Common Antibiotic May Discolor Gums
Long-term use of minocycline can turn gums, teeth blackish-blue, study says
HealthScoutNews — The antibiotic minocycline, commonly prescribed to treat acne and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause teeth and bone to discolor.
That’s what Mayo Clinic researchers found, and their finding appears in the June issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
This discoloration of the teeth may make gum tissue appear blackish-blue in color, something that doctors who prescribe minocycline and people who take it should be aware of, the study says.
The Mayo study focused on a 29-year-old white woman who had a dramatic blue appearance of her gum tissue and bone surrounding her teeth. When researchers reviewed her medical history, they found she had been taking 50 milligrams of minocycline four times a day for the previous 17 months.
The study notes that about 3 percent to 6 percent of long-term users of minocycline develop dental staining. The discoloration doesn’t harm the teeth, bone or gum tissue.
“This case definitely ‘drives home’ the importance of collaboration between medical and dental professionals. Periodontists have known for awhile that medical drugs can affect a person’s oral health, and this is a reminder for patients to inform their dental professionals of all medications they are taking,” Gordon Douglass, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, says in a news release.
For example, more than 400 medications cause dry mouth, which can damage gum tissue. Other drugs can cause gingival overgrowth.
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American Academy of Periodontology
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