Why Does Meth Rot Your Teeth?

Meth mouth is a term that most people will recognize. It will conjure up images of horrible looking teeth that are the result of people who use methamphetamine. In this article, we will try to answer the questions why does meth rot your teeth in a comprehensive and succinct manner.

Meth, which is a short term for methamphetamine, is an addictive drug that offers severe consequences with your health. It is a dangerous drug that can cause brain damage and strokes. It can also ruin the health of your mouth and when this happens, it is aptly known as meth mouth.

Meth mouth is something that is defined by gum disease and severe tooth decay. This causes teeth to fall out or break off. The teeth of those who are addicted to using meth are often:

• Black
• Crumbling
• Falling apart in general
• Rotting
• Stained

Oftentimes, the teeth are unable to be saved. This means that they have to be removed. This tooth decay is typically caused by the use of the drug and physical changes that cause them to harm their teeth. This comes in the form of dry mouth as well as long periods of time where oral health is neglected.

A study was performed and it found that the more meth a person ended up consuming, the worse their teeth ended up being. Meth users over 30 years of age, cigarette smokers and women were more commonly known to have gum disease and tooth decay.

Meth causes not only bad teeth, but it causes a number of other symptoms as well. This includes:

• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhea
• Hyper activity
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Tremors
• Trouble breathing
• Vomiting

Over the long term, there are a number of other symptoms like:

• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Heartbeats
• High blood pressure
• Meth mouth
• Paranoia
• Stroke
• Violent behavior

Why Does Meth Rot Your Teeth?

There are a number of different reasons that meth can hurt your teeth and cause meth mouth. Meth mouth is very prevalent in those that use the drug, and it has become something of an iconic look for those who use it. There are numerous reasons why meth rots teeth. Below, we have listed some of these reasons.

Meth Dries Out Your Mouth

Meth immediately stops the heavy flow of saliva that your mouth needs in order to be healthy. When your mouth dries out, it causes a number of different side effects. One of the least worrisome but still troubling effects of a dry mouth is bad breath. The dry environment allows plenty of room for bacteria to breed and cause halitosis.

The main problem with dry mouth in meth users is tooth decay. This is because the teeth are not given their front line of defense that they need to be protected. Saliva helps move bacteria and food particles that can cause plaque and rot the teeth.

Meth Makes Users Pass Out

Crystal meth is known for keeping people high and awake for long periods of time. Whether it is from the deprivation of sleep or is from users simply getting too high, meth users are known to pass out. They tend to pass out on a rather regular basis that will cause them to dry out their mouths, furthering the issues that were outlined above about dry mouth.

When meth users fall asleep, they tend to breathe through their mouths. This is because meth use causes shortness of breath that makes it hard to breathe through the nose. Without that saliva circulating in their mouths, they tend to foster a breeding ground for bacteria.

Meth Is Acidic

By nature, meth is acidic. Most street meth will contain byproducts that are acidic in nature as they are often made at home through a number of different chemicals. For instance, a lot of the common manufacturing in the United States is done by a method that is popular. This method is called the red white and blue method. By making meth this way, the synthesis of methamphetamine makes hydroiodic acid. There are other acids that can form as well depending on how it is made.

A lot of meth on the streets is called “bath tub meth” because it is made at home, usually using a bath tub as it is the largest receptacle in the home. It is impossible to know everything that goes into this process for that reason alone.

Those Who Use Meth Always Clench Their Teeth

Meth makes your body tense up. This can be because you are paranoid and anxious which invokes a physical response. It can also be because of the physical effects of meth on the body. Whatever the cause, meth users tense up and end up clenching their teeth. This can cause a grinding action to occur.

When the teeth are clenched, the teeth are being ground away by friction. This is ruining the crucial tooth structure that supports the aspects of the tooth. This happens on top of the already weakened parts of the tooth that have been weakened due to the meth use itself.

Meth Makes People Crave Sugar

Meth also makes people crave sugar which is obviously something that is going to negatively affect the teeth. Since methamphetamine dries their mouths out, they often get something like an energy drink or a soda to wet it again instead of water. This only makes the problem worse overall.

Meth Ruins the Tooth Enamel

Meth also ruins the enamel in several ways. It does this primarily by releasing horrible toxins that can damage the enamel. All of the sugar does not help.

Conclusion

In this article, we have given you a rundown of the different reasons why meth mouth occurs. We have also explained exactly what meth mouth is. Have you ever seen this phenomena for yourself? What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below.