Dental health & drugs

[shootingstar]

Just got my teeth cleaned..boy those high speed water tools that the dental hygienist used, sorta set my nerves abit on edge.

Somehow in my conversation with her when she was talking about bone loss and nerve sensitivity in tooth, she gave the example of people on crystal meth who are prone to tooth bone loss..and presumably, worse teeth.

I had no idea. But then I've been told other types of prescription drugs can cause tooth health to deteroriate.

[redrhodie]

They call it "meth-mouth". Ick.

[snapdragen]

Yup, a friend of mine got hooked on the stuff, lost a few teeth.

[Blueberry]

Two words: Amy Winehouse.

'nuff said.

CA

[Selkie]

One good thing about the newfangled high speed cleaner -- it gets you out of the dental chair faster! I know what you mean, though. The spray can give you a good face soaking.

[shootingstar]

Ugh, I looked up meth mouth on the 'Net and those photos...

[snapdragen]

Ugh, I looked up meth mouth on the 'Net and those photos...

It's an ugly horrible drug. I haven't heard from my friend in about ~6 months, I fear she's off the wagon. Heartbreaking doesn't cover it.

[crazycanuck]

P as it's known in NZ has led to a ban on the sale of any pseudoephedrine products in certain regions of the North Island. I remember not feeling well, venturing to a local pharmacy to get some cough medicine etc and ending up on the drug registry!

I won't tell you the heartbreaking stories from NZ in regards to P over the last few years .

Even here it's hard to buy any serious cough medicine without getting a funny look.

Shootingstar, i'm surprised that you'd never heard of such drugs since you live in Vancouver after all!!!

[shootingstar]

Even here it's hard to buy any serious cough medicine without getting a funny look.

Shootingstar, i'm surprised that you'd never heard of such drugs since you live in Vancouver after all!!!

Really...ingesting lots of cough medicine would cause similar...teeth problems??

CC, of course drug-free folks hear of crystal meth, etc. I suppose I could ask around and get the real scoop, inclduing a sister who is a hospital pharmacist at a teaching hospital in the heart of downtown Toronto where there are drug addicts that end up in the hospital... She probably could tell me a string of patient cases..

I only know of some drugs that some people have to take for long-term illnesses which can cause side effect of weakening bone teeth strength.

I will be honest...none of my family members have ever had alcohol nor drug problems. Though one of my brothers-in-law had a brother who died in his mid-20's from drug overdose...he was addicted to something. But no one on my side of the family met him.

All of the people that I have coincidentally come to know well and sustain friendships...don't have alcohol nor drug addiction problems. At least not to my knowledge. Somehow I have this feeling by now, I would find out...via various symptoms.

I probably sound as if I've lived a protected life...think again of a low-income class, large immigrant family. Probably an upbringing of tough love, has sustained us well over time.

...

Re dental health, I'm intrigued how some people's body chemistry just manifests in different teeth health even if they eat healthily and brush/floss their teeth daily.

[Grog]

Really...ingesting lots of cough medicine would cause similar...teeth problems??

The stuff in cold remedies (pseudoephedrine and I think also dextromethorphan, but I'm not sure) used to be on the international list of doping products. It is no longer the case, but the drug keeps its potential as a stimulant. It's an ingredient used in the making of methamphetamine. I think it's used by many youth who play hockey, among others.

You'd have to abuse your cough medicine quite a bit before your teeth start falling off, I think.

Just because it's sold without a prescription doesn't mean that it doesn't have side effects. One can overdose on aspirin, tylenol or ibuprophen at doses which are not as high as you'd think.

My favourite story is about grapefruit. I really dislike grapefruit. But some people have one a day, or more. Interestingly, when consumed in great quantities, grapefruit interacts with a lot of other drugs, with adverse effects. I think it can also curb down the effect of birth control pills. I'm really glad I dislike grapefruit.

[ASammy1]

I had very bad asthma as a child and as a result of the medication I was on, the enamel of my teeth are now weakened. I am prone to broken teeth much more than others my age (30).

[Tuckervill]

Meth is a problem everywhere, even in my little town. (It seems especially bad in some small towns in some states.) I found a homemade crack pipe thrown over the fence into my back yard once. It was made out of a plastic water bottle, chewing gum and a straw. I had police officers on my block for something I think was unrelated, and I told them about it. They asked to see it, and I dug it out of the trash and handed it across the fence. They acted like I was handing them a poisonous snake! Sheesh.

I really hate that in order to get a medicine for my husband's colds we have to give a driver's license and "register", for one little measly box of pills. And not just once--every single time you buy something in our state, no matter what store, they have to check your id and fill out information. I just don't take the medicine--I'm never that sick, but my husband needs it sometimes.

Why is meth called P in New Zealand? What does the P stand for?

Karen

[crazycanuck]

I guess since P is made from Pseudoephedrine, someone decided to call it that?

I'd have to do a search on the NZ Police or NZ Herald site to see...

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/drugs/meth.html

http://www.police.govt.nz/safety/meth.html

[Possegal]

My favourite story is about grapefruit. I really dislike grapefruit. But some people have one a day, or more. Interestingly, when consumed in great quantities, grapefruit interacts with a lot of other drugs, with adverse effects. I think it can also curb down the effect of birth control pills. I'm really glad I dislike grapefruit.

Actually you don't have to eat a lot of grapefruit. Grapefruit is a cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4) inhibitor. If a drug is metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes, then the drug won't be metabolized as quickly if you are drinking or eating grapefruit and you run the risk of too high a blood level of the drug. We usually tell people NO grapefruit if the drug is one that will be affected by inhibition of CYP3A4. My sister is currently on one such drug.