Author: James Anderson

Meth Mouth: What It Looks Like and How to Treat It

Meth mouth describes the oral health problems that occur due to methamphetamine or crystal meth use. People who are addicted to meth tend to have a high incidence of dental health issues. Although oral hygiene symptoms are some of the most common side effects of methamphetamine abuse, the drug carries many other side effects. One of the common signs of long-termmethamphetamineaddiction is tooth decay. Using meth causes an abuser’s teeth to first stain, then decay and eventually fall out as early as one year into abusing meth. Other complications may include lesions on the mouth’s inner surface, prevalent gum diseases, and teeth grinding (Bruxism).

What Are Symptoms of Meth Mouth?

Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers. We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders. As a matter of fact, the first thing one can do to salvage the teeth is to stop using the drug, which might not be possible if the addiction has already taken charge of the body and the mind. For this reason, consider seeking professional help to start the detox process and rehabilitation therapies. Researchers also suggest that prolonged periods of dry mouth increase drug cravings for artificially sweetened drinks.

1. Full recovery is dependent on detoxification, rehabilitation, improved dietary habits and improved oral hygiene.
2. Often, dentists cannot save teeth damaged by meth mouth; extraction is the only option.
3. During the first stage, a meth addict tends to have bad breath, gum inflammation, and develop one or more cavities.
4. Due to this, the tooth destruction process becomes even more aggressive.

How Meth Affects the Rest of the Body

Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor. The treatment will be aimed at saving those that were not severely damaged due to the drug use and still can be cured. It might include fillings for cavities, mouth guards for teeth grinding or clenching, and veneers.

Meth Mouth Symptoms

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. The constant grinding of teeth is commonly found in users of the drug. Improper diet renders the immune system of methamphetamine addicts ineffective against these conditions.

Does Meth Make Your Teeth Fall Out?

According to research, those who use methamphetamine are twice more likely to have untreated caries, 2 or more decayed, filled, or missing teeth than those who don’t take the drug. Besides, women are at a higher risk of tooth loss than men. Treatment of meth mouth usually attempts to increase the flow of saliva, halt tooth decay, and encourage behavioral changes. Dentists will recommend that the patient brush their teeth regularly and may consider a fluoride treatment. In addition, it is recommended that they should drink more water and less sugary drinks, the ADA says. However, if the damage is too severe, there may be no choice but to remove the teeth.

A person can have a higher chance of recovery with the care of medical professionals. Facilities have therapists, doctors, nurses, and staff to supervise patients seeking recovery from drug use problems. The added pressure of grinding and clenching can cause weakened teeth to break, chip, or fall out. Often, dentists cannot save teeth damaged by meth mouth; extraction is the only option. Here are some of the factors that cause meth mouth, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Crowns may be an option if only a few teeth need restoration.

After recovery, regular exams can help to maintain good dental health. The side effects of meth go hand in hand with the drug to create a dangerous environment for the teeth. Moreover, addicts start picking on their skin, which leads to sores on the body and face. With a meth high lasting anywhere from 8-24 hours, and users often chase away withdrawal symptoms with another dose, it is not uncommon for the dental health to go ignored for days.

Meth Mouth Explained: Causes & Treatment

Smoking meth and eating sugary foods also contributes to cavities. Untreated cavities can lead to nerve damage, tooth damage, and abscesses in the mouth. Meth mouth is incurable and, in many cases, can lead to tooth extraction and extensive dental work. The condition is difficult to treat, and may involve fillings, fluoride to fight tooth decay and drugs that increase saliva for dry mouth, as well as oral hygiene instruction. It can be dangerous for active methamphetamine users to undergo dental surgery because of the cardiac problems that can result from the interaction of local anesthetic with the drug. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

Meth dries out the salivary glands, so the mouth produces more bacteria. Meth mouth is just one of the side effects of meth abuse that needs attention. In many cases, teeth impacted by meth mouth must be removed; dental procedures may be able able to correct some of the issues caused by meth mouth, however. If you or someone you know is struggling with meth addiction, help is available. Contact a professional treatment center to learn about treatment for substance abuse. Additionally, meth’s acidity damages tooth enamel and causes severe tooth decay.

Per the Journal of American Dental Association, meth mouth is characterized by severe tooth decay and gum disease, which often causes teeth to fall out or break. The teeth of chronic meth abusers are often blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling, and falling apart. The extensive tooth decay in these individuals is likely due to a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological damage resulting in dry mouth and long periods of poor oral hygiene. However, the legitimacy of meth mouth as a unique condition has been questioned because of the similar effects of some other drugs on teeth. Images of diseased mouths are often used in anti-drug campaigns.