SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Oral Health
Sec. Oral Epidemiology
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/froh.2025.1645445
Oral health effects of ecstasy (MDMA) and methamphetamine (MA) : a narrative review
Provisionally accepted
- 1Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
- 2Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France
- 3Service d’odontologie medecine buccodentaire et chirurgie orale, Centre hospitalier universitaire Morvan, Brest, France
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This review aims to explore the impact of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, on oral health, while also drawing comparisons with methamphetamine (MA) due to their pharmacological similarities and overlapping oral manifestations. MDMA is a psychostimulant derivative of amphetamine (AM) with empathogenic and hallucinogenic properties, widely consumed, especially among young adults. Its pharmacological effects lead to both acute and long-term systemic consequences. Among its oral manifestations, xerostomia is notably prevalent and strongly associated with increased intake of sugary beverages, contributing to heightened risks of carious lesions, tooth wear and periodontal disease. Bruxism and jaw clenching, frequent during MDMA use, are implicated in temporomandibular joint dysfunction and can lead to significant tooth wear lesions. This review also discusses periodontitis prevalence, often linked to poor oral hygiene, poly-drug use, and behavioral changes. Additionally, cases of soft tissue damage and unique patterns of decay have been documented. These findings highlight the need for dental professionals to recognize oral health issues associated with MDMA, MA and polydrug use.
Keywords: MDMA and oral cavity, MDMA and teeth, MDMA and periodontitis, Ecstasy and oral cavity, Ecstasy and teeth, Ecstasy and periodontitis, MDMA and mouth, Ecstasy and mouth
Received: 11 Jun 2025; Accepted: 28 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Newell, Fouillen, Orliaguet, Kichenin and Boisrame. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lily-Rose Newell, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
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