Meth mouth is an informal name for the tooth decay and poor oral health seen in many cases of methamphetamine abuse.

Meth mouth symptoms include:

• xerostomia (dry mouth): methamphetamine use may decrease the production of saliva. A lack of saliva's natural protective effects directly leads to increased tooth decay, particularly at the gumline. Many users also smoke tobacco or consume highly sugared soft drinks, worsening the problem (Crystal Meth is sometimes rolled into a joint and smoked with tobacco).
• cracked teeth: anxiety caused by meth prompts users to clench (trisma) or grind (bruxia) their teeth, leading to wear or cracks in the teeth.
• periodontitis (gum disease): frequent snorting of methamphetamine reduces the blood supply to the arteries that supply the upper teeth and gums, weakening them.
• basic neglect of personal hygiene is likely among the most important causes of poor oral health among methamphetamine users. After a prolonged binge, users may sleep for a day or more with their mouths open, exacerbating the problems of poor saliva supply.

One of suggested underlying cause is the body's need to maintain the level of calcium ions in the blood to keep the nervous system functioning. According to this hypothesis, a meth user's nervous system is using up the available calcium at an accelerated rate. Since the result of failure to maintain necessary calcium in the blood would be death, the body drains calcium reserves from the teeth and bones to maintain this level.

Contrary to a number of media reports, meth mouth's contributing causes do not include the "corrosive", "acidic" or "caustic" effect of the drug itself on tooth enamel or gum tissue. Jack Shafer of Slate magazine has written a series of articles detailing the spread of misinformation concerning alleged "chemical" or "contaminant" factors. Symptoms of meth mouth can be used to help health workers diagnose methamphetamine abuse, although they can be difficult to distinguish from the general problems of poor oral health prevalent among poor, rural, minority, or disabled populations.

External links

• "Meth mouth" information from the website of the Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota
• NPR transcript: 'Meth Mouth' Strains Prison Health-Care Budgets
• The Rotten Library's extensive article on Methamphetamines.

Reference

• Richards, J.R., Brofeldt, B.T. Patterns of tooth wear associated with methamphetamine use. J Periodontol. 2000 Aug; 71(8):1371–4.

Notes

Dentistry