Bipolar Disorder

Side Effects Of Lithium On Your Teeth

If you or any of your family members have bipolar disorder, you may have a lot of questions about the treatment and its effectiveness. You may also have concerns about potential side-effects. Medical professionals have been using lithium to treat bipolar disorder. This treatment can prove to be life-changing with proper monitoring and management.

Lithium treatment, however, has some adverse side-effects on dental health. These side-effects can be both long-term and short-term. In this article, we will discuss those side effects briefly.

Bipolar disorder prevalence

According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), about 5.7 million adults in the US suffer from bipolar disorder. That makes this disorder more common than you think. While both men and women can have this disorder, women are more likely to have long-lasting episodes of depression.

Although the average age of diagnosis of this disorder is 25, it is not uncommon for people between 40 and 50 years of age or children to get diagnosed with it. According to the DBSA, lithium can help treat this condition in 40 to 50 percent of patients after receiving the diagnosis.

What are the dental side-effects of lithium?

One of the most common side-effects of lithium treatment is dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. This condition results in teeth and other soft tissues in the mouth getting deprived of an adequate supply of saliva. Saliva is also a buffer material to neutralize the impact of acidic foods and drinks. It also contains certain materials that keep your tooth enamel strong.
The lack of saliva due to lithium treatment also results in tooth decay, gingivitis, and advanced gum disease. These conditions also result in inflamed and ulcerated gums.
Bipolar disorder also results in a patient becoming anxious about his or her dental health. Such individuals then start over-brushing, which can lead to tooth abrasion.

Other bodily side-effects of lithium treatment

Lithium treatment can result in certain bodily side-effects, which can be quite disturbing. During the initial phase of drug therapy, certain side effects can occur. Regulating the dosage can help eliminate these issues. These short-term side-effects include the following.

Fatigue
Tremors
Frequent urination
Diarrhea
Reduced mental clarity
Weight gain
Dermatologic issues

Some long-term side effects of these issues include the following.

Excessive urinating, resulting in increased thirst and dry mouth
Affected thyroid and parathyroid gland function

Nonetheless, the risk of these side-effects shouldn’t be a reason for you to stop taking lithium treatment.

The best approach is to remain adherent to your dental and overall health. Be sure to discuss everything with your physician and dentist to avoid these side effects. To prevent side-effects related to your dental health, stay committed to your oral hygiene regimen. Brush your teeth twice and floss at least once every day. The most significant and severe side-effect of lithium treatment is dry mouth, which is generally due to the loss of an excessive amount of fluid from the body. You have to make up for that loss by drinking plenty of water.

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