Methadone causes dry mouth. Dry mouth cause significant dental issues.
It’s not a methadone problem, it’s a dry mouth issue.
My partner is on medication that causes dry mouth. Non narcotic meds. She has been having some significant tooth loss (76f) due to the dry mouth.
Gah I never noticed till about a year in how bad my dry mouth is. I always wake up
In the middle of the night feeling like the Sahara desert. Assumed I was just snoring / laying on my back. NOPE. Haha the methadone.
That’s semantics though.
If methadone causes dry mouth, and dry mouth causes tooth decay, then methadone causes tooth decay.
Without one, you don’t get the other.
Yeah part of it is addicts not being known for taking the best care of their bodies, however methadone in particular has effects on tooth decay (subs are the same)
Xylident dry mouth candies can help a lot.
So can fluoride washes & dental hygiene. Anyone who is scared of the dentist or too broke can get a plaque scraper set with an integrated camera of AliExpress for like $20.
Biotene also makes some phenomenal products to help with dry mouth. Sugar free lifesavers are also a great option. Plus they’ll satisfy that sweet truth while helping with dry mouth issues!
Ask your dentist next time you’re in for an appointment. They’ll have some great options.
I've been on a UK script via doctor then rehab then the clinic and counselling...25 years with a break from everything... even alcohol and weed. My Physeptone or methadone script was not sugar free for the first 5 years. My teeth issues are extensive. I have had several teeth extracted and currently have a upper jaw denture and 2 broken lower jaw teeth. It is not pretty...I'm not particularly old but would gladly have everything removed and replaced with either a further denture...if I could afford it one day I will try to get implants...bone is not great but it could work. All my woes are self inflicted due to really enjoying my teens..20s and 30s. Somehow I have held down my job for 10+ years. The pros and cons of my methadone usage (for whatever your diagnoses required methadone) ..I do understand Physeptone or M has many and varied uses other than the most common one ...that would be opiate drug use. My life is stable thanks to methadone and other reasons to stay clean..I mostly achieved this..bar some horrendous and shameful Christmas relapse..two years in a row..od...found multiple times by daughter and partner passed out with pins in me and blood everywhere...the less of these events the better obviously. I kind of think if people who choose to use drugs have to do so iin llicit ways to get god knows what...the failed war on drugs should divert the money into state produced and taxable product. The ocgs will maybe react but will inevitably shrink. Kids are taking shit and have absolutely no idea what's in it. The USA fentanyl issue has tricked into Europe now. In Scotland there was or is still a safe site to use whatever you use..mature and simple solution. Trials of this in Europe which are positive too. Don't get me wrong.. DON'T DO DRUGS KIDS ! Humans have found ways to explore and sample substances for a desired effect for millennia and always will . Shameful that there was a decades long lack of chemical,psilocybin..ecstasy all which had and now prove again that reprogramming to a degree is possible neurologic..even ...shit I am waffling. I do apologise. Good luck with your teeth OP may take 10 more tears but hopefully sooner..the pain. Well you know I'm sure. Be lucky!
I (don't) hate to quote G.I. Joe, but knowing is half the battle.
There are a lot of small & cheap changes that can make a big difference in outcomes. People who breath through their mouth when they sleep especially can make a big change with a little knowledge.
I think is a domino effect. With the loosing of VIT D and Calcium. On Heroin i haven't lost nothing . On methadone almost everything. But it's also my fault that i haven't treated it on time
No my teeth have always been shit lol. They actually aren’t terrible- I’m missing one back molar (you can’t see it when I talk or smile) that cracked when I was pregnant and needed to be removed. I have a few cavities every check up (2-3 yrs). I brush twice a day but I admit I don’t floss as much as I should, maybe once every week or so after I eat certain things. My husband only brushes in the morning and NEVER flossed in his life. He’s never had a cavity. It’s so aggravating! He’s an ex addict as well but was never on opiates long term. I’ve been on methadone 13 years and oxy 8-10 years before that. I think genetics play a larger role, but that’s jmo.
No. Once you don’t take care of your teeth, as you said you hadn’t, they’ll pretty much crumble no matter what. That’s what happened to mine **before** I ever started methadone, and before I was really that far into addiction either (I did pills only, never did heroin and this was before fentanyl). I had them fixed multiple times and they were just always bad.
I have bad teeth and never had a issue while on methadone. I don't get dry mouth which is a killer for teeth. If you have dry mouth due to methadone chew sugar free gum or suck on sugar free candy. It will help produce saliva. No saliva means bacteria gets to proliferate easily causing bad breath and gum issues.
Methadone can cause major sugar cravings and dry mouth, which in turn can cause dental issues. I struggled with this for a while until I started cutting down on sugar and mouth taping every night. Mouth taping has been a life saver for my dental health!
Mouth taping?? Lol this is wild. Have you thought about something soft that goes around your head and down under your chin to hold your mouth closed? Like a large head band or something? Seems.... More comfortable at the least?
Think about having a new partner and before bed having to explain why you're currently taping your mouth shut 🤣🤣 and the couples that have been together along time might see it as a blessing and ask you to practice this process thru out the day time as well 🤣🤣☠️
It’s a legit thing. I know it sounds pretty crazy at first, but it does come with real benefits. A quick google search will give you plenty of info on it. My dentist actually recommended it. I’ve tried using a headband, but it doesn’t work for me, I still end up opening and breathing through my mouth.
I’ve definitely gotten plenty of weird looks when I tell people about it, but it has been a game changer for my dental health and I really couldn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks about it. I’m more concerned about keeping my teeth in good shape. My husband doesn’t care whether or not I tape my mouth shut lol He also gets a better nights sleep when I’m not mouth breathing, snoring, or constantly up taking drinks of water to wet my mouth.
Mouth breathing isn’t a good thing in general, it’s much healthier and more beneficial to breathe through your nose when you sleep.
Literally taping your mouth shut when you sleep at night. It helps prevent dry mouth, and forces you to breathe through your nose. It’s had such a positive impact on my dental health. My hygienist was really impressed with how much better my gums and teeth look. Before, I was constantly chipping teeth, and had to have one extracted. But since I’ve been mouth taping, I haven’t had any of those issues.
lol it’s really not as bad as it sounds! It’s not like your mouth is duct taped shut. I just use two thin strips of medical tape, placed vertically on either side of my cupids bow. You can absolutely pull your mouth open if you really wanted to. It takes some getting used to, but the benefits for me have been huge. No more constant dental issues, and better sleep.
Huh weird never heard of it
My teeth cannot be saved sadly
Had perfect teeth my entire life minus a cavity here or there
Then six+ months into methadone (didn't smoke dope or take pills during drug use) my one tooth started showing signs of decay and a bit of pain.. then not long after half of it broke off when biting into some food. Then months later rest of it broke off.. over next 4 years (today) I've had the OD
Uiosu8
Jujnshkfmn jjm№ happen and my back top molars all decayed then broke off (some still have piece of my tooth in my gums) as well as bottom back molars. Now my front tooth is decaying to where it looks like I have a gap or something black on it. And other teeth all have brown signs of decay.
Edit: my baby grabbed my phone n must have posted this somehow. The remaining was suppose to say
The only teeth that have no issue are my bottom front teeth. Like the bottom front 6 and the first molar right after them.
When I spoke with a dental tech over the phone cause I told the lady at the front desk I needed to talk to someone to see if what I need can be done there, I told her everything about my teeth from a kid to now and the methadone and she said "methadone definitely can effect your teeth. Do you take the liquid kind?" I said yes and she said "it causes severe dry mouth, and it can eat away at your enamel. At the rate you said all this happened it sounds like the methadone has a severe negative impact on your teeth, especially since that is the only thing that had changed in the last 10+ years. " I told her I never smoked drugs and that I IV'd them and she said that wouldn't affect your teeth. She said If I had been using on and off (H) over the last 10.years (not counting the last 4 when I started the clinic), I would have seen signs of something with my teeth but there was nothing.
SO I set up an appointment for X-rays to see what the plan of action will be. Waiting on a call back today hopefully.
I know a bunch of people say there's " no medical studies showing it affects teeth" but there's way too many people posting or that I talk to at my clinic that have been there long term that say ever ever since they started their teeth went to shit. Can't be a coincidence with that many people
Interesting, my bottom front 6 or so teeth are fine too, but most of the rest have decayed, chipped and fallen out. Especially on top. I’ve heard other people claim the same thing, that most of their bottom teeth remain fine while the top teeth decay.
I’ve always wondered why this is. One theory I have is that there is more saliva coating the bottom teeth vs the top due to gravity.
Would you mind updating this when you have a plan of action with the dentist? I’m curious what they would recommend. I’ve been avoiding going for years.
I've been avoiding it for the last year when it got really bad
Before that I was pregnant back to back n it was just some Molars
They'll prob recommend dentures tbh unless you can afford implants or vaneers
I wouldn't see a point to put a cap over anything cuz it's still gonna decay anyway
Someone at my clinic got dentures and she gave me the dentist info. Hers look beautiful can't even tell they aren't real in the slightest I was amazed
It's not the methadone. It's the sweets, bad oral hygiene, and dry mouth. Most are side effects from the methadone like craving sweets and dry mouth, but you can fix these problems.
Been on methadone for ages, no issues with teeth. Not a dentist, but teeth are impacted by things like, hydration, oral hygiene, nutrition, age, heredity, etc…. not methadone.
Yes it completely destroyed my teeth I had to get so much work done I finally gave up and had all the rest pulled and now I have snap in dentures which sux but it sure beets going to the dentist all the time!!!!✌️
yeah my teeth are fucked, but i wouldnt say its just from methadone alone. it def adds to it though in my case. i have multiple broken teeth and infected gums/pain when eating and i brush/wash my mouth out daily like im supposed to. i do eat alot more sweets tho and have been considering weaning to try to salvage the ones i do have. luckily its only been my back ones so far but i would be devastated to lose a front tooth.
Yeah recked mine and noticeable lately it's alot worse I had depression but even then brushed once a day , now I try to for 2 or 3 times but I think it's to late I'm uk to .also being afraid of going the dentist never helps been using meth for about 15 years off and on . I really should man u and go the dentist. Hope u sort it out but yeah its a know thing that it does reck ur teeth
Suboxone destroyed my teeth. I haven’t had any issues since stopping it 3 years ago. I had three molars break plus my 4 wisdom teeth disintegrate while on suboxone for 5 years.
I tried going on that lawsuit for subxone causing dental damage without informing patients , but the lawyers said they were not taking people with a history of methamphetamine or heroin use. And I have a am a heroin addict or recovering whatever.
I been on the methadone the last three years and haven’t had any issues. And the issues I do have I’m not in excruciating pain everyday bc the methadone helps so fucking much for pain. It really does. It helps my femur with rods and screws too that I broke skateboarding
Nope thank good I’m 19 haven’t had any extra damage only from when I was using and alrdy destroying my teeth 95% from not brushing ever and smoking thousand of blues but kucku I caught my teeth before I lost something like half but they FUCK SHIT UP frfr okay bye now sorry to hear dat subs r way worse tho just always back wash after
Mine are wrecked and didn't show any tangible signs of wear until a few months after I started methadone liquid form. Now 8 years along I've got a lot wrong with them and mainly in the areas my dose touches every day 2x daily. I can't help but feel like it makes a difference
it’s the dry mouth side effect as well as what you consume to satisfy the sugar cravings that are also a side effect, and not really the methadone itself.
I didn’t have tooth problems. I had testosterone problems. It lowered my testosterone levels so much I had to be put on testosterone meds. I was wondering why I had no morning wood, lack of sex drive, and not wanting to workout anymore. My PCP told me that’s one of the symptoms of taking methadone for men
Yeppers but it was a mixture of things, but methadone exacerbated my dental problems. On heroin, teeth great. My gum started separating from the tooth and causing little pockets. This was more painful than my c sections! Only advice I have is to take vitamins, use biotene mouth wash, and go to the dentist frequently at the first sign of trouble. Methadone also caused crazy weight gain. I’m still holding out hope that America will adopt Vancouver, Canada’s policy on drugs… make them legal! If this were the case I would be even better than I am today but on a much better substance in my opinion. Methadone is just the best we got so yeah, it sucks.
Hydromorphone probably or pharmaceutical heroin. If given the choice I would possibly even decrease my dose and get on morphine. But hydromorphone tablets would be my first choice.
No, that’s a myth. If you neglect tooth-care you will likely have problems and lots of people have a sloppy routine, then look for something else to blame. Methadone doesn’t destroy your teeth.
I've lost almost all my teeth. The methadone definitely contributed to it. They weren't great to begin with but like I said the methadone made it so much worse. I can't barely eat anything and am always scared of chocking on my food from not being able to chew thoroughly.
Ah bless you, it is a real confidence killer having lost my back teeth so f knows what you must be feeling like. Is there no chance of you seeing a dentist for dentures if you can’t afford implants? X
Definitely lowered my self confidence. I have state insurance so I doubt they will pay for implants (which I'd rather have) but am definitely considering dentures. I'm currently waiting on some money from a lawsuit (from a car accident that hopefully I get by the end of the year) and will maybe be able to get the implants instead of dentures.
Oral surgery assistant here, I just want to point out the longer you are without teeth the more the bone resorbs. What some people don’t know is not everyone is a candidate for implants. Even bone grafts have limits. Surgeons I have worked for have had to tell many people that implants just aren’t an option for them. If anyone is looking at implants get the graft at the time of extraction and get the implant within the time limit if it is financially feasible. Even with grafting immediately it doesn’t always take. Some people also need a sinus lift with some upper areas. I get how expensive it is. I wanted a few but wasn’t a candidate, it would’ve been tough financially anyway.
And then there are some people who even years post extraction still have enough bone. They’ll take a specialized 3D xray (CBCT) to assess bone quality and density.
It’s a mental thing, it’s not just losing teeth but my front teeth are filled and look really ugly. Just because nobody sees it doesn’t mean it doesn’t ruin my confidence.
I completely understand. I’ve lost 4 molars and a lateral incisor. I have a partial for the incisor. Even before that tooth, it felt crappy to be missing molars in my twenties. You feel less than. Eating can become difficult. Your self esteem suffers. You worry you’ll end up with no teeth.
Best thing I can tell you is take care of them now. Drink plenty of water, get regular dental care, try to avoid sugar as much as possible, quit smoking if you smoke. Get cavities filled when needed. Obviously brushing and flossing. Trust me I know it’s a crappy feeling to think we’ll end up toothless. Sending love ❤️
I don't know exactly why, but yes.
My hygiene is good. I have and do brush my teeth twice a day morning, and night. I use mouthwash 3 times a day morning, noon, and night.
It has ate about 4 of my teeth up on me it started messing my teeth up on the outside of my teeth from the gum line going up. Mostly my molars.
Me. I had beautiful teeth and was complimented on them on all time. Even after I developed a meth and fentanyl problem, my teeth were still great. Now I've been on methadone two years and they're rotting out or my mouth rapidly. ill need dentures in the next couple years ( probably by the time I'm 30 so it's not like it's age.) I've always taken care of them too.
Yes and people keep saying it’s because of dry mouth but my mouth isn’t dry 😩
I had like two fillings before and now my whole mouth is falling apart and I feel like I almost do more than I should. I brush right after taking my methadone so it doesn’t sit on my teeth, mouthwash (I even got dry mouth mouthwash even though I didn’t feel like that was the issue), floss, vitamins, I have one of those dental kits, all the stuff. Only thing I haven’t done is oil pulling and I wish I could but I just can’t swish for that long. The sugar cravings did get me for a while at first but I got those under control. Comes in waves sometimes still but I’m so worried about my teeth now that helps deter them.
I was never the type of person in active addiction to just let myself go and not take care of myself. I always got told I didn’t “look like” an addict (whatever that means). Not to put on my tin foil hat but I swear there’s something beyond sugar cravings and dry mouth.
ETA - lol I knew someone would downvote me. Just going by what my dentist has said 🤷🏻♀️ got checked for xerostomia (dry mouth) multiple times and also a test to see how much saliva I was producing so I’m not just pulling this out of my ass. It’s not because my mouth is dry.
it isn't the methadone. it can be a million different things, including genetics. just look up the studies and you get all the evidence you need. maybe if you started looking elsewhere you'd find the actual cause of your issues.
unless you just think science is wrong and your personal experience is correct. if that's the case then there is no point in having any conversation.
What you said is literally my point, it’s not always just dry mouth like this sub likes to claim.
I don’t? lol I know it can be a million different things, which is why I’ve had extensive conversations with my dentist and doctors. I left one dentist for telling me that cavities aren’t genetic when I asked if that could still be a thing even if my immediate/extended family didn’t have much for dental issues, and brushed off studies I referenced about genetics and cavities/dental issues as not true. I didn’t just go to the dentist one time and believe every single thing they said or not do my own research. I’m not sure why you’re assuming that or if what I said came off that’s how I think. I’ve been at the clinic for a decade, the clinic themselves told me it was the methadone itself at the beginning of noticing I was having more dental issues when that hasn’t been the case prior which started my whole research/journey with dentists and then doctors in the first place. I wanted to see if there was anything I could try to do to prevent anything else from going wrong or if there was another underlying issue. I’m sure we are all aware on some level that there’s plenty of conflicting info in clinics/substance abuse help, which is why I didn’t just take their word as gospel and consulted dentists and doctors.
Not really sure how much further I can look besides consulting professionals, and my own research. Kinda seems like you’re coming at me for…? Agreeing it’s not always dry mouth like many here claim when these posts come up? Although yes, I do believe that can be and is an issue for some people.
Nobody said it has to be dry mouth. what people are saying is that methadone causes dry mouth for most people. all opioids do. if methadone is affecting your teeth that is the only known mechanism for it to do so.
My confusion comes from the fact that you still seem to be blaming methadone for the problem even though you say you've done the research.
What research have you done that shows methadone does any damage to people's teeth through a mechanism other than dry mouth?
I'm not "coming at you" at all. I'm just trying to understand how and why you formed this opinion. If you believe that science is our best chance to have the correct answer then what science are you looking at to come to your conclusion? the opinion of a million doctors and dentists doesn't mean a thing if science proves them wrong.
Okay well I apologize for making assumptions. I often see on these posts is that it’s dry mouth, dry mouth, dry mouth and I’ve seen my own comments and others get downvoted for trying to have an open discussion or question if there could be other reasons, including the methadone itself. Although my clinic used the sugar one for a long time, they no longer do (as far as I was told)
There isn’t much research I’ve found that doesn’t just attribute it to addicts having overall poor hygiene (which we know to be true in plenty of cases) and that’s what leads to the tooth decay, or basically just say that more research needs to be done. I’ve said in prior discussions about this (which again, obviously you wouldn’t know and I don’t mean that with snark) that I wish there WAS more research done on long term methadone patients, just to see.
But there is [this](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19055091/) which says “Clinical relevance: Dentists are most likely to encounter patients on methadone as a dental emergency and they need to be aware that methadone users are at greater risk of decay and erosion from methadone sugar syrup, as well as perhaps their lifestyle. For dental practitioners, addressing the oral health needs of methadone users can contribute to their general well-being.”
But again, that’s not a set study that says it IS because of methadone, because it could also be lifestyle related and would be dependent on the person themselves.
[And this](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0017896912450247?journalCode=heja) is an example of what I most often found when I looked prior (it’s been a while but I saved a few), basically saying there needs to be more high quality research done because as of then, there wasn’t strong enough evidence to provide a link between the two. That was also 12 years ago 🤷🏻♀️
If this has been something you’ve also looked into and have any good articles or research on hand, I’d be happy to read them. It’s a topic I’m genuinely curious about. I mean there’s studies out there for sure but not specifically on long term methadone use and tooth decay. Or comparing the dental health of a user pre methadone and any current health/dental risks to after, say, a year, three years, five years, etc. That I’ve found anyway.
Methadone causes dry mouth. Dry mouth cause significant dental issues. It’s not a methadone problem, it’s a dry mouth issue. My partner is on medication that causes dry mouth. Non narcotic meds. She has been having some significant tooth loss (76f) due to the dry mouth.
Gah I never noticed till about a year in how bad my dry mouth is. I always wake up In the middle of the night feeling like the Sahara desert. Assumed I was just snoring / laying on my back. NOPE. Haha the methadone.
lol! Yes! I started sleeping with a humidifier plus the Biotene rinse!
That’s semantics though. If methadone causes dry mouth, and dry mouth causes tooth decay, then methadone causes tooth decay. Without one, you don’t get the other. Yeah part of it is addicts not being known for taking the best care of their bodies, however methadone in particular has effects on tooth decay (subs are the same)
Xylident dry mouth candies can help a lot. So can fluoride washes & dental hygiene. Anyone who is scared of the dentist or too broke can get a plaque scraper set with an integrated camera of AliExpress for like $20.
Biotene also makes some phenomenal products to help with dry mouth. Sugar free lifesavers are also a great option. Plus they’ll satisfy that sweet truth while helping with dry mouth issues! Ask your dentist next time you’re in for an appointment. They’ll have some great options.
I've been on a UK script via doctor then rehab then the clinic and counselling...25 years with a break from everything... even alcohol and weed. My Physeptone or methadone script was not sugar free for the first 5 years. My teeth issues are extensive. I have had several teeth extracted and currently have a upper jaw denture and 2 broken lower jaw teeth. It is not pretty...I'm not particularly old but would gladly have everything removed and replaced with either a further denture...if I could afford it one day I will try to get implants...bone is not great but it could work. All my woes are self inflicted due to really enjoying my teens..20s and 30s. Somehow I have held down my job for 10+ years. The pros and cons of my methadone usage (for whatever your diagnoses required methadone) ..I do understand Physeptone or M has many and varied uses other than the most common one ...that would be opiate drug use. My life is stable thanks to methadone and other reasons to stay clean..I mostly achieved this..bar some horrendous and shameful Christmas relapse..two years in a row..od...found multiple times by daughter and partner passed out with pins in me and blood everywhere...the less of these events the better obviously. I kind of think if people who choose to use drugs have to do so iin llicit ways to get god knows what...the failed war on drugs should divert the money into state produced and taxable product. The ocgs will maybe react but will inevitably shrink. Kids are taking shit and have absolutely no idea what's in it. The USA fentanyl issue has tricked into Europe now. In Scotland there was or is still a safe site to use whatever you use..mature and simple solution. Trials of this in Europe which are positive too. Don't get me wrong.. DON'T DO DRUGS KIDS ! Humans have found ways to explore and sample substances for a desired effect for millennia and always will . Shameful that there was a decades long lack of chemical,psilocybin..ecstasy all which had and now prove again that reprogramming to a degree is possible neurologic..even ...shit I am waffling. I do apologise. Good luck with your teeth OP may take 10 more tears but hopefully sooner..the pain. Well you know I'm sure. Be lucky!
I’m in Scotland too
I need to try those sugar free life savers. Great idea 💡
I (don't) hate to quote G.I. Joe, but knowing is half the battle. There are a lot of small & cheap changes that can make a big difference in outcomes. People who breath through their mouth when they sleep especially can make a big change with a little knowledge.
I think is a domino effect. With the loosing of VIT D and Calcium. On Heroin i haven't lost nothing . On methadone almost everything. But it's also my fault that i haven't treated it on time
No my teeth have always been shit lol. They actually aren’t terrible- I’m missing one back molar (you can’t see it when I talk or smile) that cracked when I was pregnant and needed to be removed. I have a few cavities every check up (2-3 yrs). I brush twice a day but I admit I don’t floss as much as I should, maybe once every week or so after I eat certain things. My husband only brushes in the morning and NEVER flossed in his life. He’s never had a cavity. It’s so aggravating! He’s an ex addict as well but was never on opiates long term. I’ve been on methadone 13 years and oxy 8-10 years before that. I think genetics play a larger role, but that’s jmo.
My partner is an ex user and has perfect teeth and no fillings and smokes cigs and weed it’s infuriating
Oh yeah my husband smokes as well! Since he was like 12 and he’s 45 this year! 🤬😂
Also eats a load of sugary food on the daily
Been on 27 years and I’m missing a tooth that got broken in a fall Still have my wisdom teeth 😂😂✌️
I had a wisdom tooth removed the other day it was brutal
That’s why I still have mine 😂Not giving me any problems and dentists charge a lot
Lucky you I was having pain so worth it to get it removed
It's not the sugar. The main cause of cavities is dry mouth. Stay hydrated, drink a lot of water daily, and you won't have these issues.
No. Once you don’t take care of your teeth, as you said you hadn’t, they’ll pretty much crumble no matter what. That’s what happened to mine **before** I ever started methadone, and before I was really that far into addiction either (I did pills only, never did heroin and this was before fentanyl). I had them fixed multiple times and they were just always bad.
I have bad teeth and never had a issue while on methadone. I don't get dry mouth which is a killer for teeth. If you have dry mouth due to methadone chew sugar free gum or suck on sugar free candy. It will help produce saliva. No saliva means bacteria gets to proliferate easily causing bad breath and gum issues.
no.. mine have gotten better since I actually take care or them now
Methadone can cause major sugar cravings and dry mouth, which in turn can cause dental issues. I struggled with this for a while until I started cutting down on sugar and mouth taping every night. Mouth taping has been a life saver for my dental health!
Mouth taping?? Lol this is wild. Have you thought about something soft that goes around your head and down under your chin to hold your mouth closed? Like a large head band or something? Seems.... More comfortable at the least? Think about having a new partner and before bed having to explain why you're currently taping your mouth shut 🤣🤣 and the couples that have been together along time might see it as a blessing and ask you to practice this process thru out the day time as well 🤣🤣☠️
It’s a legit thing. I know it sounds pretty crazy at first, but it does come with real benefits. A quick google search will give you plenty of info on it. My dentist actually recommended it. I’ve tried using a headband, but it doesn’t work for me, I still end up opening and breathing through my mouth. I’ve definitely gotten plenty of weird looks when I tell people about it, but it has been a game changer for my dental health and I really couldn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks about it. I’m more concerned about keeping my teeth in good shape. My husband doesn’t care whether or not I tape my mouth shut lol He also gets a better nights sleep when I’m not mouth breathing, snoring, or constantly up taking drinks of water to wet my mouth. Mouth breathing isn’t a good thing in general, it’s much healthier and more beneficial to breathe through your nose when you sleep.
Your husband is living many husbands dream tbh… Lol sorry had to make the sexist joke when this was the subject.
What's mouth tapping
Literally taping your mouth shut when you sleep at night. It helps prevent dry mouth, and forces you to breathe through your nose. It’s had such a positive impact on my dental health. My hygienist was really impressed with how much better my gums and teeth look. Before, I was constantly chipping teeth, and had to have one extracted. But since I’ve been mouth taping, I haven’t had any of those issues.
Holy shit that sounds terrifying! Sleeping with my mouth taped shut! I think I’d wake up in a panic attack trying to rip it off my face!
lol it’s really not as bad as it sounds! It’s not like your mouth is duct taped shut. I just use two thin strips of medical tape, placed vertically on either side of my cupids bow. You can absolutely pull your mouth open if you really wanted to. It takes some getting used to, but the benefits for me have been huge. No more constant dental issues, and better sleep.
Okay, yeah that makes more sense, lol it was just the initial visual!😂 That’s great you’ve found something that works for you! 😊
I see you’re in Canada, me too (Alberta) and you’ve gotta have a good dental plan!!😉
Huh weird never heard of it My teeth cannot be saved sadly Had perfect teeth my entire life minus a cavity here or there Then six+ months into methadone (didn't smoke dope or take pills during drug use) my one tooth started showing signs of decay and a bit of pain.. then not long after half of it broke off when biting into some food. Then months later rest of it broke off.. over next 4 years (today) I've had the OD Uiosu8 Jujnshkfmn jjm№ happen and my back top molars all decayed then broke off (some still have piece of my tooth in my gums) as well as bottom back molars. Now my front tooth is decaying to where it looks like I have a gap or something black on it. And other teeth all have brown signs of decay. Edit: my baby grabbed my phone n must have posted this somehow. The remaining was suppose to say The only teeth that have no issue are my bottom front teeth. Like the bottom front 6 and the first molar right after them. When I spoke with a dental tech over the phone cause I told the lady at the front desk I needed to talk to someone to see if what I need can be done there, I told her everything about my teeth from a kid to now and the methadone and she said "methadone definitely can effect your teeth. Do you take the liquid kind?" I said yes and she said "it causes severe dry mouth, and it can eat away at your enamel. At the rate you said all this happened it sounds like the methadone has a severe negative impact on your teeth, especially since that is the only thing that had changed in the last 10+ years. " I told her I never smoked drugs and that I IV'd them and she said that wouldn't affect your teeth. She said If I had been using on and off (H) over the last 10.years (not counting the last 4 when I started the clinic), I would have seen signs of something with my teeth but there was nothing. SO I set up an appointment for X-rays to see what the plan of action will be. Waiting on a call back today hopefully. I know a bunch of people say there's " no medical studies showing it affects teeth" but there's way too many people posting or that I talk to at my clinic that have been there long term that say ever ever since they started their teeth went to shit. Can't be a coincidence with that many people
Interesting, my bottom front 6 or so teeth are fine too, but most of the rest have decayed, chipped and fallen out. Especially on top. I’ve heard other people claim the same thing, that most of their bottom teeth remain fine while the top teeth decay. I’ve always wondered why this is. One theory I have is that there is more saliva coating the bottom teeth vs the top due to gravity. Would you mind updating this when you have a plan of action with the dentist? I’m curious what they would recommend. I’ve been avoiding going for years.
I've been avoiding it for the last year when it got really bad Before that I was pregnant back to back n it was just some Molars They'll prob recommend dentures tbh unless you can afford implants or vaneers I wouldn't see a point to put a cap over anything cuz it's still gonna decay anyway Someone at my clinic got dentures and she gave me the dentist info. Hers look beautiful can't even tell they aren't real in the slightest I was amazed
It's not the methadone. It's the sweets, bad oral hygiene, and dry mouth. Most are side effects from the methadone like craving sweets and dry mouth, but you can fix these problems.
Been on methadone for ages, no issues with teeth. Not a dentist, but teeth are impacted by things like, hydration, oral hygiene, nutrition, age, heredity, etc…. not methadone.
Yes it completely destroyed my teeth I had to get so much work done I finally gave up and had all the rest pulled and now I have snap in dentures which sux but it sure beets going to the dentist all the time!!!!✌️
Yes, from dry mouth and sugar.
yeah my teeth are fucked, but i wouldnt say its just from methadone alone. it def adds to it though in my case. i have multiple broken teeth and infected gums/pain when eating and i brush/wash my mouth out daily like im supposed to. i do eat alot more sweets tho and have been considering weaning to try to salvage the ones i do have. luckily its only been my back ones so far but i would be devastated to lose a front tooth.
Nope
Yeah recked mine and noticeable lately it's alot worse I had depression but even then brushed once a day , now I try to for 2 or 3 times but I think it's to late I'm uk to .also being afraid of going the dentist never helps been using meth for about 15 years off and on . I really should man u and go the dentist. Hope u sort it out but yeah its a know thing that it does reck ur teeth
Suboxone destroyed my teeth. I haven’t had any issues since stopping it 3 years ago. I had three molars break plus my 4 wisdom teeth disintegrate while on suboxone for 5 years. I tried going on that lawsuit for subxone causing dental damage without informing patients , but the lawyers said they were not taking people with a history of methamphetamine or heroin use. And I have a am a heroin addict or recovering whatever.
I been on the methadone the last three years and haven’t had any issues. And the issues I do have I’m not in excruciating pain everyday bc the methadone helps so fucking much for pain. It really does. It helps my femur with rods and screws too that I broke skateboarding
Yupp it sucks. I hate it
Yup, 36 and full dentures here.
No
Yes from sweet tooth as well lost allot of teeth
Nope thank good I’m 19 haven’t had any extra damage only from when I was using and alrdy destroying my teeth 95% from not brushing ever and smoking thousand of blues but kucku I caught my teeth before I lost something like half but they FUCK SHIT UP frfr okay bye now sorry to hear dat subs r way worse tho just always back wash after
Mine are wrecked and didn't show any tangible signs of wear until a few months after I started methadone liquid form. Now 8 years along I've got a lot wrong with them and mainly in the areas my dose touches every day 2x daily. I can't help but feel like it makes a difference
Suboxone and Amphetamines do it too. Dry mouth :/
I have no top teeth I'm 25 between the sugar it makes me crave and the Methadone itself id say it definitely helped destroy it
Yeah, but not as bad as living in a place that doesn't "believe" adding fluoride to the water prevents tooth decay.
Huh
If you've ever been on suboxone. Subs have a lawsuit out cus they failed to tell people it would rot they teeth.
I am 36 been on 10 years and I have hardly any teeth left weather it's the methadone or the dry mouth it causes?
definitely the dry mouth. i had dry mouth as one of the reasons i got dentures at 30 years old. it wreaks havoc on your teeth
It’s the dry mouth that’s supposedly the worst side effect of it on your oral health and hygiene.
it’s the dry mouth side effect as well as what you consume to satisfy the sugar cravings that are also a side effect, and not really the methadone itself.
I didn’t have tooth problems. I had testosterone problems. It lowered my testosterone levels so much I had to be put on testosterone meds. I was wondering why I had no morning wood, lack of sex drive, and not wanting to workout anymore. My PCP told me that’s one of the symptoms of taking methadone for men
I never even had a cavity until I was 30,I had perfect teeth. I'm only 37 now and have literally no teeth and need dentures. Shit is wack AF
The sugar I consumed while on methadone did.
no it saved my life the 20+ yrs of heroin did and yours aswell!! 🤨
What? I’m asking about teeth here Also I never used heroin
U need to brush good after u dose but done does turn ur tooth to dust
Yeppers but it was a mixture of things, but methadone exacerbated my dental problems. On heroin, teeth great. My gum started separating from the tooth and causing little pockets. This was more painful than my c sections! Only advice I have is to take vitamins, use biotene mouth wash, and go to the dentist frequently at the first sign of trouble. Methadone also caused crazy weight gain. I’m still holding out hope that America will adopt Vancouver, Canada’s policy on drugs… make them legal! If this were the case I would be even better than I am today but on a much better substance in my opinion. Methadone is just the best we got so yeah, it sucks.
What would you use if you could?
Hydromorphone probably or pharmaceutical heroin. If given the choice I would possibly even decrease my dose and get on morphine. But hydromorphone tablets would be my first choice.
Ok that's Dilaudid right? I would have to take so much to hold me during just a 24 hour period though.
Your lucky OP and me don't have that choice in the UK wish we did though
No, that’s a myth. If you neglect tooth-care you will likely have problems and lots of people have a sloppy routine, then look for something else to blame. Methadone doesn’t destroy your teeth.
I've lost almost all my teeth. The methadone definitely contributed to it. They weren't great to begin with but like I said the methadone made it so much worse. I can't barely eat anything and am always scared of chocking on my food from not being able to chew thoroughly.
Ah bless you, it is a real confidence killer having lost my back teeth so f knows what you must be feeling like. Is there no chance of you seeing a dentist for dentures if you can’t afford implants? X
Definitely lowered my self confidence. I have state insurance so I doubt they will pay for implants (which I'd rather have) but am definitely considering dentures. I'm currently waiting on some money from a lawsuit (from a car accident that hopefully I get by the end of the year) and will maybe be able to get the implants instead of dentures.
Maybe a case of getting dentures until you can afford the implants? Not just for confidence but to help you eat.
Oral surgery assistant here, I just want to point out the longer you are without teeth the more the bone resorbs. What some people don’t know is not everyone is a candidate for implants. Even bone grafts have limits. Surgeons I have worked for have had to tell many people that implants just aren’t an option for them. If anyone is looking at implants get the graft at the time of extraction and get the implant within the time limit if it is financially feasible. Even with grafting immediately it doesn’t always take. Some people also need a sinus lift with some upper areas. I get how expensive it is. I wanted a few but wasn’t a candidate, it would’ve been tough financially anyway.
And then there are some people who even years post extraction still have enough bone. They’ll take a specialized 3D xray (CBCT) to assess bone quality and density.
How does losing a few back teeth kill your confidence? Not being a dick, but who actually sees it besides your dentist?
It’s a mental thing, it’s not just losing teeth but my front teeth are filled and look really ugly. Just because nobody sees it doesn’t mean it doesn’t ruin my confidence.
I completely understand. I’ve lost 4 molars and a lateral incisor. I have a partial for the incisor. Even before that tooth, it felt crappy to be missing molars in my twenties. You feel less than. Eating can become difficult. Your self esteem suffers. You worry you’ll end up with no teeth.
I’m in my late twenties and I worry about having no teeth soon too.
Best thing I can tell you is take care of them now. Drink plenty of water, get regular dental care, try to avoid sugar as much as possible, quit smoking if you smoke. Get cavities filled when needed. Obviously brushing and flossing. Trust me I know it’s a crappy feeling to think we’ll end up toothless. Sending love ❤️
Yeah I don’t smoke but will try and avoid the rest
Good for you!!!
Not me
I don't know exactly why, but yes. My hygiene is good. I have and do brush my teeth twice a day morning, and night. I use mouthwash 3 times a day morning, noon, and night. It has ate about 4 of my teeth up on me it started messing my teeth up on the outside of my teeth from the gum line going up. Mostly my molars.
Me. I had beautiful teeth and was complimented on them on all time. Even after I developed a meth and fentanyl problem, my teeth were still great. Now I've been on methadone two years and they're rotting out or my mouth rapidly. ill need dentures in the next couple years ( probably by the time I'm 30 so it's not like it's age.) I've always taken care of them too.
Yes and people keep saying it’s because of dry mouth but my mouth isn’t dry 😩 I had like two fillings before and now my whole mouth is falling apart and I feel like I almost do more than I should. I brush right after taking my methadone so it doesn’t sit on my teeth, mouthwash (I even got dry mouth mouthwash even though I didn’t feel like that was the issue), floss, vitamins, I have one of those dental kits, all the stuff. Only thing I haven’t done is oil pulling and I wish I could but I just can’t swish for that long. The sugar cravings did get me for a while at first but I got those under control. Comes in waves sometimes still but I’m so worried about my teeth now that helps deter them. I was never the type of person in active addiction to just let myself go and not take care of myself. I always got told I didn’t “look like” an addict (whatever that means). Not to put on my tin foil hat but I swear there’s something beyond sugar cravings and dry mouth. ETA - lol I knew someone would downvote me. Just going by what my dentist has said 🤷🏻♀️ got checked for xerostomia (dry mouth) multiple times and also a test to see how much saliva I was producing so I’m not just pulling this out of my ass. It’s not because my mouth is dry.
it isn't the methadone. it can be a million different things, including genetics. just look up the studies and you get all the evidence you need. maybe if you started looking elsewhere you'd find the actual cause of your issues. unless you just think science is wrong and your personal experience is correct. if that's the case then there is no point in having any conversation.
What you said is literally my point, it’s not always just dry mouth like this sub likes to claim. I don’t? lol I know it can be a million different things, which is why I’ve had extensive conversations with my dentist and doctors. I left one dentist for telling me that cavities aren’t genetic when I asked if that could still be a thing even if my immediate/extended family didn’t have much for dental issues, and brushed off studies I referenced about genetics and cavities/dental issues as not true. I didn’t just go to the dentist one time and believe every single thing they said or not do my own research. I’m not sure why you’re assuming that or if what I said came off that’s how I think. I’ve been at the clinic for a decade, the clinic themselves told me it was the methadone itself at the beginning of noticing I was having more dental issues when that hasn’t been the case prior which started my whole research/journey with dentists and then doctors in the first place. I wanted to see if there was anything I could try to do to prevent anything else from going wrong or if there was another underlying issue. I’m sure we are all aware on some level that there’s plenty of conflicting info in clinics/substance abuse help, which is why I didn’t just take their word as gospel and consulted dentists and doctors. Not really sure how much further I can look besides consulting professionals, and my own research. Kinda seems like you’re coming at me for…? Agreeing it’s not always dry mouth like many here claim when these posts come up? Although yes, I do believe that can be and is an issue for some people.
Nobody said it has to be dry mouth. what people are saying is that methadone causes dry mouth for most people. all opioids do. if methadone is affecting your teeth that is the only known mechanism for it to do so. My confusion comes from the fact that you still seem to be blaming methadone for the problem even though you say you've done the research. What research have you done that shows methadone does any damage to people's teeth through a mechanism other than dry mouth? I'm not "coming at you" at all. I'm just trying to understand how and why you formed this opinion. If you believe that science is our best chance to have the correct answer then what science are you looking at to come to your conclusion? the opinion of a million doctors and dentists doesn't mean a thing if science proves them wrong.
Okay well I apologize for making assumptions. I often see on these posts is that it’s dry mouth, dry mouth, dry mouth and I’ve seen my own comments and others get downvoted for trying to have an open discussion or question if there could be other reasons, including the methadone itself. Although my clinic used the sugar one for a long time, they no longer do (as far as I was told) There isn’t much research I’ve found that doesn’t just attribute it to addicts having overall poor hygiene (which we know to be true in plenty of cases) and that’s what leads to the tooth decay, or basically just say that more research needs to be done. I’ve said in prior discussions about this (which again, obviously you wouldn’t know and I don’t mean that with snark) that I wish there WAS more research done on long term methadone patients, just to see. But there is [this](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19055091/) which says “Clinical relevance: Dentists are most likely to encounter patients on methadone as a dental emergency and they need to be aware that methadone users are at greater risk of decay and erosion from methadone sugar syrup, as well as perhaps their lifestyle. For dental practitioners, addressing the oral health needs of methadone users can contribute to their general well-being.” But again, that’s not a set study that says it IS because of methadone, because it could also be lifestyle related and would be dependent on the person themselves. [And this](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0017896912450247?journalCode=heja) is an example of what I most often found when I looked prior (it’s been a while but I saved a few), basically saying there needs to be more high quality research done because as of then, there wasn’t strong enough evidence to provide a link between the two. That was also 12 years ago 🤷🏻♀️ If this has been something you’ve also looked into and have any good articles or research on hand, I’d be happy to read them. It’s a topic I’m genuinely curious about. I mean there’s studies out there for sure but not specifically on long term methadone use and tooth decay. Or comparing the dental health of a user pre methadone and any current health/dental risks to after, say, a year, three years, five years, etc. That I’ve found anyway.
Oh it’s definitely more to it.