Australian healt h experts have warned a rise in drug use will cause an increase in other health issues including severe dental problems.

Sharon Liberali, director of the special needs unit at the Adelaide Dental Hospital, says the use of methamphetamine can cause oral health issues including teeth grinding and tooth decay, particularly in teens and young adults.

Known as meth mouth, Ms Liberali says there are long-term, serious effects for chronic users of methamphetamine.

"Predominantly the two major impacts are on the hyperactivity of the muscles that we use to chew with, and that causes a lot of clenching and grinding. That can cause damage to the teeth by teeth breaking," she said.

"The other activity we see is what we call xerostomia or dry mouth. What that does is increase your risk around dental decay. It also increases your risk around oral infections in your mouth, for example thrush."

It is expected drug-associated oral health issues will rise as the use of methamphetamine continues.

"Australia-wide in 2007, it was reported at about 13.5 per cent. That's gone up in 2010 to 14.5 per cent. South Australia, unfortunately, is reporting a higher than average national use (of methamphetamine) at nearly 15 per cent."

The issue is being discussed at the Australian Orthodontics Congress in Adelaide.

Dr Robert Ali from the Drug and Alcohol Services in South Australia says he expects the figures to increase in the 2013 National Drug Strategy survey due to a rise in police drug seizures and overseas containers carrying illicit drugs arriving in Australia, as well as the number of people seeking treatment for addiction.

He says even low-intensity use can cause problems.

"Certainly the more frequently used the more likely it is to occur, but even occasional users that are using it on weekends are at risk," Dr Ali said.

"Drug use comes in and out of focus. We know that ecstasy was a very commonly used drug five to seven years ago. It's on the decline now.

"New drugs are always emerging that are becoming available. The novel psycho-stimulants are also commonly used amongst methamphetamine users.

"So I think what we're likely to see is them using a variety of other drugs. The combination of those is likely to make these sorts of problems worse."

Acting chief executive of the Public Health Association of Australia Melanie Walker says state and Commonwealth governments need to maintain a national strategy to drug use and abuse.

"What we're really concerned about is that some of those key health promotion services, education programs and drug treatment programs, their capacity to deal with people and assist people may be diminished by funding cuts," Ms Walker said.

"In order to effectively deal with these problems in our community, we need this suite of services in place."

Source: ABC