Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 4) (Top voted first)

Has anyone else known oxycontin to rot the teeth? I used to be on vicodin until my doctor told me I needed to switch to a morphine based meds. She put me on ms contin but I had problems with it so she put me on 80mg oxycontin. Eventually my body built up a tolerance so she kept raising it, i have am now on from 4-6 per day of the 80mg tabs. It scares me that this is what rotted my teeth because only 5 yrs ago i had only 2 cavities that needed filling and then only 1 yr after going on the oxycontin i had to have all my top front teeth pulled as they where rotting from the inside out the dentist said my mouth looked like a heroin addict's mouth looks. He said it was shocking to him that normally he only saw such damage from someone who abused drugs with so much dental damage, but i have never done any street drugs and have only take my meds as prescribed to me. Now i have lost 80% of my teeth and as a beautiful 41 yr old mother its devastating. I cant afford dentures and sure cant afford implants like i would like to have. I am a single mother and refuse to date because i have lost my teeth now, i had beautiful teeth before i started on the oxycontin and only 2 small cavities that needed filling. Does anyone else have this same problem and if so why hasn't the company making oxycontin warn patients of this possible problem?

If i had known this would cause me to lose most of my teeth i would have never agreed to go on it. Of course my family doctor who has been prescribing them tells me she hasn't heard of any other cases, yet when i researched the med online there where others like this why hasn't something been put in the warnings about this med, i sure would have preferred to have lived in pain the rest of my life rather than lose my teeth and be unable to even eat now. My health has gone downhill fast as i cant even chew foods necessary for good health. All I can eat now are yogurts, and liquid type of foods which isn't much. My kids are 7 and 9 yrs old and they watch me cry when we go out to eat and they order steak, and i can smell it but can't order one as i know i wont be able to chew it. This is so devastating for me. I want teeth so badly if i could wish for anything in life besides not to be poor anymore it would be to have a full set of real teeth or implants but i could never dream of having them, and i don't know anyone out there willing to just help me get any either. I have always helped others all my life, but cant even help myself, i have had to have 29 surgeries now since 1991 when a drunk driver hit my car and caused me major injuries with my lower back and knees, i have had a full lower back fusion and 8 arthroscopic knee surgeries until a year ago they finally had to do a full right knee replacement and now they are talking about doing my left knee soon.

So my life has been up and down with surgeries and i would go thru one more surgery just to have teeth implanted if i could. but i could never afford it, but i would like to know why these drug manufacturers are making a medication that could cause teeth to rot like this without warning us patients or even warning the doctors about it. This is just terrible of them i think, as now i am the one paying for this by having no teeth to eat with at such a young age now. I am a vibrant young 41 yr old at 5'3, 120lbs, slim woman, nice looking too as i was a model in my younger days, so i keep my looks up. But to have no teeth now... I never smile anymore, I am to ashamed to smile even though it wasn't my fault i lost my teeth. I think they should pay for me to have new teeth but no one wants to admit that the med causes it, but my diet wasn't the problem back when i started the medication and i wasn't drinking coca-cola either or doing street drugs so i know that wasn't the cause either. The only thing that changed within one year to cause this was starting the oxycontin medication. Well, if anyone out there can help me let me know thanks.

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This is happening to me too, we all need to come together and file for litigation against these greedy pharmaceutical companies, I don't have insurance and have to pay out of my ass to loose my teeth from them, I too have beautiful teeth and they are rotting from inside out, one by one. These companies make billions on us, they need to be responsible for the undisclosed damage they cause! Most attorneys won't take the case, bc it's not a slam dunk case that there paralegals can't just shuffle the paper work around to settle and take nearly half your money for basically doing nothing, so they are quick to decline you. But if we all come together and link these findings with professional help and legal action power, we may have a chance to regain some of our money list in repairs as well as compensation for the loss of our dignity and esteem from the problem these damn pills cause. We are usually looked at as low life's bc we are trying to help ourselves feel better and function in life, but the drawl backs are and can be too much to handle and afford. I'm not real comp teck friendly, but can comm good in person, or on phone. I want to form a support group as well as find legal help to get want we deserve from these evil pharmaceutical companies!!

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Yes, I have the same problem, the dentist looks at me funny & my teeth keep rotting out too. They say it's everything else except the pain meds. My teeth seem to be rotting from the inside out too. It's like we are stuck between a rock and hard spot - Angela! Wtf do I do & no one says that oxycodone will rot my teeth but it's got to be the something to do with it. Guess keep having them pulled out and keep adding teeth to my dentures. I also having been dating cuz I don't want her to see me take my dentures out at my age and she never called me again! I get asked out all the time, they think I'm gay I guess. Tooth pain is just as bed as the back pain, now heart pain wtf! Go see another doctor I guess???

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Ps. Organizing and staging a rally and picket in front of pharma company itself, and calling local and national media would be a dream come true and give us best platform to start our plight and begin our story to be heard and covered, but I can't do it all myself, I know people have lives and very busy as I am, but anyone who is serious ab helping and wants something done ab this, please let me know , so we can begin some kind of communication other then hear, although this is still a grate place to still keep everyone informed and gather as many people with this problem as possible ?

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Hey I have had the same problem so I researched and what happens is the medication cause your saliva glands to dehydrate. Saliva produces an acid that fights bacheria that will kill your teeth. Bc of the dehydration from the meds your teeth were deprived of the saliva needed to keep them in good health and that's why the rotted out and broke out. Sad bc I lost my teeth as well. I'm on 35 years old and it sucks

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Hi. I live in Australia and I am very interested in the class action you are talking about. Like everyone on this page , my teeth are deteriorating, so is the bone. It's not bad yet, but give my 12 months and I recon I'm going to start loosing some, most of my teeth are slightly loose already.
I have been taking oxicontin for around 5 years now. My dose is only small as well . 10 mg in the morning and 20mg in the evening. Mind you I also take Lyrica and celebrex.
I would love to hear from someone about what you are up to legally
Cheers
Martine

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Thank you Christine ! You have been the one person that I have been able to tell about what I have went threw because i have to take Oxy and what it has done to my teeth and life from the beginning! I say this with all respect to each and everyone that is on this sight ! I am a man that hates to complain to anyone about my health or any problem I may have but had to figure a way to vent ! So when I first joined this sight I picked one person that seemed to be in the same place I was and it happened to be Christine ! From that point on when I would post I would act as though I was telling her and only her then I would be able to talk freely because even tho in my mind I was talking to her in reality I was talking to each and everyone on this sight ! It may sound stupid it is how I was able to handle this ! I say this because some people may be like me and not write what they feel because the number of people on this sight has grown and you may feel uncomfortable like I was and still am ! The way that Oxycodon and Oxcontin has destroyed everyone's teeth and self confidence is so wrong and needs to be fixed ! I always carry a bottle of water with me all day every day and I have found this to help slow down this process and hope it helps all of you too ! I will help with anything we try to do as a group to try to get a smile back on everyone by getting our teeth fixed ! It is the right thing for the maker of this medicine to do ! It would cost them nothing compared to the large amount of money they have made and still make from the cost of Oxy ! They should be looking for the people that took this medicine to fix our teeth just like a car company has a recall when it may injure someone because of a bad part in a car ! I hope everyone has a happy new year and we get our smiles back ! And Christine thank you for being that one person I was able to count on ! You are the best ! Mail delivered !

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Angela- Wanted to know if you have an update on your condition and dental problems? I found your posts and all the replies while doing a search on Oxycontin + destroying teeth. So, I am not the only one!

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I used high amounts of prescribed oxycontin,and suddenly after some years about 8 teeth (molars) just disintegrated,broke up and I pulled many pieces out..so I think yes. I have no other explanation.

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Hi, Mark, Lily, and Karen.... NO, YOU ARE BY NO MEANS THE ONLY ONES suffering from teeth degeneration due to the use of opiods! And, although it should not make you feel any better, and like I said (especially if you start looking at ALL of the posts!) you DO HAVE a quasi family who most definitely understand what you're going through and how you feel. However, and although we don't have all of the answers, we try to be as much of a support system as we can, when we can.

And, since I'm on the site, I'm going to take the advantage to say HI to one of my favorite cheerleaders, Mr. Mailman! It sure was nice to see your post and it always makes me feel better when I read what you have to say! I had to stop the Fentanyl patches (which was prescribed after I got into the dreaded donut hole again and simply couldn't afford the almost $400 a month for the Oxycontin ER) The patch was the best alternative for constant pain relief but, shortly before the end of the year, I got a letter from my insurance company informing me that they would no longer cover the patch, brand, generic or otherwise. So, there ya go and yet again, my options are diminishing slowly but surely and, as an unfortunate result, the only other option I have now is to take even MORE Oxycodone consistently throughout the day INSTEAD OF ONLY TAKING IT FOR BREAKTHROUGH PAIN! I don't think I need to tell you just how much more that option has affected my teeth, either! I wish my insurance company has to also pay for my dental issues so they could see (read-PAY!) for themselves just how much more serious my dental issues have become JUST BECAUSE of their decision!

Oh, well... can't do anything about what I have no control over. I hope you're doing as well as you can and, again, it was nice to see your recent post! And, Mark, Lily, and Karen, hang in there!

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Dear Deidra.... I HAD to reply to your post because EACH AND EVERYTHING YOU LISTED AS HAVING IT AFFECT YOUR LIFE, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, I CAN RELATE TO! I realize that it's most likely not going to make you feel any better but I SIMPLY HAD TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE!!! Warm regards, Christine :)

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I too was put on 240mg of oxi twice daily plus up to eight four mg dilaudid daily almost all my teeth have rotten and are broke off into the gum line I cannot afford a dentist do to being on ssd I too have a very hard time eating I am desperate have been resear chi g if there is a way to make the drug company pay no luck yet though but I agree had I known this was a side affect I would of not used it

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I have noticed a few teeth going bad myself - Ive been through 43 surgeries and am in the disabled army as well. Never had a CLUE why they were getting bad and today I started searching and found out. The Pain Mgmnt place has me on 400mg Morphine and 90mg of oxycodone and Im at the point where I cant STAND that stuff anymore. Im about ready to just HURT.

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SORRY I HAVE HEARD ABOUT METHADONE USERS WITH TEETH ROTTEN, IM IN NEW ORLEANS AND THE LSU DENTAL SCHOOL MAKES UPPER OR LOWER DENTURE PLATES 350.00 ONLY TRY TO FIND A DENTAL SCHOOL OR CALL A local comunity center for help.good luck,have you tryed suboxone it my help you get off the pills

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EVERYONE READ THIS!!!!
OPIATES/OPIOIDS DO NOT ROT TEETH DIRECTLY. What happens is these drugs as well as a host of other drugs DRY OUT YOUR MOUTH CAUSING DECAY. Your saliva helps to keep your teeth clean. So when your mouth is dry and lacking saliva, decay sets in. Drinking water won't work, you need to use a special product called Biotene. It is the equivalent of artificial saliva - keeping your mouth moisturized. It comes as a mouthwash, spray, toothpaste, etc. Biotene may not be the only brand but it's the only one I have found. Normal mouthwash will not work and will dry your mouth out more. You need a MOISTURIZING mouthwash like Biotene.
The 'opiates/opioids rot my teeth' thing is a myth. It is DRY MOUTH from the drugs that CAUSES ROT.

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Oxy rots teeth. Period. I always had exceptionally nice, heathy teeth until approximately five years into taking OxyContin. Actually I had no problems with the drug UNTIL they changed the formulation. If you take this drug, you know what I'm referring to. Within a one year period, I began to experience dry mouth, loose teeth, etc. Then, almost four years later, I lost over ten teeth in less than a couple of months. They simply rotted from inside. I had several of the old type Mercury fillings they used to use in the Early-Mid 70's. They rotted inside so badly that you could actually see the fillings inside the teeth!!! Now after being on them for 15 years, I have six teeth left in my whole mouth. It's gotten so bad that I wear a medical mask over my mouth every time I leave the house, which is only two times a month to visit my doctors. If anyone would like to consider a class action suit, I would happily join. My teeth were not my only loss over this unfortunate journey. Thousands of dollars for Rx's at around $400-$500 per Rx, my self esteem, my career and most of my family. I would encourage anyone reading this to never begin this drug for any reason and if you're already taking it, try other forms of pain management. Although they didn't work for my type of pain, maybe they would be beneficial to others. God Bless each of you and continue to fight each day against pain and it's causes!!!!

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Your doctor should be locked up if she permits you to take 80 mg of any opioid several times per day. I doubt this is true. A morphine drip does better and allows adequate physician control than allowing you to swallow 80mg at a time. You will be dead soon enough.

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I am the one who originally attempted to help these hundreds of people with tooth decay due to their meds causing dry mouth by suggesting an oral moisturizer such as Biotene. If you read my original post I said, quote 'What happens is these drugs as well as a host of other drugs DRY OUT YOUR MOUTH CAUSING DECAY'.
I am surprised that practically NO ONE knows this.

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I truely hope you reconsider your choice because only you know your pain and I am sure it's real and no one can judge you from a computer that has never met you . I am going through so tough times but want you to know you matter to me and the people on here that feel your pain, you matter to them ! Hopefully tomorrow or some time soon they come out with a way to fight the pain and what causes your pain and I would pray you are here for that day ! When I joined this group years ago I met Christine on here and she helped me by explaining to me that we are all here to help each other not to judge or knock each other ! Those that do those things should start a different sight where all the people can knock each other and kick each other when you are down . Then tell each other how great it feels to be perfect and judge each other until 1 of you are the best at hurting others ! Then you can look down on the others in your group and feel real good about yourself ! Let's try to help each other here and if you don't care about others leave the rest of us to try to help each other get better Please ! Sorry Christine and everyone on here for not being around ! I was in hospital and just hurting but had to deliver this mail myself . Hang in there Mathew I am just one of many people that cares about you ! The Mailman

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Im wondering when and how this discussion thread on tooth decay from pain medications turned into a debate and lecture about Jesus and God ??? I come onto this thread because its full of people like me that have very serious medical issues and because we all open up to each other and discuss our medical problems regarding those medical issues etc. This current thread is about Tooth decay potentially from Oxycontin and other opiate meds.
This thread and discussion is NOT about Jesus, or God and has absolutely Nothing to do with any religion or any other spiritual thing whatsoever. Bringing Jesus, God or Religion into these threads/discussions only leads to negative debates and eventual frusteration and anger, which then totally leads to everything and anything except the original point of this discussion which is medical issues like Tooth decay from opiates which this thread is currently about.
Recently all the messages I keep getting notifications about are discussions about Jesus, God, and Religion, Not Tooth decay, Not Opiate info, and Nothing to do with anything medical whatsoever.
So to all those that wish to discuss Jesus, God, Or Religion, I have no issue with you, I am Not disrespecting your beliefs or knocking your faith in any way, But I am asking that you either end your discussions about Religion and bring it back to what this thread is about or please take your discussions with each other to another place and have your discussions there. Just please not on here.........this is NOT the place for those discussions, this is for people discussing medical issues and for getting advice regarding those issues.
Thank you,
Steve

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Christine, I have worked in pain management for many years. I also am on oxycontin daily. I luckily have been able to reduce them myself. My pain Dr is happy for me. people out there who know nothing of chronic pain and state ignorant comments just really irritates me. For one thing, if your feeling euphoric from your pain medication then it's too strong or you're not really in pain. People who have chronic pain do not "feel high", it just works for the pain management.

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