How your medications affect your teeth, gums, and dental care.
Many common medications change how the mouth heals, how saliva flows, how the gums respond to plaque, and how dental procedures should be planned. Most of these effects are manageable when you and your dentist know what to look for.
These pages cover the medications we see most often in practice, with practical guidance for each one.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for type 2 diabetes and weight management.
Metformin is the most commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes and is also used for prediabetes and PCOS.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist used for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Zepbound is the same drug branded for weight loss.
Jardiance is an SGLT-2 inhibitor used for type 2 diabetes and heart failure, working by causing the kidneys to excrete excess glucose in the urine.
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain.
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor and one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the US for high blood pressure and heart failure.
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker used for high blood pressure and angina, including some forms used in pregnancy.
Metoprolol is a beta blocker used for high blood pressure, angina, heart failure, and rhythm disorders.
Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker used for high blood pressure, heart failure, and to protect kidney function in diabetic patients.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic, one of the most prescribed blood pressure medications in the US, often combined with other classes.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation, prior stroke, or DVT.
Eliquis is a direct oral anticoagulant used to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation and to treat or prevent DVT and pulmonary embolism.
Low-dose aspirin (81 mg daily) is widely used for cardiovascular prevention, especially in patients with prior heart attack, stroke, or stent placement.
Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication used after heart attack, stroke, or stent placement, and often combined with aspirin in the months following a cardiac event.
Rivaroxaban is a direct oral anticoagulant used to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation and to treat or prevent DVT and pulmonary embolism.
Adderall is a stimulant used for ADHD and narcolepsy that increases dopamine and norepinephrine.
Sertraline (Zoloft) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used for depression, anxiety, and OCD.
Vyvanse is a long-acting stimulant prodrug used for ADHD and binge eating disorder.
Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant also used for ADHD, smoking cessation, and to mitigate SSRI sexual side effects.
Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an adjunct in major depression.
Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an off-label sleep aid and depression adjunct.
Methylphenidate is the most commonly prescribed ADHD medication in children, available as immediate-release (Ritalin), extended-release (Concerta), and other formulations.
Combined oral contraceptives use estrogen and a progestin to prevent pregnancy and are also used for cycle regulation, acne, and PMS.
Levothyroxine is the most prescribed medication in the US, used to treat hypothyroidism by replacing the thyroid hormone the body cannot produce in adequate amounts.
Diphenhydramine is a first-generation antihistamine used for allergies, motion sickness, and over-the-counter sleep aids.
Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine used for year-round and seasonal allergies, less sedating than diphenhydramine.
Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator used as a rescue inhaler for asthma and as a maintenance medication for COPD.
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic used for acne, rosacea, respiratory infections, and tick-borne illness.
Amoxicillin is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in dentistry, used for dental infections, sinus infections, strep throat, and many other bacterial infections.
Tramadol is an atypical opioid used for moderate pain, with both mu-opioid and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor activity.
Hydrocodone is one of the most prescribed opioid analgesics in the US, often combined with acetaminophen for moderate to severe pain.
Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to suppress inflammation and immune response in conditions like autoimmune disease, asthma flares, and organ transplant.
Fluticasone is an inhaled corticosteroid used to control asthma, COPD, and allergic rhinitis.
Methotrexate is used at low doses for autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, and at higher doses for certain cancers.
Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant used after organ transplant and for autoimmune conditions like severe psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Hydroxychloroquine is used for malaria, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions.
Sirolimus is an mTOR inhibitor used after organ transplant to prevent rejection and increasingly in some cancers and rare diseases.
Alendronate is a bisphosphonate used to treat and prevent osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women and patients on long-term steroids.
Denosumab is an injected antibody that reduces bone breakdown, used for osteoporosis (Prolia) and for bone metastases or bone protection during cancer treatment (Xgeva).
5-Fluorouracil is a chemotherapy drug used for colon, breast, gastric, and other cancers, and as a topical treatment for some skin cancers.
Tamoxifen is an estrogen receptor modulator used to treat and prevent hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, typically taken for 5 to 10 years.
Everolimus is an mTOR inhibitor used for breast cancer, kidney cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and as an immunosuppressant after some transplants.
These pages are written and reviewed by Dr. Isaac Sun, DDS, a practicing dentist in Fountain Valley, CA. They are intended as general information for patients trying to understand how their medications interact with dental care. They are not a substitute for advice from your prescribing physician or your own dentist, who knows your specific case.
Never start, stop, or change a medication based on what you read here. Bring questions to your next dental or medical visit, or schedule a consultation with us.