Was scrolling through my news feed earlier and stumbled on this article about how certain drugs can seriously mess up your teeth. Like, I knew meth was bad (we've all seen those scary before-and-after pics), but apparently coke and opioids can also cause major dental issues—gum disease, tooth decay, even tooth loss. Kinda surprised me tbh, never really thought about it beyond the obvious meth-mouth stereotype. Curious if anyone else saw this or knew about it already?
My son had to get some dental work done last year, and the dentist actually brought this up—said opioids especially can dry out your mouth, leading to cavities and stuff. Never thought about it before then... kinda eye-opening, right?
"Never thought about it before then... kinda eye-opening, right?"
Yeah, dry mouth is something people often overlook. Had a patient recently who'd been on pain meds long-term after surgery—same thing happened. Regular sips of water and sugar-free gum made a big difference for him though.
Totally agree, dry mouth can sneak up on you. Ever notice how it gets worse at night? I started keeping a glass of water by the bed, and honestly, it helped more than I expected... small things make a difference.