If these products must be used, blood glucose monitoring should be performed regularly to tailor insulin therapy. Long-term use of oral medications containing large amounts of sweeteners has been linked to excessive development of dental caries in children. Sugars, especially sucrose, cause a decrease in dental plaque pH, dissolving tooth enamel and promoting dental cariogenesis. If a product containing a sweetener must be used, parents or care providers should be instructed to have the child rinse his or her mouth out with water following ingestion of each dose. A wide variety of flavorings, both natural and synthetic, are used in the production of pharmaceutical products.
Flavorings contain numerous ingredients.
As an example, one brand of synthetic strawberry flavoring on the market contains more than 30 different components. As a result, it may be difficult to identify adverse reactions or allergies to specific ingredients. Reports of adverse effects associated with flavorings are uncommon, but menthol, lemon oil, and oil of peppermint have been associated with hypersensitivity reactions. 2 Dyes and Colorants Dyes and other coloring agents are used both to improve a medication's appearance and to provide a unique product identity. There are currently more than 100 dyes and coloring agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in pharmaceutical preparations.