If you're taking nifedipine for high blood pressure, you may want to make an appointment to see your dentist. It seems the common hypertension drug causes gingival overgrowth -- which is when your gums swell up and grow over your teeth.
A study in the Journal of Periodontology suggests that seeing your dentist frequently for periodontal treatment can significantly reduce gingival overgrowth.
Robert Genco, a dentist and editor of the journal, says swollen gums can be painful and interfere with speech, eating and brushing your teeth. The study says recurring gingival overgrowth was eliminated in more than half of patients who had initial periodontal therapy, which could include surgical and non-surgical treatments, and follow-up visits to the dentist every three months.
AAP President Jack Caton says overgrown gums make it easier for bacteria for accumulate and attack the supporting structures of the teeth, which leads to infection. Periodontal infection also may be a risk factor for other conditions, such as heart and respiratory disease.
