Meth Mouth Images, Pics, Sores, Teeth, Jaw, Effects, Stages, Symptoms, & Treatment Options

Meth mouth is a term used to describe the visible effects of oral disease in an individual who uses meth (short for methamphetamine) because of the widespread tooth decay that often happens with the drug’s use. People who use meth may have stained, blackened, broken, or rotting teeth, both due to side effects of the drug itself and related lifestyle factors. The typical decay pattern involves the facial and cervical areas of both the maxillary and mandibular teeth with eventual progression to frank coronal involvement.

Eventually, the best course of treatment for a person struggling with oral disease caused by meth use, such as meth mouth, is to treat the addiction. Moreover, treating meth addiction is usually a long, continuous process requiring medical detox and ongoing social support and therapy to fully recover and prevent a relapse.

Statistics On Meth Mouth

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) [2], researchers examined 571 meth users and found that:

• 96 % of them had cavities (a hole or other damage to the outside layers of a tooth).
• Adults who said they used meth “moderately” or “heavily” were twice as likely to have untreated cavities as “light” users—“light” users had used the drug for less than 10 days over the previous month. If a cavity goes untreated, it grows larger and larger, it can cause a really bad toothache, the cavity can become infected, and the tooth may have to be removed.
• 58% of meth users had untreated tooth decay, compared with 27 percent of the general population in the U.S.
• Only 23 percent kept all of their natural teeth, compared to 48 percent of the general population in the U.S. That’s a lot of additional tooth loss for the people who used meth.

What Causes Meth Mouth?

There are many reasons why a person may develop a meth mouth. For many individuals addicted to meth, poor nutrition habits, poor dental health, and lack of proper dental maintenance can be factors. Poor overall hygiene can result from combining sugary foods with meth use or forgetting to brush your teeth. Usually, individuals abusing meth maintain poor diets and may seek out sweets and sodas– commonly called buzzing — further damaging their enamel. Smoking meth and eating sugary foods also contribute to cavities. Untreated cavities can lead to tooth damage, nerve damage, and sores in the mouth.

Bruxism

Meth use can lead to the development of bruxism. It is a condition in which individuals clench and grind their teeth. Methamphetamine stimulates the brain, causing individuals to grind their teeth. Grinding can cause teeth to loosen or break and worsens periodontal disease. Moreover, it can lead to a feeling of stiff facial muscles and temporomandibular joint disorder.

Reduced Salivary Flow (Xerostomia)

Crystal meth use can lead to xerostomia, or dry mouth, reducing protective saliva around the teeth. The lack of saliva makes it difficult for the person to swallow, and more challenging to talk and increases the chances of developing tooth decay since saliva removes bacteria away from the teeth. The ducts of the salivary glands produce saliva which is the first defense in fighting bad bacteria in the mouth, buffering acids, and protecting the teeth. The enzymes in saliva keep the mouth moist and in a state of homeostasis; that is, a pH balance with just the right quantity of acid in the mouth.

Lack of Dental Hygiene

During meth high, which can last up to twelve hours; meth users often do not follow good dental hygiene such as flossing or brushing, which leaves the sugary substances on their teeth for long periods of time. This can be harmful and can cause cavities in the teeth.

Drug Additives

The acidic contents of meth can also damage teeth. Drug additives can include hydrochloric acid, antifreeze, battery acid, lantern fuel, drain cleaner, lye, and over-the-counter cold medications containing ephedrine. The acidic environment often leads to erosion, and when mouth pH drops below critical levels, tooth decay is the result.

Poor Diet

People under the influence of meth and often during withdrawal usually experience cravings for carbonated beverages and sugary foods, which are harmful to the teeth.