Meth mouth
Meth mouth | |
---|---|
The mouth of a person with symptoms similar to those caused by long-term use of methamphetamine |
Meth mouth is a colloquial term used to describe severe
The condition is difficult to treat, and may involve fillings, fluoride to fight tooth decay and drugs that increase saliva for dry mouth, as well as oral hygiene instruction. It can be dangerous for active methamphetamine users to undergo dental surgery because of the cardiac problems that can result from the interaction of local anesthetic with the drug.
Signs and symptoms
Methamphetamine (informally referred to as "meth") is a stimulant drug with a high potential for addiction in its recreational users. It incurs physical and psychological side effects that users find desirable. Other side effects (like bruxism and stimulant psychosis) can result in users neglecting their dental health, eventually leading to advanced tooth decay (caries) and gum infections.[1] Further, a common side effect of stimulant drugs is xerostomia, which accelerates tooth decay.[2]
As of 2012[update], methamphetamine is the most discussed illegal drug in dental literature for its extensive effect on users' dental health.
Methamphetamine users sometimes experience soreness in the
The effects of meth mouth are similar to those of
Causes
The hypothesized causes of meth mouth are a combination of MA side effects and lifestyle factors which may be present in users:
- Dry mouth (xerostomia)[9]
- Clenching and grinding of the teeth (bruxism)
- Infrequent oral hygiene[9]
- Frequent consumption of sugary, fizzy drinks[9]
- Caustic nature of methamphetamine[9]
The dental effects of long-term methamphetamine use are often attributed to its effects on saliva.
Long-term methamphetamine use can cause
Hydrochloric acid is used in methamphetamine's manufacturing process, but academic reviews have not supported the idea that the acid contributes to dental decay.[10][11] Speculation that oral consumption of the drug causes tooth decay by raising the acidity of users' mouths is also unsupported.[5][6] Meth mouth is generally most severe in users who inject the drug, rather than those who smoke, ingest or inhale it.[3]
Treatment
The damaging effects of meth mouth on the teeth and gums for the most part are irreversible, although, if treated at an early stage, they can be dramatically reduced through the habitual use of common hygienic practices; Under normal circumstances, the user will not seek a remedy until the damage has already begun to take control causing severe mouth pain and general discomfort.[5] Because many drug users lack the access to dental treatment, due to affordability and poverty, it is important to take medical precautions to prolong the lifespan of the mouth, and health in general. [5] [3] Those who are willing to seek dental treatment should seek professional advice as soon as possible if they are experiencing any painful symptoms relatable to meth mouth from abusing methamphetamine.[12] Providing dental treatment to individuals who use methamphetamine can be dangerous, because the potential combination of local anesthetic and methamphetamine can cause serious heart problems.[13] There is also an increased risk of serious side effects if opioid medications are used in the patient's treatment.[4]
Treatment of meth mouth usually attempts to increase the flow of saliva, halt tooth decay, and encourage behavioral changes.
Toothpaste with fluoride is very important to the restoration of dental health.[5] Prescription fluoride rinses can adequately treat the condition as well.[13] Sialogogues, drugs that increase the amount of saliva in the mouth, can be used to treat dry mouth and protect against dental health problems. Pilocarpine and cevimeline are sialogogues approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat low salivation caused by Sjögren syndrome and may have the potential to effectively treat dry mouth caused by methamphetamine use.[13]
Uncertainty
There have not been any controlled studies on meth mouth, and several of its aspects are unclear.[11] Although the condition has been popularized by media coverage and case reports, no systematic studies have been conducted to conclusively tie methamphetamine use to symptoms that are commonly described as meth mouth. There are few ties between dental scholars and those who study drug use, and it can be difficult for dental researchers to find methamphetamine users to study.[14]
Whether the drug has a unique effect on dental health has been questioned by a few academics, who note that the long-term use of several other drugs sometimes causes dental problems.[15] Several academic reviews have contradicted this perspective, affirming meth mouth's status as a discrete condition.[3][16][17] In favor of its unique status, these reviews cite the differences between methamphetamine-caused caries and those that occur for other reasons, such as cocaine use,[3][5] as well as the scope of the tooth decay found in some long-term methamphetamine users.[15]
According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth "is probably caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high-calorie, carbonated beverages and bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching)".[18] As dry mouth is also a common side effect of other stimulants, which are not known to contribute severe tooth decay, many researchers suggest that methamphetamine-associated tooth decay is more due to users' other choices. They suggest the side effect has been exaggerated and stylized to create a stereotype of current users as a deterrence for new ones.[19]
Society and culture
Although most methamphetamine users lived in
Images of meth mouth are usually considered disturbing and have been used in anti-drug campaigns,[26] even being placed on billboards.[27] The condition is often mentioned in media coverage of methamphetamine,[26] and it has been included in media portrayals of drug abuse in order to demonstrate the scope of the drug's effects or to provoke disgust in the audience.[28][29] Opponents argue that the term is used to negatively stereotype methamphetamine users, and that it is falsely portrayed as inevitable or characteristic.[30]
The drama series Breaking Bad, which centers around the production of crystal meth, features a number of minor characters who have meth mouth. The series creator Vince Gilligan has said one of his regrets about the series is that one of the lead characters, Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul), had perfect teeth because he felt this was unrealistic, given the amount of meth the character consumed.[31]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Winslow, Voorhees & Pehl 2007.
- ^ "Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)". www.ada.org. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hussain, Frare & Berrios 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Hamamoto & Rhodus 2009, p. 31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hamamoto & Rhodus 2009, p. 32.
- ^ a b c d e f Goodchild & Donaldson 2007, p. 586.
- ^ a b c Rusyniak 2011.
- ^ Hamamoto & Rhodus 2009, pp. 31–32.
- ^ PMID 25662544.
- ^ Goodchild & Donaldson 2007, p. 585.
- ^ a b Karch 2008, p. 291.
- ^ Hamamoto & Rhodus 2009, p. 30.
- ^ a b c Hamamoto & Rhodus 2009, p. 33.
- ^ a b Shetty et al. 2010.
- ^ a b Goodchild & Donaldson 2007, p. 585–86.
- ^ Goodchild & Donaldson 2007, p. 589.
- ^ Hamamoto & Rhodus 2009, p. 34.
- ^ "Methamphetamine Use (Meth Mouth)". American Dental Association. Archived from the original on 2008-06-01. Retrieved 15 December 2006.
- PMID 22089317.
- ^ Saini et al. 2005, p. 189.
- ^ Treadwell, Northbridge & Bethea 2007, p. 337.
- ^ Davey 2005.
- ^ Kinkead & Romboy 2005.
- ^ Naidoo 2009.
- ^ Herald Sun & July 30, 2007.
- ^ a b Weisheit & White 2009, p. 65.
- ^ Verini 2009.
- ^ Littmann 2012, p. 160.
- ^ Billen 2009.
- ^ Sullum, Jacob (20 February 2014). "Hyperbole Hurts: The Surprising Truth About Methamphetamine". Forbes. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ December 31, Dan Snierson; EST, 2013 at 05:30 PM. "Vince Gilligan's very good 'Breaking Bad' year". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
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Bibliography
Books
- Treadwell, Henry M.; Northbridge, Mary E.; Bethea, Traci N. (2007). "Building the Case for Oral Health Care for Prisoners". In Greifinger, Robert B. (ed.). Public Health Behind Bars: From Prisons to Communities. New York: ISBN 978-0-387-71694-7.
- Karch, Steven B. (2008). Karch's Pathology of Drug Abuse (Fourth ed.). Boca Raton: ISBN 978-0-8493-7880-5.
- Littmann, Greg (2012). George Reish; David Koepsell; Robert Arp (eds.). Breaking Bad and Philosophy. Open Court Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8126-9764-3.
- Weisheit, Ralph; White, William L. (2009). Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment. Center City, Minn: ISBN 978-1-59285-717-3.
Journals
- Winslow, Bradford; Voorhees, Kenton; Pehl, Katherine (2007). "Methamphetamine Abuse". PMID 17990840.
- Goodchild, Jason; Donaldson, Mark (2007). "Methamphetamine Abuse and Dentistry: A Review of the Literature and Presentation of a Clinical Case". Quintessence International. 38 (7): 583–590. PMID 17694215.
- Hamamoto, D. T.; Rhodus, N. L. (2009). "Methamphetamine Abuse and Dentistry". Oral Diseases. 15 (1): 27–37. PMID 18992021.
- Hussain, Fahmida; Frare, Robert; Berrios, Karen (2012). "Drug Abuse Identification and Pain Management in Dental Patients: A Case Study and Literature Review". General Dentistry. 60 (4): 334–345. PMID 22782046.
- Rusyniak, Daniel (2011). "Neurologic Manifestations of Chronic Methamphetamine Abuse". Neurologic Clinics. 29 (3): 641–655. PMID 21803215.
- Saini, Tarnjit; Edwardsa, Paul; Kimmesa, Nicole; Carrolla, Lucinda; Shanera, John; Dowdb, Frank (2005). "Etiology of Xerostomia and Dental Caries among Methamphetamine Abusers". Oral Health & Preventative Dentistry. 3 (3): 189–195. PMID 16355653.
- Shetty, Vivek; Mooney, Larissa; Zigler, Corwin; Belin, Thomas; Murphy, Debra; Rawson, Richard (2010). "The Relationship Between Methamphetamine Use and Increased Dental Disease". The Journal of the American Dental Association. 141 (3): 307–318. PMID 20194387.
Newspapers
- "The Tooth on Drugs". Herald Sun. July 30, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
- Billen, Andrew (August 10, 2009). "Louis Theroux: The City Addicted to Crystal Meth". The Times. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- Davey, Monica (June 11, 2005). "Grisly Effect of One Drug: 'Meth Mouth'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- Kinkead, Lucinda Dillon; Romboy, Dennis (June 12, 2005). "Meth Mouth: Ugly Legacy of Drug is Taxing Utah Jail, Prison Medical Budgets". Deseret News. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- Naidoo, Yugendree (August 3, 2009). "Dentists Face Tik Toothache". West Cape News. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- Verini, James (May 1, 2009). "Meth Mouth: Tom Siebel's Brash Anti-Crystal Campaign". Fast Company. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
External links