What You Need To Know About Down Syndrome Medication and Dental Health

Keeping your child's mouth clean can feel like an impossible chore. Getting them to stay consistent with brushing and flossing is a pain, and don’t even get me started about getting them to the dentist. After 17 years of dentistry I can probably count on one hand the number of times a child actually wanted to see me. This is true of any child, but for children with Down syndrome, it can be even more of a challenge. 

The fact is that children with Down syndrome are more likely to develop certain dental issues, and it’s critical for parents to help keep their mouths healthy. That’s why it’s important for parents to be informed and patient when working with their children.

One of the most asked questions I get is whether medications for Down syndrome can affect oral health in a negative way. We’ll take a look and answer that question, as well as give you some tips as a parent to help keep your child’s oral health in check.

Down Syndrome and Medications

Unfortunately, many medications aimed at children can actually be bad for their dental health. Obviously, the solution is not to stop taking them as they are important to keep your child healthy. Instead, it’s important to understand why they can cause problems, and what you can do to help prevent their harmful effects.

The biggest issue with children’s medication is the high sugar content in them. Children’s medication usually comes in liquid or chewable form and companies that make them typically up the sugar content to make them more pleasant to the child. This makes children more likely to take them without a fight but comes at the cost of exposing their teeth to extra sugar.

Excess sugar is a big cause of many oral issues including tooth decay, so it’s easy to see why this added sugar can be a bad thing. This is especially an issue for children with Down syndrome as they are already more susceptible to a variety of dental issues. Understanding this is important, as it can help you better protect your child’s teeth from decay. Your children still need to take their medications, so it’s necessary to fight the harmful effects in other ways.

How To Prevent Oral Issues

With the above in mind, it’s important to have children follow a good oral care routine to protect their mouths. A good routine is largely about preventative care at home, so take special care.

One of the more important things you can do is to have your child eat a diet that is low in sugar to help offset the excess sugar in medications. Try to cut out sugary snacks, pops, and juices, and this will help keep an overall clean mouth. The less sugar your child takes in the better, so help them focus on nutrient-rich foods that are low in sugars, and just generally good for the body overall.

Outside of diet, it’s also important to make sure your child is following the best practices for taking care of their teeth. This includes brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash as your child gets older. What’s important here is to make sure that your child understands the proper technique for each of the above, and follows through every day. Consistency is key as each of the above needs to be done at least once per day with brushing ideally done twice per day.

Lastly, it’s also important to make sure your child visits the dentist every 6 months for regularly scheduled cleanings. These visits are important as the dentist can provide a much deeper clean than brushing alone, and can remove built-up plaque and tartar on the teeth. They can also point out problem areas, and help to correct problems before they get worse. If, for example, the dentist notices that a certain part of the mouth is not as clean as the rest, he might recommend focusing on it more while brushing going forward. This type of feedback is important as poor technique won’t protect your teeth as well as you think it might. 

It might seem difficult to get your child to the dentist, but it’s critical in keeping their oral health on track. Stick with it as each visit gets easier than the last. 

Keeping a Clean Mouth

It’s essential for your child to keep a healthy mouth as many oral issues can lead to further problems throughout the body. It’s also important to take medication as prescribed, as not doing so can have drastic consequences. It can sometimes seem these two points are at odds, but with the above dental tips, you can help give your child good habits and keep their mouth clean. Work with them to develop a solid oral care routine, and they’ll live a life with a happy, healthy mouth.