Have you heard your dentist refer to meth mouth? This condition refers to meth’s effects on teeth. If you or someone you love struggles with a substance use disorder involving this dangerous drug, meth mouth may be the least of your worries. You should contact Atlantic Recovery Center as soon as possible and here’s why.
What Is Meth Mouth?
Meth mouth is a term your dentist may use to describe the condition of your teeth after long-term abuse of the drug methamphetamine. The symptoms of meth mouth include:
- Severe tooth decay
- Broken teeth
- Missing teeth
- Gum disease
- Stained or blackened teeth
- Teeth that are crumbling
You may guess from the symptom list that meth is hard on your smile. While the term meth mouth may sound harsh, it’s one you or your loved one may hear if you have a substance use disorder caused by methamphetamine. Meth’s effects on teeth are not the worst things this damaging drug can do to your mind and body, however. In fact, meth is often a sketchy combination of caustic chemicals that are cooked up in home labs. It may use toxic ingredients such as drain cleaner and weed killer as fillers. These ingredients can do grievous injury to your cognitive function and body organs. They can even cause coma and death.
What Causes Meth’s Effects on Teeth?
All forms of substance use disorder are unhealthy, but few are as devastating to your oral health as meth abuse. Photographs of meth mouth are startling because this drug does painful damage to the teeth and gums. This happens for several reasons, including:
- Meth causes severe dry mouth, which is damaging to teeth and gums
- This drug is an acidic substance that eats away at the enamel of your teeth
- Using meth makes you crave sweet, sugary foods that are hard on teeth
- Meth may cause you to neglect daily dental hygiene during week-long binges
- This drug lowers blood flow to the teeth and gums, contributing to infection
- Meth users often grind and clench their teeth, leading to cracks and fissures
The longer you use meth, the more your dental health may deteriorate. You may not realize just how much until you begin recovery. The good news is, meth’s effects on teeth are usually repairable once you stop using the drug, though you may need complicated oral surgeries to resurrect your smile.
Is Meth Mouth Reversible?
Meth mouth is not reversible, but it may be repairable. If bone loss isn’t too severe, your dentist may use bridges, implants, caps, crowns, fillings, or veneers to help repair the damage. For teeth that are too severely impaired, full dentures may be a solution. There’s not much your dentist can do to restore your oral health, however, as long as meth abuse continues. For this reason, it’s important to seek treatment for meth addiction as soon as possible. Doing so will help prevent further damage from meth’s effects on teeth, gums, mind, and body.
Help for Meth Abuse at Atlantic Recovery Center in South Florida
If you’re battling an addiction to methamphetamines in the South Florida area, Atlantic Recovery Center can help. Atlantic Recovery Center is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center that helps clients just like you recover from painful addictions to drugs such as meth. We provide gender-specific care to clients in our resort-level facilities. Treatment options are diverse and inclusive, and our integrative approach helps even those with dual diagnoses receive the care they need to recover.
If you’d like more information about the healing experience available at Atlantic Recovery Center, call us today at 1-866-824-5193. We can help you overcome an addiction to drugs such as meth, cocaine, heroin, and more. Reach out today to begin your journey.