Epidemic in Our Lives

We like to keep our patients up-to-date about dental procedures, new technologies, and dental health. Patients who are knowledgeable about their dental health are more likely to have healthy teeth.

Once in a while one of the topics we have put into our newsletter has set our reader’s nerves on edge, but, we feel the information is too important not to keep our readers informed. Such is the situation with a topic that is at the forefront of many evening news stories we hear and read.

We have an epidemic that involves the illegal street drug methamphetamine, or meth. Meth users suffer incredible damage to their teeth and oral tissues.

I am going to share some information with you about the dental issues that occur. We may not be able to prevent someone from using meth. At best, we can encourage someone to go to a dentist for help. If the meth user is also in recovery, having restored teeth will be of critical importance for that person to reintegrate into productive society.

Also, the images of the damage done by meth are much too graphic for our newsletter; so, we’ll show only images of more pleasant situations. If you are curious about what meth mouth looks like and you have access to the Internet, just type “meth mouth images” into the search field.

The American Dental Association states that some meth users’ teeth are in such poor condition that they can’t be saved. Teeth are black, stained, rotten and crumbling. One dentist reported that her patient had used meth for only four months, and all that remained of his teeth were root tips.

If someone you know has sudden, unexplained tooth decay, that can be a warning sign that person is using meth. It could be someone you wouldn’t suspect, like a healthy teenager or a soccer mom using meth trying to lose weight.

Out of control damage

Acidic chemicals including battery acid, antifreeze, drain cleaner and lye are used to make meth. Meth burns the delicate tissue inside the mouth, creates sores and exposes the tissue to infections.

A major consequence of meth use is a condition called xerostomia, or dry mouth. Xerostomia is a lack of saliva. Meth users try to make up for the lack of saliva by drinking enormous amounts of sugary soft drinks every day. Soft drinks constantly bathe their teeth in acid, which then erodes tooth enamel, the tooth’s hard outer shell. Without the protection of that hard shell, the acid causes rampant decay and tooth loss.

Meth users crave sugary snacks as well. The acid produced when bacteria that live on your teeth dine on the sugar also eats away the tooth enamel.

Meth users typically stop brushing and flossing their teeth, which compounds the situation.

Many meth users brux—grind and clench their teeth—which can cause their teeth to be worn down and even crack.

If you use meth, our options are limited, but please call and schedule an appointment. We will—

• do a complete dental and medial history.
• give you information about how meth use affects your oral tissues.
• provide you with referrals to other helpful resources.
• above all, keep your information confidential.

We strongly urge you to not drink caffeinated, sugary soft drinks. Drink fluoridated water.

If you know a meth user, offer your emotional support and encourage him/her to come see us right away. Resolving their dental issues will greatly benefit someone who wants to get control over their life, have healthy teeth and a beautiful smile, and who wants to return to their former productivity.

As always, our goal is to keep your, and all of our patients’, teeth and oral tissues as healthy as they can be so that those smiles can last a lifetime!