Warning to hay fever sufferers as drugs taken for pollen misery can trigger little-known side effect

Medications used to relieve hay fever symptoms could put your smile at risk, experts warn.

Antihistamines are an essential part of a hay fever sufferer’s treatment kit during the spring and summer months.

But as high pollen season approaches, dentists have suggested that relying on the once-a-day pills could have an impact on your teeth.

Dr. Sulaman Anwar, a specialist periodontist who works in private clinics in London, told MailOnline: ‘If you suffer from allergies you may not realize they can also affect your oral health.

“If you are one of the many people who regularly take allergy medications such as antihistamines, you may be familiar with dry mouth as a side effect.”

Dry mouth, or “xerostomia,” is when the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva and can be caused by a number of underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, or medications, especially heart, blood pressure, and depression tablets.

Dr. Anwar said: ‘When allergy medication reduces saliva production, it can make your mouth more susceptible to harmful bacteria and tooth decay.

“In fact, without proper saliva flow, the risk of both tooth decay and gum disease can increase.”

Dr. Anwar said decongestants, which relieve nasal congestion or congestion, can have the same effect.

NHS Inform says it’s important to ‘maintain good oral hygiene if you have a dry mouth to reduce the risk of dental problems’.

Saliva – essential for the smile

One study found that an older brand of antihistamine, clemastine, sold over the counter, caused excessive dry mouth in six percent of those who took it.

But there is some evidence that dry mouth is less common with newer antihistamines, such as cetirizine, according to an article published in Oral Diseases.

Dr. Graham Tinkler, one of the UK’s top Invisalign dentists based in London, agreed that antihistamines can cause dry mouth and there may be a link between heavy use and the severity of the side effect.

Dr. Tinkler said, “Saliva helps to control harmful germs. It helps eliminate the acid that affects your teeth and is a very important part of your dental health.”

Without saliva, acids from bacteria and plaque remain on the teeth and attack the enamel, causing tooth decay and possible tooth loss.

The soft tissues between the teeth are also affected, which can lead to gum disease. While gum disease is very common, it will cause tooth loss on its own if left untreated.

It is associated with a number of serious health problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis and coronary heart disease.

There are a number of other dry mouth symptoms that cause general discomfort, such as dry lips, mouth sores, or crevices at the corner of the mouth.

Dr. Tinkler said: ‘Some people find they have difficulty swallowing when their saliva flow is affected.

“Having less saliva can also affect the taste of food and make it more difficult to eat drier foods. Sometimes it can affect your speech and people are more likely to have bad breath.”

Can you restore your hay fever treatment?

Oral antihistamines are often seen as the first-line treatment for hay fever – which affects between 25 and 50 per cent of Britons, according to statistics compiled by Allergy UK.

‘However, the NICE guidelines recommend that self-management strategies for people with hay fever (pollen allergy) should be advised along with medicines,’ said London-based pharmacist Dr Rita Ghelani.

Dr. Ghelani said: ‘When I advise patients in the pharmacy about hay fever, I focus on the symptoms they are experiencing and get a good idea of ​​how it affects their daily lives.

“Before I recommend oral antihistamines, I give them the option to treat individual symptoms.

‘Patients are often surprised to hear that they can use eye drops for itchy eyes or a nasal spray that can help with nasal congestion as an alternative or in addition to antihistamines.

“Using a targeted medication administered directly into the nose or eyes for hay fever symptoms is much more effective and also reduces the chance of side effects affecting other parts of the body.”

Other ways to manage hay fever without relying on antihistamines alone include wearing sunglasses, applying balm around the nostrils, keeping the windows closed, and avoiding going outside in the early morning or early evening .

Dr. Tinkler said to talk to your doctor if you experience dry mouth.

Instead of throwing away your antihistamines, you can handle dry mouth quite easily.

Suck sugar-free candies, chew sugar-free gum, drink cold water, or get rinses, gels, pastes, and lozenges from the pharmacy.