Dealing with Methadone Tooth Decay. Does Suboxone Also Cause Tooth Decay?
80Keep Those Pearly Whites!
Does methadone cause tooth decay or tooth pain? Does Suboxone cause the same types of dental problems?
Methadone is a very effective medication for the treatment of opiate addiction. There are a number of harmful myths surrounding the use of methadone, but people who claim that methadone has had an adverse effect on their dental health are probably telling the truth. Methadone can be harmful to your teeth, and can cause tooth decay – but probably not more than any other opiate!
Methadone and Tooth Decay
All opiates cause a reduction in mouth saliva (dry mouth) and this continual reduction in anti bacterial saliva can lead to an increase in plaque and dental bacteria, and exacerbate the harms of sugar in the diet.
So yes, methadone can lead to tooth decay (but it doesn't have to…see below) but avoiding methadone out of a fear of tooth decay makes little sense if it means that you stay on the opiate you are abusing – because it also causes a reduction in saliva and tooth decay!
Suboxone and Tooth Decay
Suboxone (a partial type of opiate) does not cause any significant reduction in saliva and is not associated with tooth decay. Suboxone is not right for everyone, and if you are on a high daily dose of opiates, you may not get the withdrawal symptoms relief you need from Suboxone (buprenorphine) talk to your doctor about whether Suboxone will work for you.
How to Avoid Tooth Decay While on Methadone
Methadone increases the risks of tooth decay by drying out the mouth. You can avoid methadone tooth decay by taking some preventative steps – steps that are just plain old fashioned good oral hygiene.
- Chew sugar free gum! This is probably the best way to counteract the mouth drying effects of methadone. Methadone dries out the mouth – the act of chewing gum stimulates saliva production and nullifies the effects of the methadone!
- Rinse your mouth out with water after eating, especially after eating sugary foods!
- Floss twice a day
- Brush 3 or 4times per day
- Use antiseptic mouthwashes 2-3 times per day (Listerine)
- Go the dentist for regular cleanings.
Nothing you haven’t heard before – but all easy to take steps that will eliminate the problems of methadone tooth decay.
Summary
Methadone does case an increased risk of dental problems, but since these problems are so easily overcome (And since drugs like heroin or other pain pills will also cause tooth decay) a fear of dental problems is no reason to avoid methadone.
Suboxone is not known to cause dental problems, and is a good substitute for methadone for some people. Suboxone will not work for everyone.
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Comments
no it doesnt
Okay I came off methadone after 7 yrs,cold turkey without anything. Why ? because my husband left me stole my car and money. I had no clue it would rot my teeth out. I went to methadone after many years of abusing oxycontin. I was using daily anywhere from 10 to 15 80mg pills a day, of course snorting,yeah alot but after yrs of abuse tolerence is high as anything, I stayed high off my butt to. I went to methadone clinic. Thought it was my life saver til my teeth started crumbling up and falling out of my head. I went to dentist, all they would do was want to pull them all out. I will now tell u am 31 and all my teeth are gone. It is embaressing as hell but what do u do. I came off after 7 yrs on 140 mg and I thought I would die, so I go back to my old habit of the qxy's and I am there still today.
I have been on soboxone for 8 months now, And i brush my teeth every day, I am on a 4mg alternating with a whole 8mg pill daily. Since i have been on soboxone, i have had 5 chipped molars, and now When i go to the dentist i can not recieve pain meds. What do i do????
As a Dental Hygienist I never recommend that my patients use Listerine or any other alcohol-based mouth rinses..DO NOT use Listerine as a rinse while being treated with Methadone!!! Listerine contains alcohol. This is important for 2 reasons......alcohol has a drying effect on your oral tissue, thus increasing the "drying" effect that methadone users are already experiencing. AND 2 it has ALCOHOL in it...not good for anyone recovering from an addiction. Try a non-alcohol based rinse such as BIOTENE (there are others also available). I agree that increased water, brushing and flossing will improve you chances of keeping your teeth, but keep your sugar intake down as well!!! You would also benefit from using a daily fluoride rinse, this will help strengthen weakened areas of your teeth. In my experience, (30 years in dentistry), people who are having "other " issues in their lives don't find the "time" to look after themselves on the whole and teeth are last on many people's list of care. Often people who are abusing pain killers don't experience "pain" until the abuse is decreased. Find a Dentist for more information and guidance so that you can keep your teeth for as long as they were meant to last.
Subutex does decay your teeth !
I am loosing the enamal of my teeth at an alarming rate after two and a half years of being on subutex mantinence. I take very good care of my teeth, but the decay is now so extensive my dentist has said is reluctant to fill my remaning teeth until I'm off subutex compleatly.
tormenta386 says:
14 months ago
methadone also causes liver damage so be careful... my kids father had it and is not nice!