Opioids Morphine/Opiates & Tooth Decay

[Lawrence Arms]

So whats the deal with this? Do the dry-mouthed nights of opiate addiction lead to the decay of your teeth? I've been using daily for around the last year and a half, and although my teeth weren't in the best possible condition, as of the last week, four have been having this really weak/twangy? feeling. I haven't had a cavity yet, but i'm guessing i do now. I guess my main question is, if i do have these cavities, based on me brushing at least once a day, sometimes twice, is it caused by the morphine? I only take 60mgs max a day, more lately trying to taper off, 15-30. Any input on similar stories?

 

[RedRum OG]

I don't think that's really true, unless you have incredibly drastic cases of dry mouth non-stop for a long, long period.

The only real risk, even with hardfuckingcore junkies is that they stop caring about brushing/dental hygiene. Also smoking lots of cigs when high obviously doesn't help the teeth sparkle

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

Opiates don't directly have any effect on your teeth or really any psychical attribute... it's the indirect effects like lack of hygiene, poor diet, dehydration, etc, that cause those unpleasant aesthetics.

 

[ErgicMergic]

Poppy seed tea, tramadol, benzos, weed, blockers, and hydroxyzine are all pretty bad at causing this, so I just try to stay contantly hydrated, but that's not enough when i wake up with a completely dry mouth and teeth, meaning my enamel has been eaten away at all night, afaik.

I'm thinking of using Biotene... we don't normally have xerostomia (dry mouth), but with these medications I'm on... and yes, it doesn't seem to be the opiates themselves, but rather any 1st gen antihistamine, weed, PST/tram, and benzos mixed with opiates tend to make the xerostomia even worse due to the nodding out and passing out instead of drinking water and brushing your teeth.

 

[Rob27shred]

I don't think most pharmy & street opies will do this to you but suboxone on the other hand definitely eats your teeth away. I've never had problems with my teeth even when I had a 6 bag a day minimum habit. But since I've been on suboxone I've had 2 teeth pulled & am probably gonna need 2 more pulled soon.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

I don't think most pharmy & street opies will do this to you but suboxone on the other hand definitely eats your teeth away. I've never had problems with my teeth even when I had a 6 bag a day minimum habit. But since I've been on suboxone I've had 2 teeth pulled & am probably gonna need 2 more pulled soon.

And you didn't have any tooth problems before getting on the suboxone? How long were you on it for?

 

[RedRum OG]

I don't think most pharmy & street opies will do this to you but suboxone on the other hand definitely eats your teeth away. I've never had problems with my teeth even when I had a 6 bag a day minimum habit. But since I've been on suboxone I've had 2 teeth pulled & am probably gonna need 2 more pulled soon.

Nope.

P.s. be careful I heard if you take Suboxone once it stays in your spinal fluid forever!

 

[love10s]

I am sort of curious as well? I take well had been taking 50-130 mg a day off and of for a couple years. I'm detoxing so I feel horrendous period but my teeth/gums have been hurting so bad for a couple days now. I'm 29 brush/floss daily its just odd. I was thinking maybe all the pills kept me from feeling what was going on? Or possibly the gross misuse for all this time has done some damage? Idk... but it hurts. :-/ I hate it!

 

[MrsMorphine]

This is never good news, whether you have drug issues or not. I was so pathologically afraid of dentists (due to very infrequent encounters with a brutal dentist in my youth, and then no money for dentistry as a young adult), that I was in real danger of losing all my teeth. Fortunately I got linked up with a very caring proactive dentist whose patients can have nitrous even for teeth-cleaning. I have been a chronic pain patient on boatloads of opioids for at least twenty years--it's important to tell the dentist what you were taking, as well as what you are, as it affects your body's ability to utilize dental analgesics.

Sorry to go all mumsy on you, but preventive care is much much cheaper than dental implants!

 

[dopemegently]

I'd give my right nut for a good dentist; they're pretty poor here as a rule. For example, one shot me with novacaine, and immediately began drilling before I was numb. Agony.

I have bad teeth, but opiates have not damaged them; it's the bad habits associated with my habit: poor dental hygeine, drinking sugary drinks, wine, coffee, smoking fags, and chewing gum. If you're on opiates, it's important to both look after your teeth, and get regular check-ups, even if you're not in pain. After all, opiates are powerful painkillers; you'd be incapable of feeling those initial twinges of pain telling you there's something wrong with your teeth.

For example, I thought my teeth were fine, I hadn't had toothache for ages, but suddenly out of the blue I was hit with the most intense shooting pain in the left side of my mouth, head, even my eye socket. When I saw the dentist, she said I had an advanced tooth infection, and should have sought treatment months earlier. She even said if I'd left it much longer, the infection could spread to my blood, and could ultimately prove fatal!

So, if you're on opiates it's a good idea to take precautions.

 

[MrsMorphine]

So glad your infection didn't go any farther, dopemegently... as you know, it could have been fatal.

Also I wish you could find a good dentist without, uh, mutilating yourself. Oddly enough, I was referred to my current dentist from my youngest kid's then-pediodontist. Said kid was politely kicked out of the family dental practice for biting; his pediodontist sedated him for all procedures. (Fortunately, I could still carry him like a sack of potatoes to the car). I asked the pediodontist, whose card said he treated "children, adolescents, and the mentally retarded," if he would work on me. He laughed, said no, and referred me to someone else. Like you, I once had a procedure before my endodontist learned how slowly I absorb lidocaine, and how much it takes... I had a molar extracted with almost no analgesic! Not a procedure I'd ever want to repeat!

But yeah, there are many many more dental practices out there these days that have learned that a patient rigid with fear is not likely to yield much repeat business. They are out there: ask!

 

[dopemegently]

Luckily, I found a decent dentist. When she injected the novacaine, I literally couldn't feel the needle go in; that takes some serious skill, and it's a good sign. I've taken a course of antibiotics, and the pain is starting to subside thank god.

Personally, I preferred the good old days when they'd give you nitrous. A lot of people I know are terrified of having the injection, but needles never really bothered me.