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Found this info this morning, though it might be of interest. Nancy B cg for Don 42/14+ Antidepressants tied to mouth disorders Source: Reuters 7/1/98 1:53:00 PM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- NEW YORK, Jul 01 (Reuters) -- Antidepressants inhibit saliva production, and the resulting mouth dryness can lead to an increased risk of cavities and mouth infections, Dutch researchers report. Saliva helps clean the smooth surfaces of the teeth and is thought to help ``remineralize`` them. A loss of this cleansing activity is thought to underlie the association between antidepressants and mouth disorders. ``Prevention should be incorporated in the clinical management of depressed patients, (and) ...complaints of oral dryness should be elicited at every stage of antidepressant treatment,`` Dr. F.P.M.L. Peeters from Maastricht University and colleagues in the Netherlands write in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry. Specifically, the authors suggest that people taking antidepressant medication visit a dentist regularly to maintain a high level of oral hygiene, which may include use of fluoride toothpaste, rinses or gels. Physicians may also reduce the medication dosage, change the dosage intervals or substitute a similar medication to reduce the dry mouth side effect. Taking vitamin C or chewing sugar-free gum between meals can stimulate saliva production, the authors note. Finally, they say patients may also benefit from additional medication to prevent ``dry mouth.`` ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----