The meth mouth facts given in this article will jolt you to reality and help you understand the devastating effects of the drug and its deadly consequences.
It has been proven by forensic autopsy, that scavengers won’t eat bodies of methamphetamine or meth users! Quite an interesting fact to note, huh? Methamphetamine is a drug that is ruining lives and families around the world. Through the following paragraphs, you shall learn some vital meth mouth facts and the consequences of this drug addiction.
Vital Information
Meth mouth is a term that is used to describe the serious damage to the mouth, teeth, and the general dental health. The causes include crystal methamphetamine addiction. Methamphetamine is a drug that is also known by street names, like crystal meth, ice, speed, crank, quartz, etc. This drug is either swallowed, injected, smoked, or snorted by addicts.
#1
It has been observed, meth users tend to suffer from rampant tooth loss and decay within a year of using the drug.
Decay occurs due to dental damage in users in several ways. When an addict experiences the ‘high’ produced by using this drug, he/she feels a really strong craving for sugary carbonated beverage. They tend to drink a lot of this sugary carbonated beverage to satisfy their urge. This ‘high’ tends to last for about 12 hours. During these long 12 hours, the addict will obviously not be in a state to brush or floss their teeth. Thus, the sugary substances are stuck on their teeth for a really long time. This long time is enough for the acidic content of the drug to cause considerable damage to the teeth.
# 2
Do you want to know the ingredients of methamphetamine? This drug contains battery acid, antifreeze, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, lye, red phosphorous, lithium, muriatic acid, sulfuric acid, ether, lantern fuel, and over-the-counter drugs like ephedrine. Who would still want to put this dangerous drug in their mouth?
When a user smokes meth, these ingredients are vaporized and spread all over the user’s mouth. This causes a lot of irritation and burning of the mucus membranes. This leads to sores and poor dental hygiene leading to secondary infection. Snorting meth also causes damage to the teeth. The caustic substances are snorted down the nasal passages. They pass through the back of the throat and cover the teeth with an extremely corrosive substance.
# 3
The gum line within the mouth of the users of this drug is full of rotten teeth due to the continuous use.
Users of this drug grind their teeth a lot during their ‘high’ episodes. This teeth grinding and clenching of jaw causes a lot of damage to the teeth, even chipping off a tooth. The protective saliva around the teeth tends to dry up due to crystal meth, leading to further damage.
# 4
Many users’ teeth fall out even when they are simply chewing a sandwich or drinking water!
Symptoms of this condition:
- Tooth abscesses within the mouth cause severe tooth pain as well as acute nerve pain due to decay.
- Eating causes a lot of pain within the gums.
- There is fever, nausea, and malaise due to tooth decay, abscess, and gum diseases.
- Sever grinding and clenching of jaw causes headaches, neck aches, jaw aches.
# 5
It not only causes loss of teeth and gum diseases, but also leads to high blood pressure, hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent infections due to weak immune system, increased respiration, irregular heartbeat, and permanent brain damage.
# 6
Studies have shown over 40% of methamphetamine addicts have developed severe dental problems. Compared to addicts who snort or smoke crystal meth, those who inject the drug into their bodies, are more likely to develop severe tooth decay.
Myth
Many people have a question, do all meth users suffer from this condition? The answer is no, and it is a myth that substance abuse will lead to teeth loss. Dental problems do not arise due to the use of drug, but as a consequence of poor dental hygiene in addicts. Facts indicate, if an addict takes care of his dental hygiene, the symptoms can be avoided. This does not mean one can continue using the drug by following dental hygiene. There are many other physical and mental issues related to methamphetamine abuse.
Early detection and treatment is the only way to help save the teeth. If you know anyone who is a methamphetamine addict, help him get checked into a drug rehabilitation center. Drug addiction may give you a periodic ‘high’ to the seventh heaven, but will silently draw you towards an early grave.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
