Here at Amcal pharmacy, we regularly help people with their oral health.
Our pharmacists can provide medicines and products to treat gum disease, dental infections, oral thrush, dry mouth and a whole range of other oral health conditions.
The good news is, many of these conditions are preventable and we can help with that, too!1
Our expert pharmacists recommend the following steps to look after your family’s teeth and mouth:2
- Clean teeth, or dentures, and gums at least twice daily with a soft toothbrush
- Floss daily using a device that suits your teeth and hands
- Drink plenty of water, preferably tap water which contains fluoride for healthy teeth
- Limit food and drinks with added sugar, and rinse your mouth with water after each meal
- If you smoke, try to cut down or quit
- Limit alcohol intake
- Wear a mouth guard during contact sports
- Have regular dental check-ups
Detecting oral thrush early
Signs and symptoms of oral thrush occur when a type of fungus called Candida, commonly found in the mouth, overgrows. Symptoms can include a white coating on the tongue that is difficult to remove, pain or a burning feeling in the mouth, redness, and cracks at the corners of the mouth.
Oral thrush is common in young babies and can be passed to breastfeeding mothers. It is also seen in people with diabetes, lower immune systems, people taking antibiotics and people using corticosteroid inhalers.
Our pharmacists can help diagnose and treat oral thrush and provide products and advice to help prevent it from coming back again.
The link between oral health and overall health
People with certain health conditions and taking certain medications are more susceptible to oral health concerns. Our pharmacists can complete a medication review and recommend any extra steps you can take to best look after your oral health.
Some examples are:
- Using a spacer and rinsing and spitting after using corticosteroid inhalers
- Reviewing medicines that may be causing dry mouth
- Using saliva substitutes like mouthwashes, lozenges and gums
- More frequent visits to your dentist for people living with diabetes, and people with lower immune systems
Interestingly, the health of your mouth can also affect the health of the rest of your body. There are links between inflammation caused by bacteria in the mouth, and overall body inflammation, and certain related health conditions.3
For more information about managing your oral health speak to your Amcal pharmacist.
References:
1. Pharmacy Teams Supporting Oral Health [internet]. Dental Health Services Victoria. Available from: https://www.dhsv.org.au/oral-health-advice/Professionals/pharmacists
2. Fact sheets and tip cards [internet]. Dental Health Services Victoria. Available from: https://www.dhsv.org.au/oral-health-advice/Professionals/oral-health-resources/fact-sheets-and-tip-cards
3. Dental Health Week [internet]. Australian Dental Association Victoria. Available from: https://adavb.org/advocacy/campaigns/dental-health-week#:~:text=Dental%20Health%20Week%2C%20which%20takes, Australian%20Dental%20Association%20(ADA).
Last reviewed: 4 Sep 2024