Research by Brazilian scientists from São Paulo suggests that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in childhood increases the risk of caries. Enamel fragility and tooth hypersensitivity are observed in 20% of patients. children in the world. Find out which drugs are in the study.
White or yellow spots on the teeth, hypersensitivity, inflammation of the gums - these are the problems that dentists treating children have to face more and more often. As a result of these disorders, caries develops faster, and the fillings become less sticky and have to be replaced many times.
“In some cases, children’s teeth broke just by chewing gum. All of these symptoms were indicative of enamel hypomineralization, a condition in which the enamel is damaged,” the researchers say.
What effect do drugs have on weakening enamel?
Violations and diseases of tooth enamel appear in the first years of life in children. In the same period, immunity is formed and children suffer from infections with a high temperature. Most often, in such cases, they are treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the activity cyclooxygenase, one of the inflammatory enzymes and reduce the production of prostaglandin, which contributes to inflammation. However, it is known that I cyclooxygenaseand prostaglandin important for tooth enamel. Therefore, we wondered if these drugs could somehow interfere with the formation of enamel, ”explains one of the authors of the study, prof. Francisco de Paula Silva.
Research progress
The study was conducted on rats, taking advantage of the fact that their incisors constantly grow back. For a month, they were given two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: celecoxib and indomethacin. When, after this time, scientists began to remove the teeth. They found that the teeth of the drugged animals broke more easily. The analysis of the teeth showed that the teeth are also deprived of calcium and phosphates, which affect the state of the enamel, which proves the adverse effect of medications.
Further research
Scientists announce further studies that will confirm the results obtained during the experiment involving animals. According to the researchers, recommendations for the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in children may need to be changed.
Source: Wprost
