Dental Health And Pain Meds - Pain Management Message Board

Mermaidxx · 12-01-2007, 09:41 PM

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had info on what causes teeth probs in patients talking pain meds? Is it the actual pain meds? Or is it having dry mouth? I have heard different things. Is there anything that can help?

Fabrashamx · 12-01-2007, 11:31 PM

It is mostly caused by the dry mouth, although nausea can also cause a lot of acid to be present in the saliva, which is really hard on tooth enamel.

Try keeping a bottle of water with you all the time, and just sip it often. not only will it help your teeth, it will help you in other ways as well.

HTH, Fabby

Shoreline · 12-02-2007, 05:42 AM

Most of the drugs used to treat chronic pain cause dry mouth. The combined effects are far more devestating than labaling the balck sheep "opiates" as the primary cause. Meds like trazadone for sleep, other anti D's and even antiseizure meds can destroy your teeth from the side effect of dry mouth. There are newer products/rinses that can be used to help reduce dry mouth, but water on the nightstand is better than nothing at all or beter than a pepsi.
Good luck and I don't know what the answer is when the option is suffer or spend thousands on our teeth only to loose them in the end.
Take care, Dave

Fabrashamx · 12-02-2007, 10:45 AM

Boy, I hear that, Dave! I spent a fortune on my teeth and still wound up with a complete upper plate last year, and I'm only 45.

Good point about the pop too, its probably worse than drinking nothing, since even the diet pop coats your teeth with acidics.

Have a good day!~Fabby

brianpain33 · 12-03-2007, 03:52 PM

Very interesting post especially since I have just had 2 root canals in the last two weeks and I have never had any problems like that before except for the occasional filling but I haven't had a cavity in years. Dealing with chronic pain brings with it a whole host of problems. I hope other people post their experience as well.

Brian