What is Meth Mouth? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

“Meth Mouth” is the term given to the poor state of oral health which is caused by consuming the recreational drug Methamphetamine on a regular basis.

The condition is well-known for being damaging to our physical health and the brain. But there are also oral health implications too. Therefore, this adds further weight to the argument against its use.

About Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine belongs to the Stimulant class of drugs. Its intended medical use is for severe cases of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Yet in reality, it is mainly used as a recreational drug. People take methamphetamine by either smoking it, swallowing it in pill format, injecting it, or snorting it.

As a stimulant, it provides a quick high. It causes the level of the feel-good chemical Dopamine to rise, resulting in improved mood. Increased alertness is another desirable side effect for many.

But these effects are only temporary. The main problem is that it is a highly addictive drug. Once a person is hooked, it can be very difficult to stop taking it. Therefore, multiple elements of their health will become affected.

Mental Health Impact of Methamphetamine

The mental health consequences of methamphetamine are well documented. It is very addictive, and can easily cause dependence.

Psychosis, rapid mood swings and even seizures are potential side effects [1]. Not everyone will experience these, but the risk is always there.

The use of methamphetamine for recreational purposes has also become more common in recent years. A worrying statistic shows that between 2015 and 2019, the number of reported overdose deaths involving methamphetamine actually doubled [2].

What is meth mouth? What are the symptoms?

Frequent or prolonged use of methamphetamine can lead to something termed “meth mouth”. This is a extremely poor state of oral health that is caused by the effects of methamphetamine.

The effects usually involve discoloured, rotting, stained or blackened teeth that are either falling apart, broken, or crumbling. Over time, they will fall out.

As seen in the image below, meth mouth involves tooth decay starting at the gum line. As a result, this exacerbates the development of gum disease.

What causes meth mouth?

Methamphetamine itself isn’t the direct cause of meth mouth. However, its use results in the effects that do cause meth mouth.

Dry mouth is one of the biggest problems in oral health. Methamphetamine causes a dry mouth. This allows bacteria to thrive, resulting in them damaging the teeth and gums.

Due to this sensation of dry mouth, users will often then seek a fizzy or sugary drink to quench their thirst. But the sugary content of these drinks only hastens the development of tooth decay.

Methamphetamine is also known to cause teeth grinding. This accelerates the process of tooth decay as the teeth get grounded down quicker.

Avoiding toothbrushing and other basic oral hygiene needs also results in problems developing. This combination has a terrible impact on oral health.

How can meth mouth be treated?

There are two major areas when it comes to treating meth mouth. One is withdrawing from methamphetamine and any of its derivatives. The other is oral health changes.

Stopping the use of methamphetamine will help you immeasurably. You can seek help from your GP or a trained therapist. By stopping this, you will be in a better position to live your life.

Secondly, seeking oral health help as soon as possible is crucial. The sooner that your oral health is looked at, the less damage there will be. Early detection of problems is very important.

A dentist can provide a treatment plan of anything that needs to be done. This will often include cavity fillings. In some cases, it may require tooth extractions, but options and potential replacements (e.g., implants) can be discussed.

Summary

Methamphetamine is harmful in many ways. As well as the physical and mental health effects, recreational users need to be aware of the potential for severe oral health problems.

This places enhanced importance on stopping the use of methamphetamine. Hopefully, the picture above is enough to put anyone off of using the dangerous drug.

See Also

• What is Substance Withdrawal? Information, Symptoms and Treatment
• What is a Mental Breakdown? Signs, Symptoms and Information
• Can Street Drugs Cause Schizophrenia?
• Is There a Link Between Cannabis and Psychosis?
• What Are The 6 Different Types of Delusions?