chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and your oral health

How can chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, bronchitis, and emphysema affect your oral health?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD will not affect your teeth and your mouth although you may get sick very often and have other upper respiratory infections. Some people with COPD are usually on steroids. This could make them more likely to acquire fungal infections or yeast infections in their mouth. This type of infection is described by dentists as candidiasis. Other people may know it as thrush.

Your adrenal glands produce hormones that allow your body to respond to stressful situations although if you are taking steroids, hormone production may not be optimal. As a result, your body is unable to respond to stressful situations properly. You should inform your dentist if you are taking steroids. People who take steroids may have trouble responding to stress and as a result, you may also have trouble at the dentist’s office. If you have been taking steroids for more than two weeks then you should tell your dentist about it. You may have to get more steroid treatment before a dental treatment. You should also let your dentist know about any medications you are taking and their respective dosages so that you dentist will not prescribe drugs that may interact with what you are taking.

The way you sit on the dental chair could affect the way you breathe so you should work with your dentist and find a comfortable position. Your dentist should prepare oxygen supply just in case you need it during the appointment. If you are already using oxygen supply at home then you should bring it to the dentist’s clinic.