title: Asthma and oral health: a review.
abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes the airways to constrict and produce excess mucus, making breathing difficult. It is characterized by the obstruction of airflow which is variable over a short period of time. This condition is reversible, either spontaneously or can be controlled with the help of drugs. Asthma medication comprises bronchodilators, corticosteroids and anticholinergic drugs. Most of these drugs are inhaled using various forms of inhalers or nebulizers. The effect of these drugs on oral health is the subject of debate among dental practitioners. Patients taking asthma medication may be at risk of dental caries, dental erosion, periodontal diseases and oral candidiasis. Hence, patients with bronchial asthma on medication should receive special prophylactic attention. This article reviews the correlation between asthma and oral health, and suggests various measures to counter possible oral health problems related to asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, India. manuel2dr@gmail.com
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parolia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundabala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vikram
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009909:Oral Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control