A person may use the term “meth mouth” to describe how meth effects on teeth lead to poor oral hygiene and endanger your health. Dentists everywhere dread the thought of trying to repair the damage long-term meth abuse causes. Along with the facial changes, meth effects on teeth is one of the most apparent signs of a person dealing with a serious problem.
What Are the Typical Signs of Meth Effects on Teeth?
People with meth mouth suffer from advanced gum disease and severe tooth decay. The teeth may break off or fall out of the mouth. They appear rotted, stained, crumbled, and blackened.
Common Signs of Meth Mouth
- Dry Mouth
- Cracked or missing teeth
- Lockjaw
- Microcavities
- Grinding of the teeth
- Bad breath
Many people who abuse meth also suffer from underlying mood disorders, which contributes to the state of their teeth.
What is the Cause of Meth Mouth?
People struggling with a meth addiction often forget to take care of their hygiene. That includes not brushing their teeth and living on a poor diet. Many people addicted to meth consume a lot of sugary foods that damage tooth enamel. That leads to cavities that lead to nerve damage when left untreated.
One of the effects of meth on teeth is that it leads to tooth grinding while high, which could end up chipping the teeth. Another side effect of meth on the teeth is the way it dries out the saliva glands, causing dry mouth. That lets more bacteria form in the mouth that eventually erodes gum tissue and leads to periodontitis.
People with meth mouth risk permanent damage to their tooth structures or the loss of their teeth. They may also form painful lesions in their mouth that never fully heal.
How Does Meth Affect the Rest of Your Body?
Poor dental hygiene could cause someone with a meth addiction to develop an infection. If you don’t get treatment in time, the infection could spread to the rest of the body and cause damage to other body organs. The closeness of the tooth structures to the brain makes it a ripe target. Once the infection gets into the brain, it could eventually lead to death without proper treatment.
The blood-borne infection can cause open wounds elsewhere on the body. It can also lead to the following complications:
- Premature delivery for pregnant women
- Convulsions
- Heart issues
- Lead poisoning
- Stroke
- Nerve sensitivity that leads to constant itching
- Lead poisoning
- Higher risk for contracting HIV and hepatitis
Is Meth Mouth Treatable?
It may be possible for a dentist to help an individual repair their teeth or replace them if the damage is irreparable. The most important thing is to get that person help for their issues. They may likely require admittance to a detox program like the one offered at The Right Step.
After purging the toxins, our center offers a variety of addiction treatment programs to help clients recover from meth addiction.
Learn more about our programs and how we can help with a meth addiction by contacting The Right Step at 17135283709.
