(NAPSA)—If you are an organ transplant patient, you are at risk for mouth problems. Your medical condition and side effects from your transplant medications can affect your oral health and complicate dental care. The National Institutes of Health offers these tips to help people stay well: Before Transplant Have a dental checkup to make sure your mouth is as healthy as possible before your transplant procedure. Taking care of cavities, gum disease and any other mouth problems ahead of time can help prevent or reduce the side effects of transplant medicines. After Transplant Anti-rejection medications suppress your immune system and make it easier for you to develop mouth infections like gum disease or thrush, and other problems such as gum overgrowth, dry mouth, mouth ulcers or tumors. Your dentist can help you manage any side effects of transplant medicines that may occur. Working With Doctors It’s important for your dentist and transplant doctor to speak with each other before dental treatment. Make sure your dentist knows that you are a transplant patient. Give your dentist the contact information for your transplant doctor. Bring a list of all your medications, including over-thecounter drugs, to every dental appointment. Tell your dentist if your medications have changed. SPECIAL CARE SERIES NIDCR Teveral beinne tee Dee ‘enerene and Your Mouth Tetrng Ww Matas Onl Heath wenuidesnhgor organ transplant patient, you are at risk for serious pro! medical co idleeffects tr med ind compl This fact sheet ide ou mayencounter andexplains how you canhelpkeepyour mouth healthy. INSPLANT dental check-up is an important part of your pre-transplant evaluation. DENTAL CHECK-UP Because some medicat takeafter transplant can causeproblemsin your me youwa “all transplantprocedure: TRANSPLANT Anti n medications suppress your immunesystem and makeit for you to develop infections and otherproblems in your mouth, ro he“cotton mouth” feeling you get when you don’t have to keep your mouth moist, Dry mouth increases your Ny. 1g of the mouththat can make infu. ort whitepatches in the mouth, th—enlarged gums that cover part of the teeth, ind flossing difficult and increasing the risk for tion. + Tumors—mouth cancers that accur in sometransplant patients, especially those whahk wd yourdentist cantreat newdental disease a deeffects oftransplant medicatiog may occur. All mouth problems shouldbetreated. Organ transplant patients are urged to pay special attention to their oral health. Talk to your dentist about your general health. If you have diabetes or other health conditions, make sure your dentist knows. In the same way, talk to your transplant doctor about your oral health. Tell your doctor if you have mouth problems. Staying Healthy Take an active role in keeping your mouth healthy after your transplant procedure—check your mouth every day for any changes and brush andfloss daily. If you have any questions about brush- ing and flossing, particularly if your mouth is sore, ask your dentist or dental hygienist. To view or ordera free fact sheet about organ transplantation and your mouth, visit https://www. nider.nih.gov/OrderPublications.
