1 British Dental Journal, 2005. http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v198/n3/pdf/4812050a.pdf

2 American Journal of Health-Systems Pharmacy, 2006. http://www.medworx.org/images/references/Meth%20Mouth%20AJHP%20Nov%202006.pdf

3 TJournal of the American Medical Association, 2008. http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/299/5/525.short

4 British Dental Journal, 2008. http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v204/n7/full/sj.bdj.2008.244.html

“This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number T12HP30315, Grants to States to support Oral Health Workforce Activities, for $500,000.00 with 40% financed with non-federal governmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.”

Cocaine can cause several oral health problems because of the various ways users ingest the drug.

When snorted through the nose, cocaine can damage the tissue between the nostrils, which affects how you breathe and speak.

When mixed with saliva, cocaine also creates a very acidic solution in the mouth that can wear away tooth enamel.

Cocaine users often rub the drug on their gums which can cause ulcers or lesions in the mouth and damage the bone underneath4.

Cocaine There are places to find more information about how drug abuse can affect your oral health.

National Institute on Drug Abuse www.drugabuse.gov

Parnership for a Drug Free America www.drugfree.org

American Dental Association www.ada.org

Nebraska Office of Oral Health www.dhhs.ne.gov/HealthySmiles

Always talk with your personal doctor and dentist about health questions.

Nebraska Office of Oral HealthNebraska State Office BuildingP.O. Box 95026Lincoln, NE 68509Phone: (402) 471-2101

www.dhhs.ne.gov/dental

Oral Health and Drug Use

Some Facts to Chew On

Watch Your Mouth!

Healthy Smiles for a Healthy Future PHA-PB-75 1/2018

Oral Health and Drug Use

Methampthetamines (Meth)

Methamphetamines, or “Meth,” is a highly addictive drug that has very harmful side effects on teeth.

Some side effects include rapid tooth and root decay that cause teeth to blacken or fall out. This is commonly known as “Meth Mouth”2.

Meth is very acidic which harms tooth enamel and can dry out the mouth, which reduces the amount of protective saliva2.

The drug can also make users crave high-calorie, sugary drinks like soda. These have harmful long-term effects on teeth2.

Using Hard Drugs You already know that using hard drugs can have a lot negative health effects. It can make you depressed, lead to mental problems, and can even damage your body to the point of death1.

Your teeth are not immune to the damage drugs can do.

Many hard drugs can cause: - tooth loss - gum disease - sores in your mouth

Drug use can ruin your appearance, keep you from talking clearly, and cause destructive teeth grinding. Continued drug use can lead to sensitivity and numbness in the mouth, painful chewing and talking, even holes in the roof of your mouth1.

And when users are in the middle of a long session using drugs, they are not as likely to brush their teeth. This leads to more cavities, bacteria, and tooth decay.

Marijuana

Smoking marijuana can cause dry mouth and a higher risk of gum disease. Also, the smoke has been shown to cause lung cancer and oral cancer3.

Heroin

Heroin, also known as “H” or “smack” is most commonly used through injection into the body or by smoking.

Heroin can cause users to crave sweet foods, which can lead to tooth decay if proper cleaning is ignored.

Heroin can also cause users to grind their teeth or clench their jaw, leading to damaged teeth and jaw soreness1.