What do you all do to make sure your teeth don't rot out??

[ErinENj]

I've been having some major problems with my teeth. Two cleanings ago, I had 9 cavities, 2 of which turned into root canals and caps (or crowns...I never can remember which is which) by the time my dentist got them all done. So we switched me to a 6-month checkup schedule. My checkup was about 3 weeks ago, and they found 6 new problems; 5 cavities, 1 cavity or something underneath an old filling which has to be crowned or capped. The temporary was put in yesterday. I spend an hour at a time in the chair, with the help of a massive dose of dilaudid and a lot of valium. I've been brushing after every meal and at night, and do a flouride rinse every night, but I don't know if it is doing any good.

Does anyone else have any problems like this? My dentist says it has to be dry mouth from the meds, because of the pattern he has seen in my records with my cavities and other problems increasing over the past 5 years since my CP started and all the meds started. If you do have problems, what do you do? Is there anything your dentist recommends that really helps?? I'm so terrified that all my teeth are going to fall out and end up with implants or dentures by the time I reach 30. :eek: Veneers are just too expensive right now. Help!!

[uvamomb]

Erin,
I don't blame you for worrying about your teeth. I have lost about 10 of them. Most were root canaled already and some were root canaled and crowned. I don't know what you diagnosis is, but be warned if you have chronic myofascial pain or trigeminal neuralgia, both can make you feel like you have abscessed teeth, even when you don't. We truly believe that is how I lost most of my teeth. Now, in my fourties, I am looking at a moutful of partial plates. Don't EVER get a tooth pulled if you can help it that has been root canaled and crowned and still hurts just on the "hunch" that it may be cracked. (I'm not a doctor, so check with yours about this.)
I drink unsweetened tea, water, or diet rite ALL DAY LONG to keep my mouth moist. I also floss and brush like crazy. I've also heard that sucking on sugar free candy can moisten the mouth, but be careful some can cause terrible diarreah (spelling???).
I don't mean to preach to you, but if I can spare ANYONE my fate, I'd like to. The lack of so many teeth has really done a number on my self esteem, and now they think it is also contributing to the intensity of my pain because my mouth is so messed up.
Take care and if you come up with anymore answers, please let us know.
Hugs,
Kathy

[Pamster]

This worries me too, I wonder if anyone knows for sure why it happens, I can imagine it's the dry mouth, but I do have saliva, so I don't think that is the only reason. Is there another underlying cause from narcotics that could make teeth go bad like this? I've lost three but have numerous cavaties and pain from them since I can't afford to go to the dentist and find out for sure about the meds being the culprit here.

[Tbackpain1]

Its from the dry mouth. There are products available to help with this problem, but I'll be darned if I can remember the name. Alot of folks use them. One thing is to avoid drinking lots and lots of water, since it washes away what little saliva you do have. Brushing properly, using a flouride rinse are both good starts. My dentist has me using Chlorhexidine Glutonate rinse, prescription, to keep the pH in my mouth unfriendly to the "bad" bacteria. Until I started with CP, I had not one cavity...now, over the past 5 years, I've had 9 cavities, 2 root canals, and 1 extraction. Once my hubs new dental policy kicks in, we're going to start putting in implants, since his policy cover 90% of the cost...10% is still pricy, but I don't see my own teeth surviving intact, and I'd rather not go through any more root canals. Its no fun, but I'd rather lose my teeth and not be in pain...

Theresa

[Boopers]

I have been on opiates for over eight years now and I do have upper dentures, (long story) but still have my lower teeth. Amazingly, I haven't had any cavities, as of six months ago, when I had my last check-up. The dentist said that I must floss every day, which I do.
But, my problem is, I stay sooo dry mouthed all the time. I am on three different dieuretics for Congestive Heart Failure, so I can't get around that. The dieuretics take all the water from me and leave me with a mouth that is so dry, not to mention the opiates I'm on, I can't even swallow or talk without taking a sip of water most of the time. I even have to take water with me wherever I go. Also, I have noticed that my teeth are so sensitive now that they hurt when I drink liquids or with different types of meals. The gum line has receded way below my teeth and I just don't know what to do. My dentist made no suggestions, so if anyone else has any, I would be glad to hear them.

Thanks,
Linda :)

[lisa6wks]

I think the name of the dry mouth product you were looking for was Biotene? Here is the website address: http://www.laclede.com/

I had to take some med, can't remember the name now and talked to my dentist about the dry mouth, he was the one who told me about the Biotene.

Hope this helps.

Lisa

[caudaequinasyndrome]

i don't think drinking LESS water is a good idea have had the same problem, many pain meds cause dry mouth.
amitriptyline, topamax etc,
brush a lot , floss a lot, see your dentist frequently
don't eat any sugar foods,
problem is some of the meds give us a sweet tooth.
i use a fluoride rinse at night before sleep,make sure you brush before bedtime too..

[Bluey]

I agree with you all, it is dry mouth that causes tooth rot.
If you drink the water with a straw then it would seem that would not interfer with the saliva being diluted in the mouth. What about that?

[brians2000]

Since I became a chronic pain patient nearly five years ago, I have been grinding my teeth and now I just have little teeth. I was told my teeth would need to be capped and when I asked how many he laughed and said all of them. I used to wear braces and I had the prettiest teeth but now I don't have good teeth at all. My teeth hurt when I eat something now because they are almost gone. My dentist made me a mouth guard but i never wear it because I don't like the feeling plus I bite on it and then get a head ache. I would love to have new teeth. maybe one day they will invent something for us to grow new teeth. Brian

[BrokenBladder]

I have to agree with everyone else here. Drink alot of liquids and make sure to brush morning and night. Very important. Also I use listerine to wash out my mouth twice daily and it seems to get rid of the bacteria. Good luck to you!!

[razzle51]

IF Anyone is on Neurontin , try to change to something else . Was confirmed by my Dr. and dentist that med causes dental decay . bUT like others said dry mouth dry mouth . If someone would come up with a med for dry and constipation we all would be in heaven . Keep a daily routine and brush and floss. Biotene is a good product to use . Also suck on hard candy sugar free.
In my case I got off Neurontin and now using Keppra .

[Boopers]

Thanks Razzle, I never knew about the neurontin. Maybe that's what my problem is. I am on neurontin and have been for years. I take 3200mgs. daily. I am going to have to talk to my PD about this.

Thanks again,
Linda :)

[razzle51]

Yes I was on 3200mg too and never had a cavity in my life until after being on this med . Went to the dentist and had 9 cavities . I came unglued !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am on Keppra

[Pamster]

Time for me to drop neurontin from my medication list. Thanks for the info on this razzle. Terrible that some meds can do this to us. Do you take keppra for nerve pain? That is what my PM doc prescribed the neurontin for. :confused:

[janster]

Hi~
I hope it's OK to tell you about this link:

*******************************.com/showthread.php?t=4520&highlight=teeth

We discussed this subject at length here, and there were many tips, suggestions, and helpful products mentioned. I know I learned a lot, and thought it would help you guys too.
Hugs,
Jan

[Debbie T]

I'm a rare example of long-term opiates & no tooth decay, so it is possible. I've been using opiates for almost 10 years & I also use actiq. I've never had a cavity. I go to the dentist every 6 months & I've never had any dental problems at all. So, it is possible to use opiates, including actiq, without dental issues.

I brush my teeth every single time I eat (even if it's just a cracker), I use Biotene products (for dry mouth), I floss at least twice a day every single day, I don't drink any soda ever, and I don't eat sweets. It's difficult when you feel really crappy to be so diligent about dental hygiene, but it's the only way to ensure you don't have dental problems. After each Actiq, I brush my teeth 15-20 minutes later followed by an anti-cavity mouth rinse, even if I'm not at home. It's a hassle, but it's more of a hassle to have dental problems.

[ErinENj]

Pamster: I'm currently on Lyrica for nerve pain. It seems to work pretty well, I guess. It didn't get rid of it totally, but it did help some. I haven't had too many problems with the pain running down my legs, at least compared to what it used to be like.

I'm so glad to see so many replies to this thread! Not that I am glad to see that you all have issues with your teeth, but it is nice not to be alone with this. I'm hoping that at my next cleaning, I'll be down to at least 2 or 3 cavities, as opposed to the 6. I've only got one more appointment to take care of this batch, to put in the permanent crown or whatever it is called and to fill one last cavity (as long as he doesn't find anything new at that appointment) and hopefully, next time won't be as bad, and that the hygienist won't find anything new with that pick thing. Jeez that hurt!!! I nearly hit the woman! There was definately some serious restraint in that room! ;)

And I'm sorry that this reply has taken so long for me to write, but things have been busy as anything with Turkey day coming up and all of my professors trying to throw as much stuff at us before the break, and during the break. I really think that they don't believe we should have any time to eat, just time to do the work they've assigned. But they get to enjoy their dinner!! I'm already trying to figure out what excuse I can give my relatives for having to bring work to my family's gathering! :rolleyes:

Thanks again everyone for such great ideas, hints and tips!

[hoops2u]

Hello,
My dental hygentist told me one time, to leave a thin coating of tooth paste on your teeth when you go to sleep at night. I had a cavity just starting in the very back.

So, each night after brushing and rinsing, then rinsing with listerine, I brushed again, with a small amount of tooth paste and did not rinse. When I went back to the dentist in 6 weeks to have the cavity looked at and maybe drilled and filled, the decay was gone. yeeHaw!:D

So, now, at night I leave a small coating of paste on my teeth periodically, or if I notice a problem. It also reduces sensitivity. i do use a mild tooth paste, crest ( but a mild, sensitvity, white one).

Maybe this method will help some of you who have more difficulties due to meds. Good luck and God Bless you. Currently I am in ther midst of having two implants. Very costly, so try and keep those teeth. Brush em, pick em, floss em, listerine em, and pick em some more. No, I am not a dentist. I just like to smile,-----a lot ! ! :D :D :D

Peace and Blessings,
hoops

[lobelsteve]

Opioids do not cause tooth decay. They may cause dry mouth that will increase the risk of dental caries (cavities). It is important to "stay moist".

Note: the drug Actiq (fentanyl lollipop) has been known to cause direct decay owing to the substances other than the fentanyl that make the lollipop a lollipop. I think it is sugar in the mix to keep it a solid and give it flavor.

[razzle51]

I take keppra for tremors and nerve pain . Lyrica I have heard is good too , but is now the new neurontin. You can put on weight with Lyrica . My dr. said Tegretol is another good drug for nerve pain.