Which pair of conditions are often on medications that dry salivary secretions, increasing caries risk?

Which pair of conditions are often on medications that dry salivary secretions, increasing caries risk?

• A. Hypertension; high cholesterol
• B. Diabetes; kidney disease
• C. Asthma; allergies
• D. Obesity; sleep apnea

Answer: (C)

Saliva helps protect teeth by buffering acids, washing away sugars, and supplying minerals for remineralization. When medications cause dry mouth, these protective effects are reduced, so acids linger on tooth surfaces longer and demineralization can occur more easily, increasing caries risk. Asthma and allergy treatments frequently include antihistamines, decongestants, and inhaled anticholinergic agents that diminish salivary flow, making this pair the most associated with medication-induced xerostomia. The other condition combinations don’t have as consistent a link to dry mouth from their common therapies, so they don’t explain the increased caries risk as clearly.

Saliva helps protect teeth by buffering acids, washing away sugars, and supplying minerals for remineralization. When medications cause dry mouth, these protective effects are reduced, so acids linger on tooth surfaces longer and demineralization can occur more easily, increasing caries risk. Asthma and allergy treatments frequently include antihistamines, decongestants, and inhaled anticholinergic agents that diminish salivary flow, making this pair the most associated with medication-induced xerostomia. The other condition combinations don’t have as consistent a link to dry mouth from their common therapies, so they don’t explain the increased caries risk as clearly.