Seasonal Allergies & Your Oral Health: What You Need to Know

Connecting Seasonal Allergies & Oral Health

Beyond the familiar sniffles and sneezes, chronic allergies persisting for weeks or entire seasons can impact your mouth in surprising ways. Dental complications such as dry mouth, inflamed gums, and an increased risk of tooth decay are notable concerns, especially for children with developing mouths, teeth, and jaws.

Limiting outdoor exposure and using doctor-recommended antihistamines and nasal sprays are common seasonal allergy remedies. If you need to reach for allergy medication or the Neti pot regularly, your allergies may also be impacting the health of your mouth. Regular check-ups with your MDA dentist during allergy season can play a crucial role in managing the less obvious impacts of seasonal allergies on your oral health.

Seasonal Allergies, Dry Mouth, & Dental Considerations

Seasonal allergens, like grass and tree pollen, don’t directly attack your teeth and gums themselves. Rather, the persistent nasal congestion you may experience as a result of your body’s response to these allergens can create an environment that disrupts the delicate balance in your mouth, leading to oral health challenges.

The mouth is part of the respiratory system, which means seasonal allergies that interfere with your nasal passages and breathing also impact your oral health. Allergy attacks and congestion that disrupt normal nasal breathing may leave you with no choice but to breathe through your mouth, not your nose. The increased airflow into your mouth from breathing this way dries out the oral environment, contributing to the condition known as xerostomia (dry mouth).¹

Dry mouth disrupts the delicate balance of our good and bad oral bacteria. Without enough saliva to wash away food particles and harmful bacteria, the acids produced by plaque wear down tooth enamel. The result can mean increased plaque buildup and bad breath,² among other concerns, including:

• Gingivitis (Gum Disease): Dry mouth and changes to the balance of oral bacteria can lead to an inflammation of the gums known as gingivitis. Symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, and tender gums that may bleed easily when brushed or flossed. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to more advanced gum disease (periodontitis), leading to tooth loss, oral infections, and complications of other chronic illnesses.
• Sore Throat: Seasonal allergies can trigger postnasal drip–excess mucus in the back of the throat, leading to annoying and persistent coughing.³ This constant irritation and coughing can dry out the mouth and irritate delicate oral tissues.
• Increased Risk of Cavities: Dry mouth caused by allergies can create an ideal environment for new cavities to develop and existing cavities to become more advanced.⁴

For Michiganders with pre-existing oral health conditions, seasonal allergies can worsen their symptoms. If you have seasonal allergies and a history of dental disease, include visiting your MDA dentist as a part of your allergy management strategy.

Children & Adolescents: Allergies & Oral Development

Seasonal allergies can affect any age group; however, when it comes to children with respiratory conditions like asthma, oral health concerns can be more severe. Because their airway is already affected, conditions like congestion and the dry mouth that follows can significantly impact their teeth and gums.

Allergies and respiratory disease can contribute to permanent enlargement of tonsils and adenoids—the glands behind the nasal cavity that help fight off germs breathed in through the mouth or nose. Enlargement of these glands at a young age can become permanent, affecting facial and oral development. 

Dry mouth and persistent mouth breathing may also hinder the proper development of the jaw and teeth, leading to bite misalignment (malocclusion).⁶ The increased risk of cavities due to dry mouth can significantly impact a child’s oral health throughout their life.⁷

Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is essential for all growing mouths, especially during allergy season. Visiting an MDA dentist for a spring check-up can help support healthy dental development throughout allergy season and beyond.

Allergy Medications & Oral Health

It’s common to resort to nasal sprays, allergy pills, and other doctor-prescribed and over-the-counter remedies as soon as your allergies begin to flare. While many allergy medications effectively manage symptoms, it’s important to be aware of some potential side effects that can impact your oral health.

• Dry Mouth: Dry mouth is a common side effect listed on many allergy medications, particularly antihistamines and inhalers. Medication-induced dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities, gum disease, and other oral conditions.⁸
• Oral Thrush: Some medications, including certain inhaled corticosteroids used for allergy symptom management, can lead to an overgrowth of fungus in the mouth, causing thrush.⁹ Thrush appears as white patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, and roof of the mouth and can be accompanied by a burning sensation.

If you experience dry mouth or thrush while taking allergy medication, don’t stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor or allergist. Schedule an appointment with an MDA dentist and inform them about all your medications, including any prescription or over-the-counter allergy medication. This knowledge helps them understand the potential impact on your oral health and provide informed care plans tailored to your unique needs.

Oral Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies can manifest in various ways, and some signs might appear in your mouth. Some common oral health changes experienced during allergy season include:

• A feeling of constant dryness in your mouth, even after drinking water
• A loss of your sense of taste, making food seem bland or muted
• A general feeling of soreness or discomfort in the jaw or mouth
• Chronic bad breath or a “fuzzy” feeling on your tongue or gums

While these signs can indicate allergy-related oral health challenges, they can also stem from other causes. Schedule a dental checkup if symptoms persist for over a week or if you experience sudden or severe changes like bleeding gums or white patches on your tongue, inside your cheeks, or on the roof of your mouth (thrush).⁹

The Role of MDA Dentists in Allergy Care

While seasonal allergies can create oral health challenges, you don’t have to face them alone. MDA dentists understand the intricate connection between your overall health and your oral health, and they’re a valuable part of your allergy care team. MDA dentists play an important role in helping you manage the negative effects of allergies and allergy medications on your mouth.

Personalized Care Routines

Your MDA dentist and their dental care team can tailor a care plan just for you, taking into account your allergy severity, medications, and dental health. They may work with you to design a simple at-home oral care routine to help keep your mouth healthy between visits.

This routine might involve recommendations for:

• Specific Flossing Techniques: Certain flossing methods, like careful interdental cleaning with soft picks or water flossers, might be more effective in removing plaque buildup when dry mouth and sensitive gums are present.
• Mouthwashes & Fluoride Rinses: Avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes, which can dry your mouth further. Your dentist may recommend an alcohol-free fluoride rinse with xylitol, a natural sweetener that may help combat cavity formation.
• Saliva Stimulants: If you have a persistent dry mouth, your MDA dentist may recommend drops, rinses, or lozenges that stimulate salivary glands to produce more saliva, naturally moistening the mouth.
• Brushing Habits: If you use an inhaler or rely on cough drops that contain sugar or honey, you may need to rinse and brush more frequently. As always, brush with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste for optimal gum and dental health.
• Prescription Fluoride Toothpaste: Some people with high cavity risks may also benefit from brushing with prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste.

Seasonal Allergy Guidance for Parents & Caretakers

If you’re caring for a child with allergies, you might have additional concerns about their oral health during allergy flare-ups. Your MDA pediatric dentist can provide valuable guidance and support, including:

• Age-Appropriate Oral Care Strategies: This might involve recommending gentle fluoride rinses for older children, reviewing proper brushing techniques with younger ones, and emphasizing the importance of regular flossing routines.¹⁰
• Dental Development Concerns: MDA pediatric dentists will monitor how allergies may affect your child’s jaw and dental development, including assessing risks for increased cavities due to dry mouth. They’ll also offer solutions and preventive actions to protect against these dental issues.
• Tips for Managing Dry Mouth in Children: Strategies like using a cool-mist humidifier at night, encouraging frequent sips of water throughout the day, and offering sugar-free popsicles or sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow may be discussed.

Practical Tips for Managing Oral Health During Allergy Season

Combatting the oral side effects of allergies starts at home with healthy habits. Here are some practical tips MDA dentists recommend incorporating into your daily routine to combat dry mouth and maintain good oral health during allergy season:

• Brushing and Flossing Consistently: This remains the cornerstone of good oral hygiene, even more so during allergy season. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once daily helps remove plaque and food particles that can contribute to cavities and gum disease when saliva flow is reduced.
• Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is crucial for combatting dry mouth and promoting saliva production. Avoid sugary and acidic drinks such as juice, regular and diet pop, lemonades, and sweetened iced teas.
• Sugar-Free Gum or Lozenges: Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free lozenges can stimulate saliva flow, providing temporary relief from dry mouth. Choose xylitol-containing products, as xylitol may have additional benefits in fighting cavity-causing bacteria.¹¹

Remember, consistency is key! By following a regular daily oral care routine, you can significantly reduce the negative impact of seasonal allergies on your oral health.

Breathe Easy During Allergy Season

Seasonal allergies are often an unwelcome surprise—and so are the effects they can have on your oral health. An MDA dentist can help you develop a personalized care plan. They can also offer valuable guidance for parents of children with allergies.

Need to schedule a dental checkup? Find an MDA dentist near you and breathe easy, knowing you can smile through the sniffles this allergy season.