Meth Mouth Characteristics, Causes, and Treatment
Meth mouth is what we call a group of dental problems that occurs in long-term methamphetamine users. A person that suffers from meth mouth usually has stains, missing teeth, decay, gum disease, etc. While it’s somewhat harsh, the particular term ‘meth mouth’ stuck around. Today, it’s commonly used among laymen and experts alike.
To find out more about meth mouth, as well as what causes it and how to treat it, keep reading.
Unfortunately, other than getting veneers or dental implants, there’s not much you can do to save your teeth if the damage is severe. However, with proper treatment and prevention on your part, you could regain your smile.
Everything You Should Know About Meth Mouth
Despite its name, meth mouth is prevalent among users of other drugs as well, which is another reason why this name is so controversial. Therefore, it’s not a condition per se, but only a name that is commonly used to describe the group of dental problems that happen as a result of drug abuse. We hope a better, less colloquial, and more scientific term emerges in the near future.
For that reason, we also haven’t seen too much research on this subject, as it’s tricky in its nature. What’s more, meth addicts are less likely to go to the dentist anyway. However, one 2016 study from the Journal of American Dental Association showed that of all methamphetamine users surveyed, 96% had cavities, 58% had tooth decay, and 31% were missing six teeth or more.
Dangers of Meth Abuse
Methamphetamine (i.e. ‘meth’ or ‘crystal’) is a highly addictive and illegal stimulant drug. It affects the central nervous system, altering the processing of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine.
It’s the most common synthetic drug in the U.S., with over a million users at the moment. While small doses can be prescribed to treat ADHD, obesity, or narcolepsy, people use it for its mood elevation and libido increasing abilities. Meth can be ingested in pill form, injected, snorted, or smoked.
However, chronic use and large doses can bring about extreme mood swings, aggression, memory loss, attention deficits, and even psychosis. Aside from psychological side effects, meth users also experience many physical consequences. Those include significant weight loss, heart problems, hyperthermia, brain damage, and severe dental issues.
How Meth Abuse Impacts Your Dental Health
Speaking of dental issues, here’s how meth mouth comes to be. For starters, meth users tend to care less about diet, health, or hygiene. They also frequently seek out sugary foods and drinks.
Therefore, they typically have unhealthy eating habits and do not brush their teeth or floss on a regular basis. In addition, they also don’t practice the necessary regular dentist check-ups, which could also be due to poverty and lack of social support.
As a result, meth users often develop meth mouth in the long run. While it might not be as noticeable in its early stages, advanced meth mouth signs include visible erosions, stains, decay of the teeth, and gum infections. Also, teeth might start falling out after just one year of meth abuse. Cigarette smokers also tend to experience more rapid tooth decay than non-smokers.
Meth use can dramatically impact the person’s teeth and overall appearance. That’s why severe cases of meth mouth are often displayed in commercials and PSAs to discourage people from reverting to drugs.
What Causes Meth Mouth?
Aside from disregarding oral hygiene and dentist appointments, there are a few other meth mouth causes you should know of.
First of all, most meth users suffer from anxiety and paranoia. Consequently, they also experience bruxism, i.e. excessive jaw clenching and teeth grinding. This condition can severely damage the teeth and disfigure the jaw.
Another common side-effect of meth use is xerostomia or dry mouth. This condition involves the reduction in the salivary flow or change in the saliva composition. Thus, it can significantly speed up tooth decay. As there is no saliva to protect the teeth, caries and acid erosion are inevitable.
Mouth sores, ulcerations, and infections are also more common in meth users than non-users. And being that they tend to avoid dentist and doctor visits and neglect their advice, these conditions often develop to be far more serious.
Meth Mouth Treatment
If you go to the dentist and treat meth mouth while it’s in its early stages, you might be able to save your teeth. In that case, your dentist might remove the decay and give you a filling, crown or bridge to substitute the missing tooth or two. In addition, you might be able to get dental veneers. Veneers are porcelain or resin shells that fit perfectly over your teeth, making them appear white and even. To find out more about teeth veneers and different techniques and materials, we suggest you check out this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652364/
On the other hand, if the decay is severe, your dentist might need to extract the affected teeth. Furthermore, if there are only a few teeth left, they might recommend a dental implant or dentures. However, surgery can be dangerous for meth users, as the local anesthesia could react with the drug, so caution is paramount.
Obviously, quitting meth is the most effective way to treat meth mouth. That’s why your dentist and doctor will strongly encourage you to do so and start leading a healthier lifestyle. Proper nutrition and oral hygiene, i.e. regular brushing, flossing, and dentist visits, are crucial for your dental health.
If you are struggling with addiction, you should try to get help as soon as possible. You can always contact one of many 24/7 substance abuse hotlines. They’ll help you figure out what steps to take and who to contact next.
Summary
Meth mouth is one of the dominant consequences of chronic meth abuse and its accompanying symptoms dry mouth, teeth grinding, and lack of oral hygiene. A person with meth mouth usually has missing teeth, visible tooth decay, and gum sores.
As far as treatment is concerned, it depends on the severity of the damage. You might be able to get by with only a filling or a crown, though teeth extraction and surgery are inevitable in some cases. Whatever the case may be, change needs to come from within. Kicking the unhealthy habits and substituting them with healthy ones should be your primary goal.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind