BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine users are reported to have marginal dietary habits and high caries rates. The authors compared retrospective dietary patterns, oral hygiene behaviors and current oral health status of methamphetamine users and nonusers in a pilot study. METHODS: Eighteen adults with a history of methamphetamine use (methamphetamine users) and 18 age- and sex-matched control subjects (nonusers) completed retrospective questionnaires concerning meal patterns, food group intakes, beverage habits, oral hygiene behaviors, smoking behaviors and drug use. The authors performed oral examinations to identify the number of remaining teeth, the number of teeth with obvious decay and presence of visible plaque. RESULTS: Methamphetamine users were more likely to snack without eating defined meals (P = .026), consume regular soda pop (that is, carbonated beverage with sugar) (P = .018), never brush their teeth (P < .001) and smoke (P < .001) than were nonusers. Users had more visible plaque (P < .001), fewer molars (P = .001) and more decay on anterior teeth (P < .001), premolars (P < .001) and molars (P < .001) than did nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study are consistent with anecdotal reports; methamphetamine users have more gross caries than do nonusers. Marginal dietary and oral hygiene behaviors associated with methamphetamine use likely increase caries risk. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patients at risk or suspected of using methamphetamine require detailed oral hygiene instruction and extensive dietary counseling.
BACKGROUND:Methamphetamine users are reported to have marginal dietary habits and high caries rates. The authors compared retrospective dietary patterns, oral hygiene behaviors and current oral health status of methamphetamine users and nonusers in a pilot study. METHODS: Eighteen adults with a history of methamphetamine use (methamphetamine users) and 18 age- and sex-matched control subjects (nonusers) completed retrospective questionnaires concerning meal patterns, food group intakes, beverage habits, oral hygiene behaviors, smoking behaviors and drug use. The authors performed oral examinations to identify the number of remaining teeth, the number of teeth with obvious decay and presence of visible plaque. RESULTS:Methamphetamine users were more likely to snack without eating defined meals (P = .026), consume regular soda pop (that is, carbonated beverage with sugar) (P = .018), never brush their teeth (P < .001) and smoke (P < .001) than were nonusers. Users had more visible plaque (P < .001), fewer molars (P = .001) and more decay on anterior teeth (P < .001), premolars (P < .001) and molars (P < .001) than did nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study are consistent with anecdotal reports; methamphetamine users have more gross caries than do nonusers. Marginal dietary and oral hygiene behaviors associated with methamphetamine use likely increase caries risk. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patients at risk or suspected of using methamphetamine require detailed oral hygiene instruction and extensive dietary counseling.
Authors: Debra A Murphy; Lauren Harrell; Rachel Fintzy; Thomas R Belin; Alexis Gutierrez; Steven J Vitero; Vivek Shetty Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2016-10 Impact factor: 1.505
Authors: Niklas Rommel; Nils H Rohleder; Stefan Wagenpfeil; Roland Härtel-Petri; Frederic Jacob; Klaus-Dietrich Wolff; Marco R Kesting Journal: Clin Oral Investig Date: 2015-07-15 Impact factor: 3.573
Authors: Carrigan L Parish; Margaret R Pereyra; Harold A Pollack; Gabriel Cardenas; Pedro C Castellon; Stephen N Abel; Richard Singer; Lisa R Metsch Journal: Addiction Date: 2015-07-02 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Vivek Shetty; Lauren Harrell; Debra A Murphy; Steven Vitero; Alexis Gutierrez; Thomas R Belin; Bruce A Dye; Vladimir W Spolsky Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2015-12 Impact factor: 3.634