1 British Dental Journal, 2005. http://www.nature.com/bdj/ journal/v198/n3/pdf/4812050a.pdf 2 American Journal of Health-Systems Pharmacy, 2006. http://www.medworx.org/images/references/Meth%20 Mouth%20AJHP%20Nov%202006.pdf 3 TJournal of the American Medical Association, 2008. http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/299/5/525.short 4 British Dental Journal, 2008. http://www.nature.com/bdj/ journal/v204/n7/full/sj.bdj.2008.244.html “This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number T12HP30315, Grants to States to support Oral Health Workforce Activities, for $500,000.00 with 40% financed with non-federal governmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.” Cocaine can cause several oral health problems because of the various ways users ingest the drug. When snorted through the nose, cocaine can damage the tissue between the nostrils, which affects how you breathe and speak. When mixed with saliva, cocaine also creates a very acidic solution in the mouth that can wear away tooth enamel. Cocaine users often rub the drug on their gums which can cause ulcers or lesions in the mouth and damage the bone underneath 4 . Cocaine There are places to find more information about how drug abuse can affect your oral health. National Institute on Drug Abuse www.drugabuse.gov Parnership for a Drug Free America www.drugfree.org American Dental Association www.ada.org Nebraska Office of Oral Health www.dhhs.ne.gov/HealthySmiles Always talk with your personal doctor and dentist about health questions. Nebraska Office of Oral Health Nebraska State Office Building P.O. Box 95026 Lincoln, NE 68509 Phone: (402) 471-2101 www.dhhs.ne.gov/dental Oral Health and Drug Use Some Facts to Chew On Watch Your Mouth! Healthy Smiles for a Healthy Future PHA-PB-75 1/2018