Has anyone had experience or suspicion that Albuterol caused rapid tooth decay?

[Kara Miller]

I have done a lot of research and found that many articles have been written on the link between Albuterol usuage and rapid tooth decay especially in infants and young children (this caused by the side effect of dry mouth) Has anyone read similar studies/articles or had a suspicion about this and /or actuall experience like this?

[tooth decay and albuterol]

Our Dental Records Include Asthma Condition
Many drugs used to treat asthma have effects on the mouth and throat. Andrenergic agonists can cause dry mouth. Corticosteriods can cause dry mouth, make patients susceptible to fungal infections. Cromoly, can increase saliva production, while leaving a bad taste and burning sensation in the mouth. Also, please remember to be sure you bring your inhalers with you to each appointment in case of an attack.
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Link Between Tooth Decay, Asthma, and Medication Studied
In a study done by Medical University of South Carolina 655 people, between the ages of 1 and 15, were studied to find the relationship between tooth decay and asthma. 125 of these children were diagnosed with asthma-the researchers found that the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth were significantly higher in the asthmatic children. It was also discovered that the drug albuterol, which depletes saliva, was used most often to treat their asthma. Children with asthma may need a more aggressive dental caries prevention methods and better dental care once asthma is diagnosed.
Source: Dentistry Today April 2001 pg 40
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Asthma In Children Is Linked with Dental Cavities
A study done in Texas found that children with asthma are at greater risk for developing caries and other oral problems. The study done on 179 asthmatic and 165 healthy children, ages 2-13 found:
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Prior to eruption of permanent teeth, asthmatic children have significantly higher decayed, missing and filled teeth.
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Asthmatic children may have more cavities than healthy children and these cavities they do have are more severe.
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Kids with asthma have higher caries rates which may be related to taking albuterol which depletes saliva flow which could lead to dry mouth.*
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A preventive program to minimize the effect of asthma on children's oral health was highly recommended.

[Mechelle Hyatt]

My daughter who is 6, has to have 8 teeth crowned, and our dentist says it is from her inhalers she has asthma too. Her teeth were perfect until we started using the inhalers and now her mouth is a mess. She brushes twice a day, and is using ACT rinse as well. So far all the damage is on her baby teeth, but I am worried about her permenant teeth that are coming in.. Anyone with information on this would be helpful..

[Kimberly]

I am so sorry about your daughter-I have just found out about a similar situation with my 3 1/2 year old son. I took him to the dentist, for what I thought would be a routine check up and was shocked to learn that all of his primary molars and in horrible shape-the dentist has also said he will need 8 crowns. The dentist tried to imply that it was from not brushing and flossing-I have done a good job with brushing so I was not convinced that was the cause of such early distruction. Now I am pretty sure that his asthma medication-including Albuterol and inhalers is more of the reason. It makes me so mad that this was not something discussed with me earlier by his pediatrician!

Mechelle Hyatt wrote:

My daughter who is 6, has to have 8 teeth crowned, and our dentist says it is from her inhalers she has asthma too. Her teeth were perfect until we started using the inhalers and now her mouth is a mess. She brushes twice a day, and is using ACT rinse as well. So far all the damage is on her baby teeth, but I am worried about her permenant teeth that are coming in.. Anyone with information on this would be helpful..

[Denise]

I just took my almost 4 year old son to the dentist today and in 1 year he apparently needs 16 crowns, he is also on Asthma medication and has been since he was 8 months old....Albuterol included along with Flovent, Xopenex and Pulmicort. He brushes at least 4 times per day (2 with adult help), eats A LOT of fruits and veggies and very little sugary snacks. I just don't understand...........but I will be making some calls tomorrow to the asthma doc as well as my dentist.

[Rachel]

My 7 year old son has the same problem Mechelle Hyatt wrote. He has 4 crowns,had to have his front two baby teeth pulled. We brush twice a day, floss and rinse with ACT. I believe it is from the asthma medication.

[Wraymond]

We just took our 3 1/2 year old daughter to the dentist and found out she has 5 cavities in her back molars. We have been good about brushing twice a day. She has been taking pulmicort and albuterol since 11 months old.
None of our many doctors mentioned this serious side affect of the asthma medication. Very disappointing! More and more, we are learning that western medicine does not have the answers to help people be healthy. All the drugs have side affects that create even more of a health problem.

[Andrea]

Your children may have food allergies that are causing their problems. Celiac disease (wheat allergy) causes failure to thrive (gain weight, be healthy). I was just diagnosed with gluten intolerance and my doctors believe it could have caused my asthma. Also lactose intolerance is supposed to be a cause of many ear infections in children.

I am off the gluten and my stomache problems are gone! It will take awhile for my immunity to return to normal and my asthma to improve. I am working with a naturopath to try whatever natural stuff that doesn't have side effects will help. My physician is helping me get off the inhaled steroids too (yeah!). I am going to try after a few good freezes, to try it for a week. If that doesn't work, there are non-steroidal allergy pills to try in place of steroids. With the food allergy taken care of, we are all hopeful!

Steroids are nasty, especially for kids I would think, and girls. Best wishes everyone.

[Donna]

My almost 4 year old daughter was just told she has seven cavities and had to have a crown put on one. I thought we did a pretty decent job in brushing her teeth. She has asthma and is on Xopenex. After reading all the other comments and from what her current dentist has told us, I really believe this medicine has helped cause some of her teeth problems. I am calling her pediatrician tomorrow to ask if there is another medication she can use. I don't want her teeth to rot out!

[L Williams]

Yes. My child also had dental problems I believe are associated with asthma medications.

[Mechelle Hyatt]

I think there is something we should be able to do about this or report it some where. I mean I don't under stand how my daughter who was six when we got the shocking news from her dentist, that her teeth were terrible.. how that happens in one year of being on inhalers for asthma. Thankfully my dentist said if he had not seen her for three years he would of sworn that I never had that child brush her teeth which is NOT the issue here. I also had a doctor tell me that I should of been told to rinse the mouth with water after each use. No one told me this, and then they act like I am dumb for not knowing this. It is not on the insert you get with the meds, so how would I know this? I don't have astham, and my other children do not. I had to spend almost $3,000.00 have her teeth fixed, because our dental insurance would not cover it. And now theytell me it could of been avoided by rinsing her mouth out with water? So make sure you tell anyone to rinse your childs mouth with Water and have them brush if you can, after each use of the inhalers.

[Sarah H]

I have mixed emotions reading all the comments about the link between asthma medications and cavities. I am happy to know I'm not the only one going through this with a young child (3 1/2) and relieved to know it may not be all my fault. The guilt I have been feeling the last few days was horrible. I am saddened to know though that many other parents and children are going through the same thing and were not made aware of the affects of the medication. I had no idea the albuterol I was giving my daughter to help with her asthma was destroying her teeth. She has 4 cavities in her back molars as well as possibly more. She also has erosion on most her teeth as well. I have 4 children and none of them have had cavities so I was floored when my youngest had soo many at such a young age of 3 1/2 years old. The only thing that makes sense and is different from the way the other children were raised is my youngest has asthma and has used albuterol most her life. I honestly don't know if I would've done anything different had I none the affects. She obviously needs the steroids for her asthma attacks but there has to be some other way and more information given to parents.

[relieved parent]

I too sound like a recording of all of these other posts. My four year old was diagnosed just 4 months ago with 8 cavities. Dentist blamed close teeth, though they all appeared in just 6 months from last checkup??? He has many severe allergies (dairy, eggs, nuts). I assumed it was due to lack of calcium, which may be somewhat true, but after reading these, it fits his scenario. In all these cases, there is an extreme high number of cavities in young kids who seem to have involved parents. Does anyone know what we can do to help prevent in permanent teeth? Does a sealant help?

[Concerned parent]

My son is 10 years old and has had massive tooth problems. Just today he had to have 2 more teeth pulled, which became absyed in the last month. It is constant. His baby teeth are extremely eroded. He has been on albuterol, singulair, and advair throughout his life. When he was an infant he had so many antibiotics, they had to inject it because he had become immuned to it. His dentist for years has blamed it on not brushing. Which I have argued since day 1. Finally, this year he admitted that he thinks it may have something to do with the medication. My dentist says he can't seal all the teeth, only the molars. It is so frustrating and it breaks my heart having to see my son go through it all!!

[Rebecca]

Wow, I feel like I just read my own post. My son is 4 years old and needs all the same work your son needs. And he has been on asthma meds most of his life. The dentist did suggest it was the meds. That was the first I had heard of it. The fact that it causes dry mouth. I feel like you. I am so mad that his pediatrician never warned me about this. I am so glad to find this. I was feeling like such a bad mom for a bit. Even though I brush his teeth, floss his teeth and am careful about what he eats. I couldn't believe the amount of decay and work he needs.

Kimberly wrote:

I am so sorry about your daughter-I have just found out about a similar situation with my 3 1/2 year old son. I took him to the dentist, for what I thought would be a routine check up and was shocked to learn that all of his primary molars and in horrible shape-the dentist has also said he will need 8 crowns. The dentist tried to imply that it was from not brushing and flossing-I have done a good job with brushing so I was not convinced that was the cause of such early distruction. Now I am pretty sure that his asthma medication-including Albuterol and inhalers is more of the reason. It makes me so mad that this was not something discussed with me earlier by his pediatrician!
<quoted text>

[Audra]

I am faced with the same problem. My son is four years old and I noticed he had a cavity. SO I sheduled him a dentist appt., and to my surprise he has six cavities. The teeth that are affected are his molars. I was questioned about his oral hygeine and his diet. I have helped my son brush his teeth for since his baby teeth have came in. He brushed three times a day and uses a mouth wash. I couldn't figure out where I went wrong??? I looked into it and asked if medications could play a role. I found paperwork from when my son was 8 months old and had to take Albuterol for an upper respiratory problem. It was a liquid that I had to put in his mouth every six hours for his cough. I was never told to rinse his mouth out!!!:( I now have to take my son to the dentist six different times to get this fixed. Does anyone think I should contact my sons pediatrician and let them know?

[Karyn]

I am so sorry to hear about your child. So young to have such problems. I dismissed my teeth deterioration to mid-life and thanks to this board I am not making a connection that this may have affected my teeth as well. I only wanted to add, that as an asthmatic, I feel there really isn't always any other option. I have tried various alternative "natural" therapies, and the bottom line is, while they may help.... eventually I have to reach for my albuterol. I have recently been reading about a link between root canal and asthma. Google " The Truth About Root Canals"

[Karyn]

My posting should read "I am NOW making the connection." not "I am NOT making the connection.

[Jen]

Wow! I just read my daughter's story 20 times! Her 2 year morals are rotting away. She (like many of your children) has been on pulmicort and albuterol since she was 18 months old--along with prednisone multiple times as well. I feel for all of you, but it is nice to hear that we are not alone. I just wish I knew what to do about it now. My kid has to breathe.

[Karen Lamkin]

Kimberly wrote:

I am so sorry about your daughter-I have just found out about a similar situation with my 3 1/2 year old son. I took him to the dentist, for what I thought would be a routine check up and was shocked to learn that all of his primary molars and in horrible shape-the dentist has also said he will need 8 crowns. The dentist tried to imply that it was from not brushing and flossing-I have done a good job with brushing so I was not convinced that was the cause of such early distruction. Now I am pretty sure that his asthma medication-including Albuterol and inhalers is more of the reason. It makes me so mad that this was not something discussed with me earlier by his pediatrician!
<quoted text>

I too believe the same thing. I just got back from taking my youngest son who is 8 to the dentist to get his teeth cleaned and he has cavities. He also has asthma and just finished taking prednisolone as well a flovent inhaler which is a inhaled steroid as well as nebulizer treatments as needed as well as a albuteral inhaler and I should mention that this episode of this asthma attack has turned into pneumonia and that is why he is on all of the meds. The dentist said that his top gums were inflamed and that the cavites were not from the meds it was from not brushing well. I was also told this for my oldest son who is 13 and just had dental surgery to fix his teeth and yes they were permanent teeth. The dentest that fixed my oldest son's teeth said that he had weak teeth from all of the meds that he was on when he was younger...he too had asthma and alot of upper resperitory infection and was on the same meds and more as my youngest son. So yes I believe the meds casue the cavites and any other dental problems that at least my two have.
Karen Lamkin