Tooth sensitivity
January 3, 2010 10:02 AM Subscribe
I'm experiencing tooth sensitivity and my two front teeth have slight stains. I have braces and I smoke pot. Should I be worrying?
I've only smoked marijuana for two weeks, almost everyday. I generally practice good dental care, though I've slacked off a bit recently; sometimes I'll light up and then fall asleep. I had some tobacco on New Year's, but it's definitely not a regular thing. My front teeth (mainly the top two, but the ones right next to them have it too) started becoming extremely sensitive yesterday. Even drinking water hurts. My front two teeth are also developing slight gray-ish stains down the middle. I am a teenager (with braces), so I'd like to know if this is worth worrying about before I go to my parents or the dentist. Is it from the smoking or just my recent lack of dental care? Or both?
Thanks MeFi, for putting up with my paranoia. If necessary I will send information to someone to post.
I've only smoked marijuana for two weeks, almost everyday. I generally practice good dental care, though I've slacked off a bit recently; sometimes I'll light up and then fall asleep. I had some tobacco on New Year's, but it's definitely not a regular thing. My front teeth (mainly the top two, but the ones right next to them have it too) started becoming extremely sensitive yesterday. Even drinking water hurts. My front two teeth are also developing slight gray-ish stains down the middle. I am a teenager (with braces), so I'd like to know if this is worth worrying about before I go to my parents or the dentist. Is it from the smoking or just my recent lack of dental care? Or both?
Thanks MeFi, for putting up with my paranoia. If necessary I will send information to someone to post.
The smoking may eventually change the colour of your teeth (as in a yellow tint), but if you brush regularly the change will take many years; in fact, light smokers often have perfectly white teeth all their lives. So that's not your issue.
See a dentist. And if you're going to fall asleep before you brush, how about brushing before you smoke?
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 10:21 AM on January 3, 2010
See a dentist. And if you're going to fall asleep before you brush, how about brushing before you smoke?
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 10:21 AM on January 3, 2010
Sucking air over your teeth can make them sensitive. And when you suck air over your teeth, you dry your mouth, which can cause discoloration. Your teeth are already abraded from putting the braces on. Either change the side of your mouth where you're smoking, or quit smoking.
posted by headspace at 10:59 AM on January 3, 2010
posted by headspace at 10:59 AM on January 3, 2010
The pot is almost certainly irrelevant to your tooth issues (doesn't mean it's a good idea of course) but they could be serious, you need to see a dentist absolutely as soon as possible. Your symptoms are consistent with abscesses which can be dangerous and as I've said here before in general waiting almost always makes tooth problems worse not better. I'll go ahead and say that the lifestyle choices you're making right now are pretty dumb and I say this from the perspective of entirely relevant personal experience. Whatever the problem really is, you're not dealing with it.
posted by nanojath at 11:35 AM on January 3, 2010
posted by nanojath at 11:35 AM on January 3, 2010
Yeah, this sounds like confusing correlation with causation. Just because your teeth started hurting around the time you smoked pot doesn't mean that pot caused your teeth to hurt. It's likely just a coincidence.
That said, you should definitely see a dentist to see what is wrong with your teeth.
For what it's worth I had a tooth that was suddenly sensitive to heat and cold. I went to the dentist, he couldn't find anything wrong (no cavities) and so I just sort of dealt with it for a year or so. Then one day I realized I was no longer having sensitivity issues. And every time I go for a teeth cleaning the dentist asks again about the tooth, and I keep telling him I no longer feel any sensitivity.
So, long story short: who knows.
posted by dfriedman at 12:13 PM on January 3, 2010
That said, you should definitely see a dentist to see what is wrong with your teeth.
For what it's worth I had a tooth that was suddenly sensitive to heat and cold. I went to the dentist, he couldn't find anything wrong (no cavities) and so I just sort of dealt with it for a year or so. Then one day I realized I was no longer having sensitivity issues. And every time I go for a teeth cleaning the dentist asks again about the tooth, and I keep telling him I no longer feel any sensitivity.
So, long story short: who knows.
posted by dfriedman at 12:13 PM on January 3, 2010
While I can't say it with 1000% certainty, I will agree with everyone else and say that it's probably not the marijuana. The pain is most likely because the braces are moving your teeth around.
Tell your mom/dentist that your teeth hurt! I promise they won't immediately jump to the conclusion that you're doing drugs (unless, of course, you smell like smoke -- obviously, don't smoke beforehand and brush up before you see them).
As for the staining, I don't know if this is a new development (within the past two weeks or what), but I also highly doubt that this is pot-related. I smoked cigarettes for three years and did not experience any staining -- in two weeks, I really doubt that you've created that much damage. I also went through a period of smoking weed and though it had other negative effects on me that caused me to stop smoking it, I did not experience any tooth staining or sensitivity.
I do want you to take this advice with a grain of salt, though. Everyone's bodies react differently, and with an unregulated substance you should be particularly careful. (So your paranoia is probably a good thing!) I doubt that your tooth issues are related to the marijuana, but being aware of the possible connection is always a good thing.
And finally, take care of your teeth! Health is one reason, but if not for that do it to prevent bad breath! There is nothing so gross as someone who smells like they don't brush their teeth... and perhaps I just have a particularly sensitive nose, but I always notice it.
posted by melancholyplay at 2:41 PM on January 3, 2010
Tell your mom/dentist that your teeth hurt! I promise they won't immediately jump to the conclusion that you're doing drugs (unless, of course, you smell like smoke -- obviously, don't smoke beforehand and brush up before you see them).
As for the staining, I don't know if this is a new development (within the past two weeks or what), but I also highly doubt that this is pot-related. I smoked cigarettes for three years and did not experience any staining -- in two weeks, I really doubt that you've created that much damage. I also went through a period of smoking weed and though it had other negative effects on me that caused me to stop smoking it, I did not experience any tooth staining or sensitivity.
I do want you to take this advice with a grain of salt, though. Everyone's bodies react differently, and with an unregulated substance you should be particularly careful. (So your paranoia is probably a good thing!) I doubt that your tooth issues are related to the marijuana, but being aware of the possible connection is always a good thing.
And finally, take care of your teeth! Health is one reason, but if not for that do it to prevent bad breath! There is nothing so gross as someone who smells like they don't brush their teeth... and perhaps I just have a particularly sensitive nose, but I always notice it.
posted by melancholyplay at 2:41 PM on January 3, 2010
Also -- if the pain is bad perhaps consider using Sensodyne or some other toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Talk to the dentist first, though, as this is more of a bandaid than an actual solution. If something is wrong, you don't want to cover up the symptoms for a while and then find out that you made the situation worse by waiting.
posted by melancholyplay at 2:43 PM on January 3, 2010
posted by melancholyplay at 2:43 PM on January 3, 2010
If you've only been smoking dope for two weeks, and you're already doing it every day, then my best advice to you - and I say this as somebody who has enjoyed my fair share of recreational substances - is stop. I know a lot of substance users, and the ones whose lives have ended up being made more difficult by that - without exception - are the ones who started early. If you're going to bend your mind with chemicals (which is a fine and worthwhile pastime, don't get me wrong) then wait until your mid twenties, when your brain isn't changing so fast and you have some independent living under your belt.
And brush your teeth. Even the ones at the back that don't show.
Now get off my lawn.
posted by flabdablet at 3:56 PM on January 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
And brush your teeth. Even the ones at the back that don't show.
Now get off my lawn.
posted by flabdablet at 3:56 PM on January 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Are you using a daily fluoride rinse, like Phos-Flur? Fluoride can help with the sensitivity issues and is used with braces to prevent spots and other problems.
posted by dayintoday at 6:12 PM on January 3, 2010
posted by dayintoday at 6:12 PM on January 3, 2010
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At least your describing it as heat&cold sensitivity, by bringing up the water. I'll assume that you know exactly what "teeth are moving" sensitivity feels like since you're wearing braces. I had braces for years and those teeth-sensitive times due to a tooth being busy moving the way the braces wanted it to come and go a lot.
posted by dabitch at 10:08 AM on January 3, 2010