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Do drugs cause tooth decay?

Do penicillin, tetracycline, Vicodin, codeine, Percodan and other prescription drugs cause decay? What about commonly abused drugs like heroin, Ecstasy, meth, codein, cocaine and crack?

The answer is a qualified NO!!! The only drugs that can cause decay by themselves are those liquid suspensions and chewable forms that contain sugar. Even these are rarely used for long enough to cause cavities in the teeth.

Unfortunately, chronic users of these drugs do suffer from lifestyle issues that are associated with their drugs of choice, as well as side effects from some of the drugs themselves which make the user crave sugar. In addition, some drugs have other equally unfortunate effects on the teeth. These include drugs prescribed for legitimate medical conditions and are not associated with addictions or lifestyle choices.


Heroin addicts (as well as addicts of other narcotic drugs such as percodan, oxycodon, Vicodin and codein) experience serious decay in their teeth due to a relentless sweet tooth. Note that this is not a direct effect of the drug itself, but rather a lifestyle tendency stimulated by the drug. In effect, these drugs stimulate a simultaneous addiction to sugary soft drinks which is the proximate (most direct) cause of their tooth decay.

Ecstasy (E), methamphetamines (Speed) cocaine and its younger brother, crack are all biological stimulants and tend to cause serious bruxing (tooth grinding) habits which can result in very seriously abraded ( ground down) teeth. The bruxing, in turn, stimulates the headaches, neck aches and ear aches associated with TMJ syndrome. It has become fashionable for Ravers to carry and use pacifiers in order to avoid the worst effects of the tooth grinding stimulated by Ecstasy. (Raves are all night parties where there are lots of young people, lots of loud music and other entertainment, and generally lots of drugs.) Ecstasy is popular at raves since it makes people feel wired, or more awake and active at these events. Serious bruxing is only one of the unfortunate side effects of ecstasy and the other stimulant drugs mentioned above. These drugs tend to raise body temperature and cause dry mouth which makes sweet soft drinks popular among ravers and addicts.

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