Your medicine may damage your smile.  Beyond helping you treat a problem, your medicine could also be wreaking havoc on your oral health.

One of the common side effects listed on both prescription and over-the-counter medicine is dry mouth. In fact, more than 500 medications can cause dry mouth, according to the American Dental Association, including those taken for allergies, asthma, anxiety and depression.

Dry mouth can be more than uncomfortable.  It can increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease and mouth infection. That's because saliva is your body's best defense against these issues. To temporarily relieve dryness, try drinking more water and chewing sugar-free gum.

Other oral side effects of medication include:

• Canker sores or cold sores

• Swelling of your gums

• A metallic, salty or bitter taste

• Tooth decay from sugar in some medicine

• Staining of your teeth

Check with your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms.  The likelihood of these side effects increases if you take multiple medications, are undergoing chemotherapy or have recently had an organ transplant.