Were You Recently Diagnosed with Epilepsy? 3 Things to Do to Preserve Your Oral Health

An epilepsy diagnosis brings many changes to your life. Right now, you may be learning how to minimize triggers for your seizures while also taking steps to preserve your overall health and safety. As you put together your treatment plan, be sure to include these strategies that help to combat the effects that your new health condition has on your oral health. 

Keep Your Dentist Up to Date

The staff at your family dentistry office need to know about any major changes in your health, and having epilepsy changes how your dentist may conduct your exams and treatment plans. For instance, many of the medications that are prescribed to control epilepsy are known to cause side effects such as dry mouth and bleeding gums that your dentist can help you find solutions to resolve. You also need to let your dentist know about any recent seizures when you come in to your appointment so that they can check for issues that you may not have detected yet, such as cracked or chipped teeth that need to be repaired.

Schedule Your Appointments Around Known Seizure Times

While seizures can happen randomly, some people find that they are more likely to occur during certain times of the day or after exposure to known triggers. For instance, certain types of epilepsy tend to involve seizures that occur most often in the first few hours after you wake up. If you notice a pattern with your seizures, then try to schedule your appointments around those times so that you are less likely to experience one in the chair. You can also use strategies such as wearing sunglasses to block out triggers such as changes in the lighting.

Watch for Early Warning Signs of Common Oral Health Issues

Checkups are an essential part of family dentistry services, but you should also remain vigilant about your oral health between your regular appointments. As you brush and floss your teeth, keep an eye out for warning signs such as swelling of your gums that could be another side effect of your epilepsy medications. Since dry mouth caused by your medications increases the risk of cavities, you will also want to report any sensitivity issues to your dentist as soon as possible.

As you learn to cope with your new diagnosis, you will need to make many changes in your current health regimen. Make sure to include measures to preserve your oral health in your plans so that having epilepsy does not affect your smile.