TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Oral Hygiene and Minor Oral Disorders A1 - Milone, Anna A1 - Williamson, Kristyn A1 - Hall, Maren A2 - DiPiro, Joseph T. A2 - Yee, Gary C. A2 - Posey, L. Michael A2 - Haines, Stuart T. A2 - Nolin, Thomas D. A2 - Ellingrod, Vicki Y1 - 2020 N1 - T2 - Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, 11e AB - KEY CONCEPTS Dental caries is one of the most common chronic health conditions in both children and adults. Dental caries stems from an imbalance in saliva defense, microbial load, and lifestyle habits. Modifiable risk factors include oral hygiene practices and lifestyle factors. Dental caries can lead to tooth sensitivity, cause oral pain, and have implications for overall health. For oral health maintenance, teeth should be brushed twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Patients should floss daily and follow recommended technique for brushing and flossing. Oral health maintenance also includes the use of athletic mouthguards, denture care, and regular dental care by an oral healthcare professional. Toothpaste contains fluoride as its primary active ingredient to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Other active ingredients, such as potassium salts, may be added for tooth sensitivity, as well as abrasives and carbamide peroxide for tooth whitening. The first-line treatment for dental pain is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), with or without acetaminophen. Benzocaine is available over the counter in numerous products for adults, children, and infants as a local anesthetic for oral pain. While widely available, benzocaine has significant safety concerns and should not be used for teething pain in children younger than 2 years of age. Canker sores are one of the most common ulcerative conditions of the mouth. Treatment options include pain management with topical agents and eliminating irritating food and drink from the diet. Cold sores are recurrent oral lesions resulting from infection with herpes simplex virus type 1. Referral of patients to their primary care physician is likely warranted, as the most effective treatment options are available as prescription only products. Xerostomia or dry mouth is a common oral condition often caused by medical conditions, medications, or medical treatments. Treatment of xerostomia greatly depends on the cause of the condition, but can be treated symptomatically with a number of OTC products. Dentistry has few true emergencies; however, dental trauma where a permanent tooth is displaced or avulsed constitute a dental emergency, and immediate referral to an oral healthcare provider or urgent care center is warranted. Fluoride is effective in preventing dental caries by inhibiting the demineralization of tooth enamel, enhancing the remineralization of enamel, and inhibiting bacterial enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates by cariogenic bacteria. Sources of fluoride include toothpaste, fluoridated drinking water, professionally applied topical fluorides, and oral fluoride supplementation. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182425579 ER -