Q: I don't like to swallow pills. Is
it okay to crush aspirin in my mouth and then swallow it?
A: Chewing aspirin is not a good idea. Studies have shown that people who
chew aspirin over a long period can severely damage their teeth. Aspirin is
undeniably an effective pain reliever. Some doctors also recommend that patients
with heart problems take a daily low dose—81 milligrams—because
it thins blood. But when used improperly aspirin can cause harm in the mouth.
You should never put aspirin directly on a gum or on a sore in the mouth. The
acid in aspirin can burn the soft tissue in the mouth.
A study published in
2004 in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that people who
chew aspirin end up with heavy erosion of both the enamel and dentin, the bone-like
material just under the enamel. In one case a 52-year-old woman visited a facial
pain center complaining of temporomandibular joint pain. She had been without
dental care for about 10 years. She said she'd been taking four to eight aspirin
a day for headaches. She crushed the aspirin in her mouth. All her teeth needed
attention, but researchers found the teeth most frequently in contact with
the aspirin had eroded the most. If you use aspirin regularly, talk with your
dentist about the proper way to use it.
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