methadone and tooth decay

I'm new to the site but find it very helpful so far. I'm on methadone maintenance for serious opiate addiction (70mg/day). I've been on methadone for over a year now and am about to begin the slow detox. I've been noticing serious tooth decay lately and was just wondering if it's the methadone??? Has anyone else had this problem, and what did you do about it? I brush my teeth twice a day, but still problems. I even had to have a tooth pulled last week it was so bad.

I just googled methadone and tooth decay and there are a lot of reports that is does cause chopper problems.

Tooth decay and prescribed narcotics causing the decay have been the subject of many studies. Some researchers say the tooth decay is from dry mouth a side effect of taking the prescribed narcotics and some say it caused from the "sweet tooth" the craving one gets while taking their medications.

I think your on to something that is not mentioned in warnings or discussed much. I believe there is a correlation as I have had all kinds of dental problems this past year with fillings popping out, teeth fracturing which required a couple of them to be pulled, and a crown that got loose 3 times with this last time taking a small piece of tooth with it making it useless to use anymore..There is another individual in here who is having the same problems..

I brush 2 to 3 times a day, I snack on bannas and milk at night. I heard methadone causes tooth decay. But, if that were the case, why is it happening now and not 20 years ago? I'm 45 and I've become very concerned. It's all I think about. I'm getting depressed about this situation. I highly doubt it's the methadone. But, what else could it be? I really need some help, I don't want to lose my teeth.

Doing opiates also makes people vomit a lot and constant vomiting causes tooth decay so this could also be a reason why there may be tooth decay for your nephew along with the poor hygiene that goes along with most any addictions.

my heart is pinching and my bones hurt badly now can a decay under the crown no tooth left to hold pin have a right swollen face and numbness can be caused by the decay that is under a crown that been there 10 years?

whats tooth decay and what can happen

Can he not remove the crown and take put decay and make you another crown? I would ask about that of course if the decay has gone to far into the root then he may not be able to do that.

A related discussion, <a href="/posts/Dental-Health/Treat-decay-under-bridge-anchoring-tooth-with-removing-bridge/show/1775171">Treat decay under bridge anchoring tooth with removing bridge</a> was started.

I have been researching hypothyroidism and tooth decay. I am suffering from acute gout right now and have found many connections with hypothyroid and gout and a fair amount on its (hypo) connection to tooth decay and gum disease! Does anybody have any knowledge of these relationships? How about the tale of Lugol's Iodine on the bottom of your feet at night? Do you have to be on meds to manage hypothyroid or is iodine replacement enough?

if you plan to get him braces have the tooth extracted to prevent any possible decay to his adult teeth if it hasnt already. and that will give the adult tooth the space it needs to come in if it is close enough any ways. it is the cheapest way to go and the safest route as well but that is my opinion. crowns normally cost around $200-$700 and a root canal is $1000 procedure. insurance companys may not even cover it because it is a baby tooth and will be coming out soon.

it turned out that I do have decay on this tooth and I feel pain because it goes under my gum.. so baically my gum hurts. They put a temporary filling in and we wait now.

hello im 18 years old and i have tooth decay and cavity,i have only pain near jaw teeth and head, as i see no swelling or fever i went to dentist she said that it does not look like Tooth abscess and told me to come in a week,can i ask during Tooth abscess your face always gets swollen yes?

suggesting that I do not have a bleeding gums or the gums are not wounded or broken and bleeding... just a tooth decay.. did I get infected also... I have done it last Saturday evening, July 12, 2008, I do not clearly remember if I give her the oral sex longer... because the morning I have a headache and feeling not ok like I would be having a fever and cannot eat well, and so my stomach is little troubled also... should I think it is but a Hang Over?

Why do I have so much tooth decay and tooth loss, when I know other people that eat/drink worse than I do and none of their teeth are missing? That's why I was thinking vitamin deficiency related. I wish I could see a holistic doctor, but man they are pricey! And now with my teeth issues, I'm scared to eat anything hard or crunchy...so it is even harder to eat healthy! Life can be very unfair.

Removing gum is never a good idea, doing this leaves room for bacteria to get under the crown and decay the tooth and especially as you age because our gums just naturally recede. You will be able to eat as always just maintain good oral health. Brush 2-3 times a day, thoroughly but gently with a soft toothbrush. Floss thoroughly but gently every night and use a toothpaste containing fluoride and a mouthwash that helps strengthen your tooth enamel and kill bacteria.

if the filling that exists in the top of the tooth is large, and if this newly discovered decay is extensive, the tooth may need a crown after the decay is cleaned out and the cavity filled. remember that the more "filling" a tooth has, the more prone to fracture it is. when teeth do fracture, sometimes they cannot be restored at all, so placing a crown befoe that happens is oftentimes prudent if the fillings are large.

So I have one upper molar tooth which was root canaled 10 years ago and one next to this which was root canaled 4 years ago. Last month my dentist mentioned I have a decay on one of these (i dont remember which one). We have arranged an appointment for the 15th of December. But this week this tooth hurts :( I can not imagine how.. root canaled teeth can be decayed ok but pain? Why am I feeling pain if this tooth is basically dead for years?

When you look in your mouth do you see the crown and then it just goes straight to the gum or do you see the crown and then tooth structure and then your gums? Maybe you have been brushing too hard and some of your root is exposed which can be very painful. Maybe you should have your dentist probe your periodontal ligament. This is the area around your tooth. If you have a deep pocket it maybe packing food and your gums might just be kind of yuck.

I recently had a tooth infection in this tooth and went to an endodontist who drilled through the bridge and completed the other root canal on this tooth. I know have a bridge that has a hole in it. What are my options at this point. I was told my one dentist that the bridge is fine and the hole can be filled to save the bridge. Another dentist tells me the bridge should be replaced, as there is infection under the bridge that will reoccur if the bridge is not replaced.

You should check with your dentist for a decay in the tooth which could be on the sides of the tooth and not visible to you.

If you have an infection under a crown you will need to get the tooth treated if you plan on keeping the tooth. If it is decay, you will lose the tooth if you leave it untreated. If you have an abscess, you may lose the tooth and if the infection is left untreated it could possibly lead to septicemia or death (depending on location). You should see your dentist.

Methadone and tooth decay

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