Substance abuse takes a toll on every inch of your body, and your mouth is no exception: Teeth can become riddled with cavities, cracks, sensitivity and staining and in extreme cases an addict can lose teeth and end up with devastating damage to gums as well. Unfortunately, dental health is often the last thing a person thinks about while recovering from opioid drug abuse. But new research from the University of Vermont College of Medicine shows that dental hygiene is among the top chronic health effects among recovering addicts.
Researchers Curious About the Affects of Suboxone
A $150,000 grant from Delta Dental will also move forward research into how Suboxone may be causing oral damage during the recovery process.
Rehab Your Grin
“We absolutely appreciate and recognize the importance of having Suboxone and other medication-assisted treatments to help somebody transition, but we want to raise awareness to patients and providers about what we are seeing in their mouths,” said Dr. Katera Hopkins, dental site leader for University of Vermont Medical Center.
Thanks to modern dentistry, though, more people in recovery are getting another chance at healthy teeth and a brighter grin. Even if a complete smile makeover is financially out-of-reach right now, it’s not too soon to start getting the basic dental care you need.
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