depressant would mess with your dental health?